Ink Spattering and Pooling

overinking

Problem
My prints looks slightly granular and dark with lost detail in deep shadows.

Solution
My prints looks slightly granular and dark with lost detail in deep shadows.Make sure the Media Type is specified correctly.

MediaSetting_USFA

Then reduce the ink limit with the Advanced Media Control Color Density slider.

ColorDensityDryTime

This happens most frequently with third party papers, where the ink limit needs to be adjusted from another manufacturers defaults. Start with the nearest paper type for the Media Setting and then use Advanced Media Control to reduce the Color Density or increase the Drying Time or both.

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Learn more in my Fine Art Digital Printing Workshops.

Maintenance Tank Is Full

maintenancetank

Problem
My printer won’t print because the maintenance tank is full.

Solution
Replace the maintenance tank.
Maintenance tanks catch excess ink during printing. Always have an extra maintenance tank on hand. It takes a lot of printing to fill up a maintenance tank, but when it’s full the printer won’t print. If you don’t have one on hand you’ll have to go get one or wait for delivery. If you do have one on hand you can simply replace it and keep printing.

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Learn more in my Fine Art Digital Printing Workshops.

Paper Won’t Feed

Problem
The paper won’t feed. It jams or feeds through without printing.

Solution
Make sure your paper is seated correctly in the printer.

MediaSetting_EF

Setting for Epson Exhibition Fiber Paper on Manual Rear.

MediaSetting_USFA

Setting for Epson UltraSmooth Fine Art Paper on Manual Rear.

Check your Paper Feed setting and if the problem persists, adjust the Platen Gap.

platengap

Thicker papers need to be fed with the Manual Rear option. Make sure you’re using it and you’ve specified this in the printer driver. You may still need to adjust the Platen Gap to a wider setting for thicker media (like Epson Exhibition Fiber Fine Art Paper). Many thicker papers will tend to jam when feeding them in bulk. You may need to feed them one at a time. Sometimes, you even need to give the paper a gentle nudge when the printer first feeds it.

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Learn more in my Fine Art Digital Printing Workshops.

Printer Power Cleaning Cycles

Problem
I cleaned the heads but they’re still clogged.

Solution Clean them again. The fourth time in a row initiates a power cleaning cycle.

printerutilities_nozzleclog

New Epson printers have anti-clogging coatings on the nozzles and initiate self-clean cycles automatically.
When power cleaning cycles don’t work you can humidify the heads (rest them no wet sponge for a while).
You’ll need to perform nozzle checks more often if you’re in a very dry environment (air conditioning dries) or you don’t use a printer for extended periods of time.

Read more Printing Tips.
Learn more in my Fine Art Digital Printing Workshops.

Light Micro-Banding

micro-banding_light

Problem
I’ve got white micro-banding in my print(s).

Solution
Check for nozzle clogs with the Printer Utility.

printerutilities_nozzleclog

Realign the print heads with the Printer Utilities.

printerutilities_printheadalignment

If the problem persists, adjust print speed slower with Advanced Media Control’s Paper Feed Adjustment.

PaperFeedAdjustment

In rare cases, the media feed speed can’t be adjusted with software adequately and that means it’s time to send a printer in for servicing.

Read more Printing Tips.
Learn more in my Fine Art Digital Printing Workshops.