Epson 4800 problems

[Shanarchy]

I'm trying to load a 13" roll into me new to me (used) Epson 4800. It's not working. I keep getting "load paper". I'm following these instructions: https://files.support.epson.com/htmldocs/pro48u/pro48urf/paper_2.htm#loading%20roll%20paper%20b Any thoughts?

Next problem, when I did get it to print, it was not near dark enough. Using the density test with Accurip Pearl 15 (the darkest) is not close to dark enough. Thoughts?

[blue moon]

What kind of paper and what kind of ink?

pierre

[Shanarchy]

13" roll tech support clear ink jet film, water proof

Stock Epson ink.

[blue moon]

13" roll tech support clear ink jet film, water proof

Stock Epson ink.

If the film is really clear, printer is not seeing it and thinks it's empty. See if it works with paper. You might have to disable paper detection.

pierre

[kingscreen]

If the film is really clear, printer is not seeing it and thinks it's empty. See if it works with paper. You might have to disable paper detection.
pierre

We had this issue with our 4900.  We found the easiest/fastest solution was to draw a 1"x1" right angle (with a Sharpie) in the corner of the film we were loading. Printers sees it, done.

[Shanarchy]

How do you turn off the detection thing?

I'll also try King's suggestion.

If I get past that, any idea why it's not printing dark enough? It's not banding, just not printing dense enough to be a good film.

[blue moon]

How do you turn off the detection thing?

I'll also try King's suggestion.

If I get past that, any idea why it's not printing dark enough? It's not banding, just not printing dense enough to be a good film.

stock ink is not good for what we need. get Chromaline AccuInk.

detection can be turned off most likely somewhere in the printer menu, don't have an answer for you, sorry.

pierre

[Shanarchy]

No problem, I'm sure I can find it online.

So in order to get good films I need to swap out the ink?

[blue moon]

No problem, I'm sure I can find it online.

So in order to get good films I need to swap out the ink?

yup!

[jantexinks]

I am not sure the exact menu, maybe under "printer setup", but you want to turn off "Paper Size Check" and "Paper Skew Check".  This will make the the printer just accept the paper without doing any checks.

For density,
The Epson pigments (well all pigments) are naturally transparent so getting a good density is tough.  The way you get a better density is to either use more ink (by increasing the dpi) or by using a more dense ink.  Are you using a RIP or just the Epson software?  A RIP will have a lot of expanded print options over the Epson driver.  Now, the advantage to the Epson pigments is they are encapsulated in a UV resin ball.  This means that even though you may not get a 100% perfectly dense print, it still may be able to block the UV light from your exposure unit and give you a good exposure. 

You can change out your inks to a dye based ink.  That will solve your density problem.  A lot of people use bulk ink systems in the 4800 for 2 reasons; 1 - cost savings by only running 1 ink & 2 - better black density. 

I have done a lot of Epson conversions, let me know if you need any more help.

[Shanarchy]

Thanks Jantex! Much appreciated.

I was printing through Accurip.

When switching do the bulk inks, should I be flushing out the old ink with cleaning cartridges?

Also, Pierre (and others), where are you ordering your ink from?

[blue moon]

Thanks Jantex! Much appreciated.

I was printing through Accurip.

When switching do the bulk inks, should I be flushing out the old ink with cleaning cartridges?

Also, Pierre (and others), where are you ordering your ink from?

put the new ink in and either print large black squares or run few cleanings until the new ink is coming out of the nozzles.

we buy our locally, but there is a supplier on here that has it (can't remember who, sorry).

pierre