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Author Topic: What causes banding on a print?  (Read 4476 times)

r010159

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What causes banding on a print?
« on: August 29, 2015, 09:20:13 pm »


I have been profiling a RIP for a CMYK profile. When I print using the RIP with its new profile, I notice subtle banding on the grey ramp. What can be causing this? The printer profile? Perhaps a more careful choice of target patches would help? A limitation of the printer? A RIP set up improperly? For that matter, how about RIP independent reasons? I am interested in understanding this phenomenon.

Thanks!

Bob
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Jeff-Grant

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Re: What causes banding on a print?
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2015, 10:46:36 pm »

On an Epson printer, I would expect clogged nozzles. What printer are you using? Is the banding over the full print?
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r010159

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Re: What causes banding on a print?
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2015, 11:01:16 pm »

I have created a CMYK profile for my RIP. I had printed a standard printer test photo which includes a grey ramp. This is where I found subtle banding with the grey ramp. Between this and a green tint to the ramp. I am unable to use this profile. I have followed instruction for creating the profile per the RIP's manual. I am using an Epson 3880 with the PrintFab RIP.

Bob
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Jeff-Grant

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Re: What causes banding on a print?
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2015, 02:37:13 am »

Do you get a good nozzle check? Clogged nozzles is the most common cause of banding.
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r010159

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Re: What causes banding on a print?
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2015, 03:10:29 am »

My nozzle check is fine.  I do not get this from the RGB OEM profile which. by the way, reproduces the grey ramp as neutral.
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Jeff-Grant

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Re: What causes banding on a print?
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2015, 03:21:54 am »

That's really odd. I've worked with a few RIPs and never seen anything like that, sorry.
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GWGill

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Re: What causes banding on a print?
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2015, 09:58:47 pm »

My nozzle check is fine.  I do not get this from the RGB OEM profile which. by the way, reproduces the grey ramp as neutral.
Note that the black curve can make a great deal of difference to how obvious banding is. 100% GCR will make it most obvious, whereas a GCR that has a small amount of black will cover it up more effectively, but will have a less robust neutrals. This could be the difference between your profile and the OEM RGB workflow.
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r010159

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Re: What causes banding on a print?
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2015, 11:05:18 pm »

Thank you for your very informative reply! I have so much to learn about GCR Mode, GCR Amount, Black Start, Black Width, TAC and so forth. I still have not figured out Black Start and Black Width...width of what?? Oh well, I will eventually learn this. :)

Bob
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GWGill

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Re: What causes banding on a print?
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2015, 03:59:54 am »

I still have not figured out Black Start and Black Width...width of what??
I would imagine that "width" controls how far from the neutral axis the GCR extends. Narrow = UCR, Wide = GCR.
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BobShaw

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Re: What causes banding on a print?
« Reply #9 on: September 06, 2015, 07:00:19 pm »

Are you printing 8 bit? If so print 16 bit.
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r010159

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Re: What causes banding on a print?
« Reply #10 on: September 07, 2015, 09:29:49 pm »

OK. I will try that. Thanks.
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