Problem Getting Quality Prints

[T Paul]

A few more Epson tidbits:

Epson printers have a high printing resolution (DPI = dots per inch); this means that the print head nozzles have to be manufactured much smaller than most other printer manufacturers' nozzles. The size of the actual nozzle hole is smaller than a human hair and it does not take very much for them to clog. Epson printers have a built-in print head and are prone to having ink dry in the print head nozzles, causing streaking and void areas. Over time, the print head clogs, rendering the printer useless. Just running the cleaning cycle is NOT enough!

The most common cause of clogged printheads is from infrequent printing! Use it regularly, at least once per week. If need be, put a sticky-note on your monitor to remind yourself! We recommend printing something using black text, an email or Word document, for example. And a web page with color in it (red, yellow and blue). Doing so helps keep the ink flowing through the printhead nozzles.

Another cause of clogged heads is not powering the printer down properly. When you are finished printing (for the day), use the printer's on/off switch to turn it off. This allows the printhead capping mechanism to fully engage. Using a power strip to power down does not allow the capping mechanism to activate. Thus, leaving the ink in the heads exposed to the drying effects of air.

[winwintoo]

As a matter of interest, I bought a 1280 a few years ago. I got it in early spring when it was cold and DRY and it worked fine.

Then as the weather improved, the quality of my prints decreased to the point that I couldn't get a decent print no matter what I did.

I spent hours on the net reading everything I could - and bothering the folks here too - until my eyes were bleeding, but nothing helped.

Finally, I tossed the wretched printer in the closet and forgot about it.

Then, the next winter, I tripped over it and thought I'd give it one more try and it WORKED! What??

Eventually I came across a post on a forum somewhere that suggested that the humidity was affecting the paper and ink in such a way that the two just were not compatible. The poster claimed this was a well known problem.

I have the 1280 all packed in a box an it's on my todo list to take it to a nice family that thinks they can make use of it.

Take care, Margaret

[T Paul]

One other note,

CAUTION: When you don't turn your printer on for a long time, the print quality can decline, so turn it on at least once a month to maintain good print quality.
~Epson Web Site

[T Paul]

For the R300, here are a few links that may be helpful:

Epson Stylus Photo R300 Documents and Manuals

User Manual (contains section on maintaining your printer)

[Legacy~Art]

Thank you again T Paul i have just printed off 6 lots of pictures and i am happy with the clear results, i am getting ready to start craft fairs with my new techniques, now all i got to go is try not to cut my fingers on the framing, but i think i should get alot of work from the pictures i have printed off, i emailed a lady online who has a website offering canvas prints and asked where she goes to get them done, we are now quite friendly so now i have a place to send my work to get it printed on canvas, not clear yet on a price to ask for colour or black and white pictures, i may ask the forum later this evening.

I have saved all the info you have very kindly helped me with and will read the manual later too. I have just printed off my website homepage and i am pleased with results.

Even though this is a hiccup i would recommend epson R300 as its a very clever machine, although i wish i had gone for the one with the monitor it would have helped so much more at the craft fairs.

Off to ask a very nice neice to lend me her laptop computer for the weekend.

Elle xxxxxx