Epson 3880 Width Dimension Problem

[jacklinn1942]

I have had my 3880 for 4 years and it has been a wonderful printer.  However, lately I have been having a problem with the print engine. 

When I set the width dimension that I want the 3880 to print, I do not get the dimension that I input to the printer.  I want a print that is 17 7/8" wide, which is the size that the printer printed the last time I printed this image.  Now the new output from the printer is always 5/16" narrower.  I always keep the same aspect ratio and only set the width for each print that I want.  I use PSCC and LRCC for editing and my desktop is a Dell desktop, also using Windows 7 as the operating system.

Does anyone have a thought as to why the 3880 will not print to the width that I input? 
Jack

[dgberg]

The max paper width is 17" Are you sure you did not mean 16 7/8"
Are you cutting sheets wider then 17" to fit into the printer?

[BobShaw]

Many reasons to try.
1. You can't set the width to more than 17" because it is a 17" wide printer. Width is across the platen and length is along the feed. Try reversing the dimensions.
2. The printer seldom prints the right size or orientation because of poor drivers and interworking with applications. I wasted a lot of paper and ink until I got Mirage print and then your print problems go away.
3. Margin issues depending on which feeder you use.

[jacklinn1942]

I forgot to add one very important piece of information.  I am printing on 13 x 19 Epson Velvet paper.  Which will allow me to print a image 17 7/8" in a vertical format.  However, the print will not print this dimension in all cases it is about 5/16" short of the 17 7/8" each time.
Jack

[dgberg]

Get it now you meant height.
Is it possible your photo does not match that print ratio?
Did you try clicking zoom to fill?
You can see pretty quickly by looking in the top left corner of the photo when in the print module. What do the numbers say when zoom to fill is checked or not checked. You start printing a funky height like that there is a very good chance your photo will have a size mismatch.

[Wayne Fox]

I haven’t printed from windows for a long time, but the issue you describe may be related to incorrectly entering paper settings.

I would try entering the paper size correctly.  The printer has no knowledge of the print size or orientation.  If you are entering 17 ⅞ into the width box, the printer assumes the sheet of paper is that size, and it may be cutting it off because unless you select a borderless option, you lose about ¾” of length when printing a print.

The driver is asking for the size of the sheet of paper being placed in the printer so the  width and height numbers are in relationship to the physical paper being placed in the printer. As mentioned, you can’t put a 18” wide sheet of paper into a 3880.

Use the orientation box to get the image rotated correctly if needed. Checking one of those boxes doesn’t tell the printer to “flip” your numbers and use width in place of height and height in place of width. while in some cases it may “work”, it’s not reliable.

So the correct settings are the actual sheet of paper’s width (13”) and height (19”).  Then set the margins accordingly to get the final size of image you want.

It should work, since 13x19 is a supported borderless size.