Epson 4880 films not ligning up

[Rockers]

This is one thing I really can`t figure out. When we print a set of let`s say 4 or 5 films for a job it`s normally the first film that does not line up 100% to the other films. It`s off by up to 0.5mm-1mm in one corner, it`s too long on one side. All other films are spot on. So what we normally have to do then is to reprint the first film. It then matches all the other positives.

[Inkworks]

I'd say the printer isn't warmed up, try running a few 1 color films first if possible, then run the multi-color stuff.

[cbjamel]

What I have found is if you print 1 horizontal and the other vertical you will have problem sometimes. M ake sure print all films for a job multi-color one way either all vertical or horizontal.
Shane

[Rockers]

What I have found is if you print 1 horizontal and the other vertical you will have problem sometimes. M ake sure print all films for a job multi-color one way either all vertical or horizontal.
Shane

We never do that. All multi color jobs run at exactly at the same position. This is something we have learned early on.

[Dottonedan]

Yea, most printing devices are not 100% true in measurement.  Small images, yes, they can be more accurate. The smaller, the more correct it is. The larger you go, the more it might be off.


Draw a 14"x16" box with an outline stroke of .5" and print it.  You may find that neither side is truly and exact 14x16" and more likely also find that the length will be off more so than the width will be. I don't know if this comes from the program used or the printer used or both. So making a few seps horizontal and another few vertical is not going to work out well in most cases considering you are more likely doing that for size reasons.

[Dottonedan]

I'd say the printer isn't warmed up, try running a few 1 color films first if possible, then run the multi-color stuff.

I'd agree (especially) if this is a thermal device. It seems you always have to print something else first in the am, before getting them to line up. Even for regular Epson inkjet printers might need to do this if the first job out is a sim process or something with tight registration.  The one color jobs area good suggestion.

[Inkworks]

My shop is chilly, so i actually heat up the old Epson 3000 a bit with a hair dryer before printing off tight regi jobs. It makes a lot of difference for us.

[Dottonedan]

Are you running your Epson off of a PC or a Mac? What version of operating system if on PC?


I have a 3000 that I'd like to get going, (never ran it yet) and it only runs off of Windows (something more previous than 7). But I'm hearing that I can download an old windows operating system on my old Mac Mini somehow and maybe run in in a separate patrician" or something similar".

[Inkworks]

Windoze 7 PC. There are drivers for it available, but they aren't as user friendly as old XP drivers.