Rant: Hahnemuhle FineArt Baryta 325gsm in HP Z3200 Printer

[TTLKurtis]

Every time I get about half way into a roll of Baryta... the paper becomes a real pain in the butt to load. What invariably happens is I start a print job, and ink is just flying into the void below, with no paper under it... then I have to cancel the job. Then I have to use the Move Paper function while applying a particular pressure in just the right direction with the rolled paper from the rear... Then the underside of that print is going to have big ugly marks all over it for about 6 inches... O.M.G. This drives me crazy. But I love this paper so much! Argh!!!!!

PS... Wow that's a lot of verification thingies to make a post!

[Mark Lindquist]

Huh.  Does this happen with other papers you are using?  What is the roll width? 

[kers]

hai, i am thinking... could you unwrap( unroll) the paper from the roll a bit before printing... would that help?

and

how does the paper react on the gloss enhancer?

[TTLKurtis]

The paper holds such a curl that unrolling it a bit like that wouldn't make any difference once you get to a certain point in the roll (after half-way'ish). It doesn't really happen with any other papers that I can recall, and most of the papers I use are pretty heavy though this one is perhaps the heaviest.

[Ernst Dinkla]

The paper holds such a curl that unrolling it a bit like that wouldn't make any difference once you get to a certain point in the roll (after half-way'ish). It doesn't really happen with any other papers that I can recall, and most of the papers I use are pretty heavy though this one is perhaps the heaviest.

With some heavy/rigid papers it can be a problem on the Z printers. My routines are to store the rolls with a sheet of packaging paper around them that covers the roll width minus an inch, wound tight and three 2" wide tapes to keep everything tight and straight. That does not solve the curl but at least the curl has no waves over the length of the leading edge when the roll is unpacked. I have a kind of decurl instrument for that leading edge, a 2" tube with a packaging carton edge protector profile taped to it at one side, crosscut = o>, clamp the leading edge between tube and carton profile when the leading edge is still at the back of the printer and roll it against the curl. Usually that is not enough, I insert the paper and after loading move the leading edge up under the star wheels. That is 2-3" of paper waste. With multiple prints after another I have the auto cut option OFF and roll the printed paper against the curl on a 6" carton core resting on a roller bar at the floor, that way I  can print a lot without wasting more paper at the leading edges. This all brings the waste of prints with heavy paper to a minimum. For single small prints it can be easier to cut a sheet first and decurl it before printing.

If it can happen on any point in the roll feeding, not just the leading edge, then I have no solution. Maybe reload the paper on a thicker core that still can turn in the spindle space. Problems like that happened when I had an issue with the height adjustment of the printer head on the Z3200, the electric connector of the actuator did not work properly and I exchanged the actuators of the Z3100 with the Z3200. Both work properly now, I guess the pins make better contact now. Your problem is more in the rigidity of that paper and possibly humidity + age of the roll, both can make the curl stiffer.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
December 2014 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

[TTLKurtis]

The idea to use a 6" tube on the printed end to do longer runs without extra paper waste would work, except that I'm a pretty low-volume guy so I print sporadically. I also use a paper thing wrapped tightly around the paper when it's being stored in a cabinet which ensures it doesn't get wavy or weird.

[John Caldwell]

Before each print, use the pager jog controls to feed and extra 1" or so of the media forward, then start your print. Leaving the paper "as is" after the prior print has been cut off leaves too little media to feed, and a paper curl that creates a "nose dive" obstruction in the outflow tract. I dealt with the problem you describe many times on the Z3200 with the HFA FA baryta 325, and other similar weight heavily circled, papers. The Paper Jog worked every time, ink my hands.

John Caldwell

[TTLKurtis]

Great idea, except for this... when the printer cuts the print, it sucks the paper back automatically just beyond the point where it can't feed it back in the case of this specific paper when you're through about half of the roll.