Striations or lines in print

[Jmwphoto77]

Epson Artist 1430.  Had good results with OEM inks with this.  Decided to switch to a larger external tank system.  Getting the striations or lines that you see in the image from the print.  I've done test prints that look fine.  Doesn't matter what paper I use. Any ideas?  Thanks

[Garnick]

Epson Artist 1430.  Had good results with OEM inks with this.  Decided to switch to a larger external tank system.  Getting the striations or lines that you see in the image from the print.  I've done test prints that look fine.  Doesn't matter what paper I use. Any ideas?  Thanks

Two questions:

1. What exactly do you mean by "test prints"?  Smaller size, or an area cropped from the full image?

2. Have you run a nozzle check recently.  To some degree this looks like a black channel issue, which would require a cleaning cycle.

Gary

[Jmwphoto77]

Sorry I wasn't clear.  I would do the nozzle check and also have done multiple cleaning cycles as well as power down the printer and power back on.  The nozzle checks look good so I do a print and get the issue.  I've tried matte, glossy, lustre, etc and reprinted photos I had done with OEM so I knew they didn't have the issue until I switched.  FWIW, I am able to print b&w and that is fine.  I choose plain paper and greyscale.  But for color I get what I describe as red sets of fine lines very visible in the shadow areas.  The attached image is a 100% crop from a print that hopefully shows what I'm getting.  Thanks

[rasworth]

Is the example image oriented so that the head movement is horizontal?  I.E., are the color striations perpendicular to the head movement or aligned with it?

What resolution are you using?  Just trying to get my head around your problem.

Richard Southworth

Added by edit - maybe you could include a link to the entire test image?

[rasworth]

Also what was your scanner resolution to generate the attached image?

Richard Southworth

[Jmwphoto77]

It is horizontal.  The uploaded image should be rotated 90 degrees.  I made a letter size print and then scanned it at 2400 dpi 24 bit color on Epson V800. 

[Garnick]

It is horizontal.  The uploaded image should be rotated 90 degrees.  I made a letter size print and then scanned it at 2400 dpi 24 bit color on Epson V800.

More questions:

I'm not at all familiar with this printer model, so my questions may not be relevant, but I'll try.  From which app are you printing this image?  If it's Photoshop, what resolution are you printing with.  It should be 1440 minimum.  Also, are you using high-speed(bi-directional)?  If the image resolution isn't great, and you're using a low res and high-speed for printing, that combination could cause this issue.  Now that we know that the "lines" are in the direction of the carriage travel, that makes a big difference.

If you are not printing from Photoshop, please let us know which app you are using for this image.

Gary

[Jmwphoto77]

I'm printing from Affinity Photo.  The important thing is that I'm using the same settings I used before and got excellent results.  The resolution and DPI are fine.  The only difference is switching to a refillable tank system.  Is it the ink itself?  Is it a flow issue?  Clogging that doesn't show up in the nozzle check?  I've done a lot of printing in the past with other Epson printers and understand how to get good results.  It could just be that the system I've switched to isn't going to work, but I thought maybe someone would have a suggestion that I'm not thinking of.  Thanks

[nirpat89]

A couple of questions:

- Have you done a head alignment check after setting up the new inks?

- How about bi-directional vs uni-directional printing, any difference?

[rasworth]

It may appear that we're questioning your competence, but you have to remember we can't "see" what you can, in order to help all we have is the data you provide.  I've converted a similar printer (Epson, cartridges ride with head) to an outboard ink system, with long plastic tubes.  It worked ok for a little while, but it was not that reliable, I finally gave up.  I did find it necessary to create custom printer profiles, since the inks are significantly different than Epson's.  I did not have the type of problem you're experiencing.

Telling us "resolution and DPI are fine" does not give us much to go on.  Many times issues on these forums are resolved because the original poster did go back over all the details he thought were correct, and found a mysteriously changed setting or whatever.

My best guess is plugged nozzle(s).  My next request was going to be for you to print out a nozzle check, scan it, and post the results.

Good luck,

Richard Southworth

[Jmwphoto77]

No problem questioning my competence!  I'm here for help and appreciate it greatly.  I hadn't done a head alignment so I did that as well as more cleaning.  The utility only gives the option for vertical HA, but it is looking like it might've done the trick.  I've done prints on matte paper and so far the banding is not there!  Thanks for all the suggestions and help!!!

[Doug Gray]

Might be an ink flow issue. A picture of how you have the external tanks and feed lines positioned could be useful. Check the air vents. A slightly blocked vent could impair ink flow. Try raising them an inch or so as well.