horizontal stripes / banding with the Epson Stylus 9890

[Boarzar]

Hello everyone,

With my Epson Stylus 9890 (almost identical in construction to the 9900) I have slight horizontal stripes/lines in gray gradients (see attachment), e.g. in the sky. I'm printing unidirectionally (not “high speed”), with 1440dpi, 16bit,...
Nozzles are currently all clear according to the nozzle test sample, print head has been readjusted, also paper feed, etc.

Possible causes?:
> I replaced the ink pump assembly some time ago
> I also replaced and readjusted the print head
> sometimes a small line is missing in the nozzle test pattern on LK (not always in the same place)

I have noticed that the streaking is stronger with single sheets than with roll paper.

However, I have also adjusted the paper feed for single sheets without any improvement...

Thank you for your help!

[KenS]

If what you are describing is what I think is call 'banding' in the direction of the print head, then this is what I did to mitigate the problem on my Epson 7800:

Set the Print Quality to Maximum (Setting 5, 2880), and it's okay to leave High Speed On (turning if off made no difference)

I tried a Power Clean, tried using Piezo Flush to clean the Cap Station, Wiper Blade, and Print Head, tried printing purge files, played with the paper feed adjustment, none of that worked for me.
I am missing several 'small lines' in the nozzle test pattern too, but it doesn't appear to be a problem, i.e. banding is not an issue for me, until quite a few nozzles are missing... at that point I do a nozzle clean from the printer itself and banding is gone.

[Boarzar]

Dear KenS, You made my Day!

Incredible, that's it!
I was trying everything, but just to try it with 2880dpi - I never have tried... stupid white man!

It's maybe because I red so many times, that there's absolutely no different between printing with 1440dpi and 2880dpi... So this speech is fake... It's like to say, there's no different in printing with 8bit and 16bit... Yes there is a different!

So, thanks again for this easy solution!

But one more question: what to do, if You can not choose 2880dpi in printers dialog, because You are printing on "Canvas" (there ist max. 1440dpi)?

[KenS]

But one more question: what to do, if You can not choose 2880dpi in printers dialog, because You are printing on "Canvas" (there ist max. 1440dpi)?

Glad to help!
Hi Boarzar,

I have only printed on canvas a few times and that was before I had a banding problem.  I did not know the printer would not let you set the resolution to Max Quality for canvas.
I used the word 'mitigation', not 'fix' because I really don't know how to get the printer working properly, i.e. it should not band at 1440dpi.

If you do a lot of canvas printing there have been discussions about wear and tear on the printer, but in the following post the idea of using another media setting (besides canvas) is presented.  Maybe that would work for you, although I would be cautious about potential printer damage (assuming Epson had a reason to avoid 2880 dpi on that printer).

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4092948

If you do find a way to stop the banding other than my high resolution method please post it here.

Ken