Epson R300 problem

I am an amateur photographer, and my printing amounts to nothing more than 4x6's to frame for my office, or the occasional 8x10.

My R3300, which has never given me any problems before, is now having serious banding problems in the dark areas of the photos. I have performed all the utilities available, and have put in all new tanks. I am using only Epson Photo Paper.

I don't even know where to start asking for service? Should I call Epson tech support, or take it to a photography shop. or what?

Any help appreciated.

post a pic or two
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Webmaster and Tech Support guy at inkjetart.com and thebairs.net

Your thread is titled R300, but you speak of an R3300 in the post. Please clarify.

Also, exactly what paper are you using to print on, ie, the specific name of the paper, ie, Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper, Epson Glossy Photo Ppaer, etc.

Also, as Chris noted, it would be helpful if you could post a scan of one of your prints which shows what you call banding.

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Bob

Sorry, it is the R300M.

I will try to scan a printed photo later when I get home.

Thanks for the replies.

This photo has a lot of dark areas, where the banding is noticeable. I am using Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper.

http://www.pbase.com/docestes/image/92661947

I looked at your scan. Looks to me like you probably have multiple stopped up or clogged nozzles in the head.

Run a head check (not allignment) and very carefully look to make sure that there are no missing lines in any of the printed boxes for each and every color.

If there are any missing lines do a cleaning cycle and see if it then give you a better head check, if not then do a double back to back cleaning, maybe even a third one and see if that solves the problem.

If none of the above works, repost. I suggest that you not try more than three back head cleanings.

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Bob

I have done multiple head cleanings and alignment checks, with no improvement.

The test pattern looks ok after head cleaning.

Although this printer is not new, this problem was not noticed until I got a new computer. However, the problem does not occur with printing on my general purpose all-in-one HP printer.

OK, sorry my first guess did not work out.

How about emailing to me the original of the file you have been having trouble with, in other words, one that you know give this pattern of lines in the printer.

Additionally, please advise me of the printing program you are printing with through which you obtain this problem and

whether you are using the printing program to manage your color or you are using your printer to manage color?

If the original file that you were sending to the printer is larger than 2 or 3 megabytes rather than reduce it to a smaller jpeg or change it, send it as you used it and if over 2 to 3 meg, please send it via

http://www.yousendit.com

It is a free service that lets you send files up to a gigabyte free-simple to use.

Bob

docestes said:

I have done multiple head cleanings and alignment checks, with no
improvement.

The test pattern looks ok after head cleaning.

Although this printer is not new, this problem was not noticed until
I got a new computer. However, the problem does not occur with
printing on my general purpose all-in-one HP printer.

Click to expand...

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Bob

dont do more than 2 cleanings, you need to wait at least 3 hours before running 3rd cleaning.

docestes said:

I have done multiple head cleanings and alignment checks, with no
improvement.

The test pattern looks ok after head cleaning.

Although this printer is not new, this problem was not noticed until
I got a new computer. However, the problem does not occur with
printing on my general purpose all-in-one HP printer.

Click to expand...

Binder, it is my understanding from reading the shop manuals on several of the Espon Printers which I have that the problem with multiple cleanings is that with each continuous cleaning, the suction pump continues to increase pressure over the previous cleaning until you go back to making a print. Thus the limitation (3) on the number of continuous cleanings. In fact with the service manual for the Epson 1280, the Epson service CD will drive the pump into a purge cleaning in which a single cleaning will be done at max suction.

It is my understanding that in all cases, once you have done a print though that everything defaults back to the lowest cleaning cycle.

Having said all that, I have done up to 5 continuous cleaning cycles on my 1280 and my 785 without damage although that is certainly not recommended.

Whether some of the newer printers suggest limitations in their manual of only 2 continuous cleanings I do not know, although that may be overprecaution.

Bob

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Bob