[alt-photo] Re: Epson 3800 Ink Expiration Date and Epson Driver

[Paul Viapiano]

No problem here with expiry of inks, using 3800 and printing digi-negs.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Amy Holmes George" <amyhgeorge at hotmail.com>
To: <alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 2:51 PM
Subject: [alt-photo] Epson 3800 Ink Expiration Date and Epson Driver



Hello alt list,
I have two queries, and I would certainly appreciate any feedback anyone can 
offer . . .
First of all, I am curious to know if anyone else is using the Epson 3800 
(with the Epson driver) to produce digital negatives (using Epson color 
inks) on Pictorico transparency film (particularly with pt/pd printing) and 
rendering consistently good results AND no "venetian blinds" effect.
If so, this is my question: Are any or all of your Epson inks past their 
"expiration" date?
Epson tells me that, like most things these days, their inks are stamped 
with a "freshness" date as a recommendation to use it within two years of 
its production. However, they (Epson) actually use expired inks all the time 
with no ill effect. Currently, I am printing with several expired inks—some 
of which expired last fall. So, now I'm wondering if there is any 
correlation between ink freshness and venetian blinds or even UV 
sensitivity. Epson could not address this issue, especially since I'm 
printing on Pictorico and not an Epson media.
Second issue: I am still struggling with the occasional recurrence of 
venetian blinds in large fields of flat, (typically) high print values. And, 
when I tweak the settings under Advanced Media Controls in the Epson driver 
(as originally recommended by Epson and several folks on this list), it 
appeared to eliminate the venetian blinds, but then I experience other 
issues like the shadows blocking up. Recently I decided to print 1 PDN Color 
Density Range Palette with those same Advanced Media Control settings used 
to combat venetian blinds and then printed 1 PDN Color Density Range Palette 
withOUT the Advanced Media Control settings applied. Both were coated, 
exposed and developed according to my standardized time for pt/pd BUT the 
final print results are drastically different (BTW, each CDRP was printed 
with a Stouffers 31 step-tablet which reproduced the same in each). The CDRP 
printed with the Advanced Media Control settings reveals no paper white 
(looks way over exposed) and there is micro-banding; these differences are 
not detectable in the negatives themselves.
You can view the results here: 
http://picasaweb.google.com/103360756612857524693/VerticalBandingInSky#5475693643166130162
Does anyone have an explanation for this?
Sorry for my lengthy message . . .
Many thanks,Amy Holmes George

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