Digital BW, The Print

Tyler,

Thank you for all the good info on the 3000. Especially the tip on 
checking for proper print dimensions. I guess a 80% chance of getting 
a good one first time is something I can live with if I go into 
knowing the problems.

A couple of more questions if I may. I went back and checked the 
dimensions and the 3000 is BIG and heavy. 32" wide, 22" deep and 
50lbs. In order to use the straight through paper feed path, how much 
room do you need behind the printer? Does the paper feed in at an 
angle like all the other back loading Epson's?

How slow is the Piezo driver with the 3000? Right now my 1200 does an 
8x10 in about 7 minutes with the new Piezo driver set to "Best" which 
I believe corresponds to 1440 dpi.

You saw the coated work prints I sent around. These were all made on 
my 1200 and all show some micro or microscopic banding in the smooth 
sky areas of the print. Do you thing that I could get better 
performance from a properly working 3000?

Thanks,
Martin




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Tyler Boley" <tyler@t...> 
wrote:
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Martin Wesley" 
<mwesley250@e...> wrote:
> > 3000 Users,
> 
> I'd take Bob O's advise seriously, I think he's been putting both 
of his through heavier use than mine, and seems to have 
> had more trouble. Sorry Bob, I didn't know you had clog problems.
> I'd buy a refurb with a warranty. The first thing you should do is 
get the thickest 17x22 Epson paper there is and print a 
> large box, say 16x20, on it with the Epson inks, through the back. 
If it is not square, or is not the correct dimensions (a little 
> short, or long), imediately send it back or in for warranty. Don't 
accept whacky nozzle patterns or alignment problems, just 
> keep bugging them until it's right with the OEM ink. Epson is very 
good, and fast, about 3000 repairs.
> Once that part is ok most of the problems are behind you, except 
for the thickest of papers. It will pass very thick paper, but 
> can't control the advance acurately. So you'll get incorrect 
dimensions and banding. How thick varies, I can use papers up 
> to around 250gsm ok, Steve has actually had luck with 310gsm paper, 
and I think Bob told me he couldn't even get Wells 
> River 190gsm through without a problem. I used to get Concorde Rag?
gsm through the front, the others have to go through 
> the back but it makes no performance difference as far as I can 
tell despite the additional roller contact.
> Pizza wheels are an individual thing, they help my paper stay 
square, but for others leave marks on some papers. The new 
> Piezo driver does solve banding if the printer needs it, but is 
very slow. Who knows if the the current version is going to 
> work with the new ink you're waiting for? Certainly there will be 
new profiles at the least.
> I have no idea about the chances of getting a good one. I think IJM 
used to say 1 of 5 was bad.
> Tyler