Ink jet printer advice

Computerised Mount Cutters, Computers, other gadgetry.
Post Reply
Not your average framer
Posts: 11014
Joined: Sat 25 Mar, 2006 8:40 pm
Location: Devon, U.K.
Organisation: The Dartmoor Gallery
Interests: Lost causes, saving and restoring old things, learning something every day
Location: Glorious Devon

Ink jet printer advice

Post by Not your average framer »

I've recently bought a secondhand Epson stylus photo 1290 A3 size printer from my local auctions. It will print onto the oversized A3 paper available from Epson, so I figure than I can produce 12" x 16" prints,etc.

It appears to be doing all the right things when connected to the computer, except that some of the colours aren't working. There is not enough ink left to clean the heads and having not paid very much for the printer (£30) and with no guarantee that it is fully working, I am wondering if any one can offer any advice before I spend about £50 on new cartridges so I can clean the heads and check if it is all O.K.

Naturally I will be very happy if it is fully working, but if it is not O.K., I'll be £80 out of pocket. Any advice please?
Mark Lacey

“Life is short. Art long. Opportunity is fleeting. Experience treacherous. Judgement difficult.”
― Geoffrey Chaucer
Moglet
Posts: 3485
Joined: Mon 25 Jun, 2007 5:43 pm
Location: The Shire
Organisation: An Urban Myth
Interests: I'll let you know if I get my life back.
Contact:

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by Moglet »

Hi Mark,

Sometimes when ink colours are very low in my Epsons, printouts will end up with a "colour cast." This usually corrects itself when a new cartridge is installed (might need to run the cleaning cycle a couple of times to fully charge the heads).

Check the Printer Status to see what levels the individual cartridges are at. Then look at the printed image. If you were able to "mix in" more of the low-level ink colour(s), do you think the image would then look correct colourwise? For example, if the yellow ink is low, colours can take on a purplish cast (the cast is more obvious in more densely saturated colour areas).

Also, how many cartridges are in the printer? If it's only one colour that is very low, you may be able to just change that one in order to run a cleaning cycle and nozzle check print test before splashing out on further replacement cartridges.

Hope this helps.
........Áine JGF SGF FTB
Image .Briseann an dúchas trí shuiligh an chuit.
WelshFramer
Posts: 996
Joined: Wed 30 Nov, 2005 10:03 am
Location: Llanwrtyd Wells
Organisation: Neuadd Bwll Framing
Interests: Does running a framing business leave any time for interests?
Location: Llanwrtyd Wells
Contact:

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by WelshFramer »

You'll need to do a head clean which will mean buying some new cartridges. My advice is to buy genuine Epson cartridges - I ruined a 1280 printer using 3rd party inks once and now avoid them. The best place to buy 1290 inks is probably eBay where it's possible to get genuine Epson inks at reasonable prices.

It's also worth trying

http://www.epson.co.uk/Printers-and-All ... ftReg=true

their prices include VAT and are post free.

The Epson 1290 manual says:
---------------
When the power light stops flashing, print a nozzle check pattern to confirm that the head is clean and to reset the cleaning cycle.
If print quality has not improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn the printer off and leave it alone overnight. Then, do the head cleaning again.

If the print quality still has not improved, one or both of your ink cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced.
------------------

If that doesn't work then shout again and I'll point you towards some more drastic head cleaning tips.
Mike Cotterell
Neuadd Bwll Framing

http://www.welshframing.com
My status
Not your average framer
Posts: 11014
Joined: Sat 25 Mar, 2006 8:40 pm
Location: Devon, U.K.
Organisation: The Dartmoor Gallery
Interests: Lost causes, saving and restoring old things, learning something every day
Location: Glorious Devon

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by Not your average framer »

Hi Aine & Mike,

Thanks for your replies. I posted this thread to see if anyone who knows their stuff could suggest any checks I could try before I go as far as to order some new cartridges. Being quite an old model, I realise if anything needs fixing then the printer is junk, but I'm hoping all will be good.

I bought this because I wanted an A3 printer, so I can get each months accounts all onto one printed spreadsheet, but also because it's one of the models which for which Lion sells the inkflow system and inks.

Not having a manual I don't know if there is, or how to trigger any built in self test cycle and hoped someone would tell me what to do, if this facility exists.

Having started this thread, it occurs to me to add some extra questions which I hope others besides myself may find useful. These are:

I have noticed that Lion supply head cleaning cartridges, which sound like a great idea.
Has anyone ever used such things?
Would it be a good idea to use these?
Do they contain any colour so that you can see when the jets are clear, or if not, how do you know when the jets are clear?

It is worth adding an InkFlow system to a printer this old (if it proves to be fully working)?

