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Author Topic: New Print Color Cast  (Read 1406 times)

drralph

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New Print Color Cast
« on: September 22, 2020, 11:01:12 am »

It has been about 3 months since I printed, and all was well at that time.  Today, the prints have a green cast.  I printed a standard test file, and it too has a green cast.  I interpret this to mean the problem is not monitor calibration.  I am left to assume that my custom profile is no longer satisfactory.

I bought an Epson P800 3 years ago, and had custom profiles made for the handful of papers I use routinely.  This has worked great until now.  I have never had to replace a profile because the printer drifted, but wondering if that is the only explanation at this point.  No changes in hardware (iMac 5K).

rasworth

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2020, 11:17:47 am »

Have you done a nozzle check?  Don't want to be insulting, but you may have lost magenta.

Richard Southworth
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drralph

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2020, 11:21:47 am »

Yes, did a check, a cleaning, and another check before I did the first print.  I also replaced the LK ink cartridge, which was low but not out: no change.

digitaldog

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2020, 11:27:48 am »

Shouldn't be happening. Double check everything, maybe reinstall the print driver. Remove all inks, gently shake each, do another nozzle check.
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Frans Waterlander

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2020, 12:11:27 pm »

How old are the cartridges?
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digitaldog

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2020, 12:13:33 pm »

How old are the cartridges?
I've got working cartridges for pigmented ink with expiration dates of 2011 working JUST FINE in my 3880. IOW; A non issue.
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drralph

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2020, 12:33:31 pm »

I did all the steps Andrew recommended:  deleted and reinstalled the driver, rebooted, shook and reinstalled each ink cartridge, and ran another nozzle check.  Still a green cast.  Before all the steps above, I did a print using the paper manufacturers profile.  It came out green, but slightly less so than my custom profile.  After the steps above, the print with my custom profile is essentially identical to the canned profile: still green but slightly improved. 

My inks have all been replaced in the past year.  I note that the Epson ink box says "for best results, use within 6 months."  But I have used much older ink in the past without any issue.  At $63 a pop, replacing both magenta cartridges would be an expensive experiment.

digitaldog

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2020, 12:38:23 pm »

My inks have all been replaced in the past year.  I note that the Epson ink box says "for best results, use within 6 months."  But I have used much older ink in the past without any issue.
Yeah, that's not an issue and not to be taken at all seriously.
When you did an install of the driver, assuming you're on a Mac, try doing the Epson enema:
   1.   Delete all instances of Epson printers from System Preferences>Print & Fax.

   2.   Then go to /Library/Printers and toss the whole Epson folder.

   3.   Toss LFP Remote Panel (IF you are using this utility for your printer).

   4.   Then reinstall drivers from Epson and never Apple.

What software are you using to print from?
And what color reference image did you use in what RGB Working Space?
There's this to try:
http://www.digitaldog.net/files/2014PrinterTestFileFlat.tif.zip

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drralph

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2020, 02:21:19 pm »

I did all those steps, except I did not delete and reinstall the Epson utilities.  I do not have Epson LFP installed.  I am printing from Ps.  Attached is the reference image I am using.  I have a reference print of it given to me once upon a time by Charles Cramer, which I use for comparison.  Using ProPhoto RGB colorspace.

I'll give your reference image a try.

digitaldog

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #9 on: September 22, 2020, 02:50:55 pm »

Attached is the reference image I am using.  I have a reference print of it given to me once upon a time by Charles Cramer, which I use for comparison.  Using ProPhoto RGB colorspace.
So you converted Bill's image from Lab to ProPhoto?
Be useful too, to see the PS Print Dialog along with the Epson dialog.
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Frans Waterlander

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #10 on: September 23, 2020, 12:18:14 pm »

I've got working cartridges for pigmented ink with expiration dates of 2011 working JUST FINE in my 3880. IOW; A non issue.
"I didn't change the oil in my heavily-used lawn mower for three years and it runs just fine; not changing the oil is a non-issue."
And now back to the real world. I had a noticeable color shift with a Epson R2880 printer (pigment inks). Some cartridges were installed three years earlier (I mark the install date on my cartridges with a permanent pen). I took them out and gently shook them, no change. When I replaced them with new ones the color shift was gone.
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digitaldog

