Topic: 7900 Problem - Prints unwanted fine straight lines (Read 6509 times)

Peterretep · « **on:** November 02, 2016, 06:31:12 am »

I'm hoping someone can offer advice on how to rectify a consistent problem I'm getting with my Epson 7900. The problem is that most prints will have a number of very fine straight lines of different colors at random places. The lines are only noticeable in very light to white areas of the print. They also are occasionally visible on white borders outside the image area. The lines are oriented in the same direction the paper travels.
Any thoughts on this?

Peter

dgberg · « **Reply #1 on:** November 02, 2016, 06:48:25 am »

How about a picture?

Peterretep · « **Reply #2 on:** November 02, 2016, 11:28:15 am »

There are five lines showing in the border of this image. The yellow and light cyan are very faint but there.

dgberg · « **Reply #3 on:** November 02, 2016, 02:25:22 pm »

I guess the easy things first.
Have you cleaned or replaced your wiper blade lately.
Platen height. (Seems unlikely)
Does it print those lines over the image also?
Weird.

Peterretep · « **Reply #4 on:** November 02, 2016, 02:59:08 pm »

Thanks for your response Dan. No I haven't cleaned or replaced the wiper blade. And yes, the lines do appear within the printed area. They are not running the length of the print but are sporadic lines that appear in non consistent places usually running about 1 - 3 inches in length.

Garnick · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2016, 05:13:07 pm »

Hi Peter,

Two rather unlikely possibilities. However, considering the circumstances it's all I can think of at the moment.

1. Check your Print Que to make sure there's nothing stuck in there. If so, DELETE.

2. Possibly a corrupted driver for some unknown reason. Strange things can happen after-all. It might be worthwhile to delete the driver and reinstall, if you haven't done so already. Perhaps download a "fresh" copy
from the Epson site.

I agree with Dan, VERY WEIRD!

Gary

Richh · « **Reply #6 on:** November 03, 2016, 02:36:40 am »

To rule out (or confirm) corrupt printer driver issues, consider downloading a demo version of ImagePrint RIP software by Colorbyte if reinstalling the printer driver doesn't result in a change. The IP prints will be watermarked with "demo" or something but it should serve your purpose. I've had zero issues using ImagePrint over the years, so it should be a good basis for comparison.

Peterretep · « **Reply #7 on:** November 03, 2016, 06:31:50 am »

Thanks Gary and Richh, I'll do one or the other or both driver suggestions. Weird yes, I thought that this was possibly a common problem until I started looking into it and couldn't find anything similar to what my 7900 is doing. Also will try adjusting the platen height as per Dan's suggestion. Cleaning the wiper blade will be the next step if the others don't rectify the problem. Does this method of cleaning the wiper blade look good? https://myx900.com/clean-your-wiper/

dchew · « **Reply #8 on:** November 03, 2016, 08:15:28 am »

Quote from: Peterretep on November 03, 2016, 06:31:50 am

Does this method of cleaning the wiper blade look good? https://myx900.com/clean-your-wiper/

That's the one. But I bet it is the driver.

Dave

David Horton · « **Reply #9 on:** November 03, 2016, 09:14:17 am »

Had a similar problem with Canon ipf 6300. Suggest that you print same image with different software; problem should disappear. Uninstall problematic software and reinstall.

Peterretep · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2016, 09:14:28 am »

I updated my driver and just ran an 8x10. Same results as prior to installing the new driver.
David, I'm printing through Photoshop, I'd hate to go through the hassle of uninstalling and reinstalling that program and I'm doubtful that is the problem though it may well be. My next attempt to fix this will be to clean the wiper blade, if that doesn't work I'll try reinstalling Photoshop.

Peter

Farmer · « **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2016, 04:11:27 pm »

Can you create a very light grey, solid, square (of the size of the images you normally print) and then print that? Make it like 15% grey. Can you see the lines continue through the image (not just before it)?

I'm going to guess that you can (you may need a loupe to see it), at least for some colours (you won't see yellow probably). In that case, my best guess is an electronic issue - possibly a damaged ribbon cable to the head. Essentially, rows of nozzles are being fired constantly. I don't believe it's a general maintenance issue or a workflow issue.

The other way to test it is to just print out a document and see what happens - the text down the page will have the nozzles firing and if you see the lines, then that's probably it. It will need a technician to check the cable which may be mis-seated (less likely, but possible), or damaged.

dchew · « **Reply #12 on:** November 04, 2016, 10:44:28 pm »

Peter, are you printing through a wireless network? If so maybe try a USB connection.