I've also noticed that there is still enough ink to hear slopping around inside in Epson cartridges when the system says that they are out of ink. I understand that it is possible to reset the system and continue using the remaining ink.
Can anyone advise how to do this and if it is a good or bad thing to do?

A couple of years ago I threw away an Epson printer because it reported a fault, which I was later told could be fixed by simply resetting a counter inside the printer.
Again can someone enlighten me about this?
Mark Lacey

“Life is short. Art long. Opportunity is fleeting. Experience treacherous. Judgement difficult.”
― Geoffrey Chaucer
silvercleave
Posts: 518
Joined: Mon 17 Mar, 2008 8:00 pm
Location: SE Cornwall
Organisation: thought I was
Interests: Working to put food on table
Location: Cornwall

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by silvercleave »

Have had an Epson printer for some years and yes when the cartridges are empty you can hear the ink slopping around when shaken, don't know if it should, but they always have and I seem to get a fair run of printing from each cartridge.

Hope this is of a little help, technically not to bright am I, just waiting for my printer to fall apart so I can upgrade it and use a cheaper ink supply system, but it just keeps going. :)

Ian
WelshFramer
Posts: 996
Joined: Wed 30 Nov, 2005 10:03 am
Location: Llanwrtyd Wells
Organisation: Neuadd Bwll Framing
Interests: Does running a framing business leave any time for interests?
Location: Llanwrtyd Wells
Contact:

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by WelshFramer »

I understand it's generally a bad idea to use Epson ink cartridges beyond the point where the printer says they're empty. It's a recipe for clogging the heads.

If Lion do head cleaning cartridges for the 1290 then they could be worth a try. One solution for clearing the heads is to settle the head on a pad of Windex. I'm not sure what Windex is except that it's a US window cleaner. Here's some instructions for cleaning the heads of a 1290 using alcohol: http://www.specialistinks.com/pdf/ipa.pdf
Mike Cotterell
Neuadd Bwll Framing

http://www.welshframing.com
My status
Not your average framer
Posts: 11014
Joined: Sat 25 Mar, 2006 8:40 pm
Location: Devon, U.K.
Organisation: The Dartmoor Gallery
Interests: Lost causes, saving and restoring old things, learning something every day
Location: Glorious Devon

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by Not your average framer »

Today I've phoned around and asked a few questions.

I'm told that if an Epson 1290 is still working after two and a half years of use then they normally go on for ever, which is potentially good news for me as I think it must be longer than that since they stopped making the 1290.

Lion no longer stock the cleaning cartridges, but I'm told that some users use Epson compatible cartridges for cleaning heads after which the normal Epson cartridges can be replaced to resume normal printing. This saves using Epson ink just to clean the head. Apparently if you tape over the ink holes on the cartridge and store it in a sealed plastic bag, you can later refit and continue using the cartridge without the ink it contains drying out.

I'm planning on getting a set of Epson compatible cartridges with my next Lion order to clean the heads and see what happens. If everything is O.K., then some time I'll be getting a pigment based ink-flow system too!
Mark Lacey

“Life is short. Art long. Opportunity is fleeting. Experience treacherous. Judgement difficult.”
― Geoffrey Chaucer
Not your average framer
Posts: 11014
Joined: Sat 25 Mar, 2006 8:40 pm
Location: Devon, U.K.
Organisation: The Dartmoor Gallery
Interests: Lost causes, saving and restoring old things, learning something every day
Location: Glorious Devon

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by Not your average framer »

Today my replacement ink cartridges (include one Epson compatible cartridge) arrived (thank you Lion) and I was able to clean the print head. I am pleased to say that this was successful and that on most normal settings it prints O.K.

However, when I try am print using the highest quality and resolution, I get randon horizonal red lines appearing across the image and extending beyond the image area on both side of the image.

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, after all, if it's O.K. using the normal automatic settings why would it present problems when any other settlings are selected. Could this be a sneaky software trick to deter you from using non-Epson cartridges, or is there any other explaination, like it needs a new print head?

Apart from this problem, I'm otherwise very pleased with my £30 secondhand A3 photo quality printer. I'm still hoping to get this problem sorted, so I can think about getting a Lion InkFlow system, otherwise it will mostly get used for A3 size accounts spreadsheets and my framing prices charts.

BTW, Julia at Lion is their ink jet printing expert and is both helpful and well worth talking to if you need any printing advice.
Mark Lacey

“Life is short. Art long. Opportunity is fleeting. Experience treacherous. Judgement difficult.”
― Geoffrey Chaucer
Moglet
Posts: 3485
Joined: Mon 25 Jun, 2007 5:43 pm
Location: The Shire
Organisation: An Urban Myth
Interests: I'll let you know if I get my life back.
Contact:

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by Moglet »

The printer applies more ink to the page when producing high-quality prints, Mark. Occasionally, I've had a similar problem with black ink (genuine Epson, btw). The problem seemed to go away of its own accord.

