Banding Issue - paper incompatible?

[martcol]

I have posted before on this and assumed that I wasn't getting the print head alignment right. That little utility is still too smart for me but now I'm wondering if it is a paper/ink compatability issue.

I use Epson ink in my 2100 and am running Kodak Picture Paper. The paper is nice and cheap and though I don't expect polished results I would like to know if I can print without it banding horribly. By banding I mean faint lines in the print, horizontally. Not lines that look like rollers but regular bands in the print itself that look like window blinds (well kind of).

Is it because of the Epson Ink? I have varying degrees of success that seem better (or worse) depending on the most recent print head alignment.

I've been to Kodak, Epson, on-line retailer and a local Epson service centre for advice but they were all hopeless! Mnd you, the Espon chap mumbled something about Durabrite ink and if he tested the printer it would be on Epson paper and if that was good then nothing wrong. Fair enough I suppose.

If I can make certain it's the paper then I'll ditch it and think again but, it's a fraction of the price of higher quality media.

Many thanks

Martin

[Baadil]

I have used various different types of photo paper in my Epson (5500) with very good succes rate. I only had banding issues when either my head allignment was off or head nozzles weren't clean. I would recommend the following:

Try cleaning heads with software
Try Head allignment again...
Try print on regular paper in regular (fine) mode and see if you get banding... Banding can also occue if you are doing speed printing where head prints back and forth instead of print from one side only.

[lostdoggy]

Epson printer are for most part a Piezo electric printer and the rest of the other inkjet printers use thermal inkjet technology. Kodak paper are design to work with both with bias to Thermal inkjet. Epson paper are design for Piezo inkjet printers and can be use on thermal inkjet printers bbut not fully optimized for that. But all this have nothing to do with banding. Its more to do with smudging and puddling. Banding can be cause by alignment and clogging. Since you said you aligned the head then clogging might be the issue. The worst case scenario you need a new head if repeated cleaning won't help.

[ejwebb]

This very well could be a printer/paper compatibility issue. Printer manufacturers develop the printers, inks and papers to work their best together and provide printer settings to maximize the quality under their various media. Using other papers introduces an unanticipated variable to the equation as the papers react differently to the ink. You may be able to correct the banding issues by trying different settings. I suggest you test the printer with Epson paper and recommended settings and if there is no banding then it is not a printer issue - if there is you should try the head cleaning, alignment solutions and if still not corrected maybe Epson will help.

I use Canon but have seen the same issue - no banding with Canon paper but slight banding with other manufacturers' papers using the same settings. By adjusting the paper type and print quality in the print driver most of the effect was eliminated. I stick with the higher quality Canon, Epson or Ilford Gallerie Classic line (about 1/2 the cost of Canon) of papers for best results. I think you have to use the higher quality media to get the best out of the printers. Good luck!!