The fact that the lines are oriented with paper travel direction is weird. That means the glitch is at the same point in the horizontal head travel on every pass.

Dave

David Horton · « **Reply #13 on:** November 05, 2016, 10:20:20 am »

Peter,

My similar problem of corrupted image arose from Lightroom, whereafter I printed same image via., Photoshop without defects. I then uninstalled Lightroom (4.3) and reinstalled Lightroom (4.0) and all was well again.

Hope the foregoing helps.

David.

Peterretep · « **Reply #14 on:** November 05, 2016, 12:03:50 pm »

Again, thanks for your responses and suggestions!

Here's where I'm at this morning. In printing a 15% grey as Farmer suggested, the resulting print showed no lines at all, totally clean.
For David's suggestion about printing with another program.... being I don't have another program I used an older version of Photoshop, Photoshop 5 as opposed to Photoshop 6 which is my current PS version. The print from PS 5 had the same sporadic short lines, no change from what I've been seeing. I need to try Richh's suggestion about trying ImagePrint RIP though it seems that would be the same as my installing the new driver but it's worth a try. I did take a look at the wiper blade. It's clearly in need of cleaning or replacing. I have foam pads coming in Tuesday which I'll use to clean the the wiper blade.
That's it for now, thanks again and I'll let you all know if the cleaning of the wiper blade rectified the problem or not. Feel free to share any further suggestions.

Peter

Farmer · « **Reply #15 on:** November 05, 2016, 03:28:42 pm »

That is really odd. Those lines are too perfect to be the result of an issue with cleaning or the like (notwithstanding that your wiper blade may require cleaning/replacement).

Can you perhaps print to the same printer from a different computer? I presume you've tried different files for the same result already.

Could you turn your current file into a PDF and then print it from Acrobat?

mcbroomf · « **Reply #16 on:** November 05, 2016, 07:37:41 pm »

Peter,
Does the file have a white border around the image or is it the image only? I'm asking to see if the lines are starting on the larger canvas that is part of the file or if they are some sporadic firing of the head that has nothing to do with the file. I especially wonder as the grey file you created had no lines. Did it have a border/larger canvas?

If they are part of the canvas can you recreate (not crop) the file from the original with no border and reprint it?

You don't mention when this problem started or if the printer is new and you've always had the issue.

If this is a recent issue can you reprint an old image that printed well some time ago?

Does the file have layers (or did it)?
Have you changed anything about the way you PP your files at the time this issue started?
Can you download the 30 day trial of Lightroom and try a testprint from it? Might be easier than Imageprint

Peterretep · « **Reply #17 on:** November 06, 2016, 10:56:53 pm »

Phil, yes the lines do look too perfect. However I'm going to clean the wiper blade anyway. I should have the foam pads to clean it by Tuesday evening. I hope that's it but I'm doubtful. I'll give another computer a try to see if it too prints with the same lines. I'm guessing that it will. Yes it prints most files with these lines but only obvious in light areas. I printed a photo from Lightroom and the lines were also showing. I'm doubtful whether a PDF through Acrobat would yield line free results.

Mike, the image itself has no border so yes, the lines started outside the image area in this case and are also visible within the image. The grey file I printed which showed no lines was bordered. It was a grey square within a white border.
I've had this printer, bought new, for a few years. The lines started showing up maybe about a year ago and seem to have gotten progressively worse. I always flatten layers before printing, always tiff files.

mcbroomf · « **Reply #18 on:** November 07, 2016, 05:34:35 am »

Boy .. a tricky one. So it seems that as the leading edge of the head(s) starts to put down ink on the print, for some reason a whole line of holes(?), or perhaps a trailing edge hole is firing at the same spot on the paper ... every pass. Presumably the distance between the start of the line and the edge of the image is the width of the head. It's difficult to see how a marginal hardware problem could be the cause of such a precise fault.

Do you get any lines when you print a test pattern for heads where each ink prints out squares to test the heads?
If so which colours?
Are you on the latest firmware?
If not can you update, mainly to wipe out any possible corruption?
Is it possible in a maintenance mode to reload firmware (if you're on the latest)

Peterretep · « **Reply #19 on:** November 07, 2016, 06:44:41 am »

Lines do not present themselves when running a test pattern.
I've not updated the firmware since buying the 7900, I'll look into doing this later today. It's best to try the simpler solutions first, I'd rather not pay an Epson tech to correct this problem if possible.

Author Topic: 7900 Problem - Prints unwanted fine straight lines (Read 6509 times)