Not sure how you'd resolve the problem, Mark. I'd suggest printing a few more hi-res pages, and it might clear itself. :?
........Áine JGF SGF FTB
Image .Briseann an dúchas trí shuiligh an chuit.
User avatar
John
Site Admin
Posts: 1885
Joined: Sun 27 Apr, 2003 8:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Organisation: Scenes Picture Framing
Interests: Forums and stuff
Location: Belfast
Contact:

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by John »

Not your average framer wrote: when I try am print using the highest quality and resolution, I get randon horizonal red lines...
This is usually an indication that head cleaning is required.

How does the nozzle test check pattern look?
WelshFramer
Posts: 996
Joined: Wed 30 Nov, 2005 10:03 am
Location: Llanwrtyd Wells
Organisation: Neuadd Bwll Framing
Interests: Does running a framing business leave any time for interests?
Location: Llanwrtyd Wells
Contact:

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by WelshFramer »

Sounds like an alignment problem. Try the alignment check.
Mike Cotterell
Neuadd Bwll Framing

http://www.welshframing.com
My status
framejunkie
Posts: 347
Joined: Tue 13 May, 2008 11:40 am
Location: Bethnal Green, London
Organisation: framejunkie
Interests: 6.9%APR; 21.3%APR
Location: Bethnal Green, London
Contact:

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by framejunkie »

The Epson website has all the manuals in PDF to download, as long as its not an ancient steam-powered printer it should be there.

http://www.epson.co.uk/Printers-and-All ... gPage=true
Not your average framer
Posts: 11014
Joined: Sat 25 Mar, 2006 8:40 pm
Location: Devon, U.K.
Organisation: The Dartmoor Gallery
Interests: Lost causes, saving and restoring old things, learning something every day
Location: Glorious Devon

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by Not your average framer »

Moglet wrote:Not sure how you'd resolve the problem, Mark. I'd suggest printing a few more hi-res pages, and it might clear itself. :?
Hi Aine,

Sound advice from an expert! You were absolutely right!
Thanks
WelshFramer wrote:Sounds like an alignment problem. Try the alignment check.
Hi Mike,

Thanks for the suggestion, it was O.K., but I agree with your reasoning. BTW, I've now got a table from the local auctions which will (after modification) be big enough for the vacuum press, so I hope to have it up and running soon. It'll make a big difference to my business. Thank you very much!
John wrote:This is usually an indication that head cleaning is required.
Hi John,

It had already had quite a few cleaning cycles and nozzle checks until I could get the nozzle check to come out right. I'm not sure what it means, but I would expect it to be something related to the print head or else an intermittent electronic fault somewhere. My guess is the print head, I'm not convinced that an O.K. nozzle check proves that it's still O.K. when squirting large volume of ink, so who knows! Thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks also to framejunkie, I'll be downloading the manual later, I know I'm gonna find it helpful too!

So my next move is to get a proper Epson colour ink cartridge so I can give it a reasonable period of testing producing local prints for the punters and then I'll go for the pigment InkFlow system. My thanks to all for the helpful advice.
Mark Lacey

“Life is short. Art long. Opportunity is fleeting. Experience treacherous. Judgement difficult.”
― Geoffrey Chaucer
Moglet
Posts: 3485
Joined: Mon 25 Jun, 2007 5:43 pm
Location: The Shire
Organisation: An Urban Myth
Interests: I'll let you know if I get my life back.
Contact:

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by Moglet »

Glad to have been of some small help in getting you sorted, Mark. Happy printing! :)
........Áine JGF SGF FTB
Image .Briseann an dúchas trí shuiligh an chuit.
yellowcat
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon 02 Aug, 2010 8:17 am
Location: Turkey
Organisation: Yellowcat Graphics
Interests: Photography, Art, science, nature.

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by yellowcat »

I have just joined this site and seen this thread.
I use an Epson 1290 and find that I some times get similar problems, so far they have cleared after running three cleaning cycles.
The printer does seem to need to be used frequently to keep it running smoothly, I am using a continuous ink system now that has 100ml bottles of ink and so far this works very well, I have not had any problems since I started using it. http://www.inkexpress.co.uk/index.php?p ... inksystems

I take it that you are using a computer running XP, it is worth noting you do need XP to run this printer, I found that the driver included with WIN 7 does not support printing wider than 210mm. I have an old laptop with XP networked just to run the printer.
User avatar
John
Site Admin
Posts: 1885
Joined: Sun 27 Apr, 2003 8:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Organisation: Scenes Picture Framing
Interests: Forums and stuff
Location: Belfast
Contact:

Re: Ink jet printer advice

Post by John »

Many thankd for that information Yellowcat, and welcome to the frum.
Post Reply