buddah17 Loc: The Bahamas

I am once again reaching out to my UHH bothers and sisters for some help and advice..
I purchased a Epson Artisan 1430 printer about a year ago. (I don't print everyday.)
For the first 6-8 printing sessions, it worked fine. Then I stared to have problems with the centering of the image on the print.
In preview it would look fine, but the print would come out with a border that was wider, (or thinner) than the others.
It progressed to the point that the image would be far over on the side of the paper, and in preview, I started to see a border (or 2) with diagonal lines, (I assume to show me that the print would not be centered.) Initially I emailed Epson, with no tangible results. So I started calling them, and I was put on to their "technical department" that turned out to be someone at BEST BUY! I was told that I needed some "protective software" (good for 2-3 printers, or computers) and it would cost a few hundred dollars.. Although I am NOT technical I do not think that is the problem. My son thinks that I should reinstall the printer in my computer. However I cannot find the disc that came with it, and don't want to go down that avenue if it is not the possible solution...
Does anyone have any suggestions on this?

Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

I'm not a computer expert but I agree with your son. If you can't find the printer install disc then I suggest you go to the Epson website to download it. Also, my Epson came with a PDF "instruction" book that automatically downloaded and placed a short cut on my desktop. You might click on it to see if there is a maintenance item you can run. Take care & ...

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Not having the disk is not an obstacle. Go to Epson's website and download the appropriate driver for your printer and computer operating system. Then delete the original printer from your system. Then install the printer again using the driver you dowloaded. Test how it prints a test page. Then test how it prints an image you have selected. Henceforth do not "mess with", "fool with" or "experiment with" the printer settings. Instead read the 'fine' manual (a politically corrected phrase) that came with the printer.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Maybe -
http://www.tracyvalleau.com/blog/?p=4
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/2849923

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Epson drivers are downloaded from their website. The discs are outdated by the time you buy the printer, so you always want to download the latest driver and install it. If you do use the disc, immediately use the Epson Software Updater to get the latest versions of all the software on that disc.

Uneven borders on Epson printers MAY be due to driver defaults for page margins. If you carefully examine ALL the settings in Page Setup, and in the driver itself, you may find your answer. My default margins are typically .56" at page top, .17 elsewhere. Epson does that with many printers to avoid poor quality at one end of the paper.

Of course, you may have a hardware issue. If you're getting lines and streaks in your prints, that may be clogged head nozzles or misaligned print heads.

DO NOT let your Epson printer sit idle for more than a few days! You need to print something every few days just to keep the ink from clogging the heads. Also, DO NOT let ink cartridges expire, or sit in the printer longer than six months! The ink will harden in the nozzles and ruin the print head.

Epson printers are designed to be used hard. We had Epson 9600 and 9880 44" wide printers in the lab where I used to work. We ran them flat out, 20 hours a day, at certain times of the year. We learned pretty quickly that we could not let them sit during our "down" months. So we intentionally ran samples on Tuesdays and Thursdays, then, just to keep the heads clear. The lab was closed for two weeks one summer... The heads clogged in the 9600. Fortunately, a cleaning cycle worked that time. It doesn't always!

Just this week, I threw out two older Epson All-in-Ones at home. We hadn't used them in a while. When my son went to print something for a class the other day, he got a few blank pages! I tried all weekend to unclog the heads (it hadn't been used in months, and the ink cartridges were expired). No luck. So now we have just one printer that the four of us will use for all our documents and the occasional photo print. It will see enough use to keep the heads clear!

If you don't need to print more than occasionally, you would be better off using a custom professional color lab for photo prints, and owning a cheap laser printer for documents.

Linary Loc: UK

A question that springs to mind is "What software are you using to print - Photoshop? Lightroom? Word?" and is it set up correctly for printing.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Doowopa Loc: Connecticut

In printing preferences

The page layout tab.

Check centered and minimize margins.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Many applications let you define custom paper sizes with custom border widths...

alby Loc: very eastern pa.

threw out my epson as i only used it rarely... last time all i got was a bunch of very light lines then some splotches of ink... for the cost of new ink setup i can buy a new printer.... almost

Floyd Loc: Misplaced Texan in Florence, Alabama

FYI: I also have a 1430 and was going through 6 cartridges about every 3 months. Even with generic ink bought online I was spending nearly $50 to replenish the ink. A UHH er told me of "Precision Colors" which sells bulk ink with refillable cartridges. The initial set up includes 6 bottles of ink (about 8oz. each), the refillable cartridges and the needles to fit the bottles and recharge the cartridges.
Total cost"$99.00. I have already refilled cartridges 4 times and still have half full bottles of ink and the quality of my pictures look to me as good as those printed with Epson brand ink.

Unfortunately, I have not had the problem you asked about, so cannot help there.

PA Shutterbug Loc: Near Greater Pittsburgh Airport (PIT)

FWIW:
I know this applies to Epson ink jets. Can't speak to other brands.

The advice i've gleaned from various 3rd party ink suppliers. and have followed with success: When using other than OEM cartridges, if your Epson is working OK, do not update the firmware. Printer manufacturers ofttimes issue firmware updates that don't specifically list all the modifications, that makes the use of 3rd party cartridges next to impossible.

http://www.ccs-digital.com/epson-firmware-update-virus.asp

http://ljhent.com/faq/faq.html

HTH.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Try Epson at (562) 276-1305. Think it's India. They have no Best Buy's in India so you may get better help.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I agree with this. In fact, if you are using the print software that came with your printer you are probably not printing with the most up to date software.

********** With almost every device you buy these days, the software has been updated and can and should be downloaded from their website to be up to date **************

That said, just download the latest drive from Epson, then uninstall or delete the print software already on your computer and install the new software. Most likely the problem is the user (you) and not the software, so by installing a fresh version you will have the software back to it's default settings. Then take care not to click on something or adjust something that you don't understand. Read the user manuals or refer to youtube.com for some printing advice. There are many videos out there that can help you with your settings for printing.

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

This is actually just one of their support numbers, this one is located in Long Beach, CA. The service number for your particular printer is listed (on the epsonusa.com website) as (562) 276-7282, also in Long Beach.

However, most of the time your call will be immediately forwarded / rerouted to an actual support center (most likely in India, etc.). If this were a direct call to India, it would have to be dialed as 011-91-<City Code><the local number>.