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2020, 12:23:17 pm »

"I didn't change the oil in my heavily-used lawn mower for three years and it runs just fine; not changing the oil is a non-issue."
Terrific for you. The facts are, the age of the pigmented inks isn't the issue, your comments prove nothing (nor your experience with the P800).
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And now back to the real world. I had a noticeable color shift with a Epson R2880 printer (pigment inks).
And do tell us exactly the cause of the 'color shifts"?
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Some cartridges were installed three years earlier (I mark the install date on my cartridges with a permanent pen).
I don't; the cart's that are well over three years old, have a date on them and they continue to operate just fine; with a 3880 AND P800.
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I took them out and shook them for a while, no change. When I replaced them with new ones the color shift was gone.
Terrific for you.
What you failed to understand is that the OLD ink was still in the lines, just removing and installing cart's didn't change that the older ink which remained in those lines. Now if you told us that it took a few prints to purge that old ink and THEN the printer returned to it's original state, your comments and problem solving skills would be easier to accept.
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digitaldog

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2020, 12:30:32 pm »

And now back to the real world.
Maybe your pigmented inks over heated like the camera sensor (you don't own yet) or it's the result of flickering and eye strain?  ;)
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Frans Waterlander

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #13 on: September 23, 2020, 02:37:16 pm »

Maybe your pigmented inks over heated like the camera sensor (you don't own yet) or it's the result of flickering and eye strain?  ;)
You just can't help yourself, can you?

You just assumed that I didn't purge the lines by printing several prints. Well, I did and after a couple of prints the color shift went away. Oh, and I'm so very, terribly sorry that I didn't explicitly explain that in my post. I hope you can forgive me?

Just because you use 9 year old ink and see no color shift, doesn't mean old ink cannot be an issue. It was for me and may be an issue for the OP.
BTW, don't you think it's a bit risky to use 9 year old ink? What about the potential for clogging your print head permanently?
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digitaldog

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #14 on: September 23, 2020, 02:57:25 pm »

You just can't help yourself, can you?
Illustrate your misunderstandings and consistent problems with imaging, going OT, your inability to read what other's have written on the topic at hand?
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You just assumed that I didn't purge the lines by printing several prints.
You never said you did, I doubt you did. But now that you understand your lack of specifics and how just changing inks wouldn't magically 'fix' your color shift, because old ink was indeed in the lines, you tell us you did 'purge' the inks. Hilarious.
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Oh, and I'm so very, terribly sorry that I didn't explicitly explain that in my post
Sloppy.  ::)
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Just because you use 9 year old ink and see no color shift, doesn't mean old ink cannot be an issue.
You failed, again, to listen to the topic, the OP and the facts he outlined:

"My inks have all been replaced in the past year.  I note that the Epson ink box says "for best results, use within 6 months."  But I have used much older ink in the past without any issue.  At $63 a pop, replacing both magenta cartridges would be an expensive experiment."
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What about the potential for clogging your print head permanently?
What about the potential for you to read and comprehend what the OP clearly stated after being asked a logical question (did you do a nozzle check)? Read, read slowly:
"Yes, did a check, a cleaning, and another check before I did the first print".

If only you could attempt to help the OP instead of again, pushing back on facts based on experience of those with his actual product....
As you must, you'll chime in again with OT pushback.
As seen so often in the past, the only one taking you seriously is yourself.  :'(
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Frans Waterlander

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #15 on: September 29, 2020, 02:42:51 pm »

...chime in again with OT pushback.
This feedback is not off-topic, but very much to-the-point and maybe you should let it sink in. You yet again took my words completely out of context and mixed up the sequence of what was said and by whom. Not to mention the irrelevance and inappropriateness of many of your comments.
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digitaldog

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Re: New Print Color Cast
« Reply #16 on: September 29, 2020, 02:49:34 pm »

Yup; chimed in again with OT pushback.
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