Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Printers and Color Printing Forum
Epson Stylus Photo P1900 end of life?
Sep 19, 2022 22:38:21   #
TomHackett Loc: Kingston, New York
 
About 11 years ago I purchased a previously owned P1900 from a friend who was upgrading to something bigger. Since then, I have been using it regularly, at least once per week--often more. A few weeks ago, I noticed that my prints had become much darker, especially in the shadow areas. I wondered if this was due to a problem with the handling of matte black ink, since virtually all of my prints are on matte paper.

Then, it occurred to me that if I printed on glossy paper, I would be using photo black more than matte black. My first print on glossy paper looked reasonably good, but still a little dark. My second print had consistent vertical lines. At that point, I decided to replace the red and orange cartridges (which were nearly empty) and run a nozzle check and head cleaning. After that, there were still some gaps in the black square of the nozzle check pattern. After another head cleaning, the nozzle check pattern showed gaps in all of the squares.

Is it common to have to run multiple nozzle cleanings? Is it possible that the situation is beyond repair? Should I be looking for a new printer?

Reply
Sep 20, 2022 07:37:21   #
Tjohn Loc: Inverness, FL formerly Arivaca, AZ
 
If the nozzle checks show the situation getting worse, it may be the ink. If you can copy an image of the test sheets, you can maybe get help from Epson.

Reply
Sep 20, 2022 11:00:03   #
dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida
 
I trashed my old Epson only to find out the "end of component life" was the waste sponge was full and hardened. A few screws and an alcohol rinse would have solved the problem.

Rubbing alcohol solves many printer problems and the fumes mellow you out.

Reply
 
 
Sep 20, 2022 12:38:32   #
TomHackett Loc: Kingston, New York
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I guess my printer reads the UHH forum and decided when it read my post that it better shape up.

This morning I ran yet another automatic nozzle check/cleaning and it came out clean. I then proceed to print three images (actually, one image on three different papers), and they all came out fine.

By the way, I heard about the waste ink pad some years ago and since then have been diverting the waste ink to an old coffee can. So far so good on that.

Reply
Nov 8, 2022 17:47:10   #
TomHackett Loc: Kingston, New York
 
Here's a related question.

By way of background, I should say that, as we know, the P1900 has LEDs for each cartridge that blink when the ink in that cartridge is low. There's also an LED on the control panel that blinks when there's a problem with one or more of the cartridges. If you open the print utility, it also can tell if any of the ink cartridges are low (but only one at a time?).

I should also mention that since I got the P1900 (previously owned), the little LED for the yellow cartridge has never worked. When the ink light tells me that one of the cartridges is low, but none of the specific cartridge lights is blinking, I just replace the yellow cartridge.

For the last several days, the ink light has been blinking, as has the GO cartridge light. Since I rarely print glossy, I have been ignoring it. Today, I decided to print a B&W photo (of my parents' wedding in 1947). It came out with a definite bluish cast. To make an already too long story a little shorter, I replaced the yellow cartridge, and all is well.

My question is, though, why this printer (and I believe printers in general) ever has the need to use colored inks for a black & white photo. I even went to the trouble of converting to Grayscale before printing. Under Print Settings portion of the Print Settings dialog (under the Printer Setup section of the Photoshop Print Settings dialog) it won't even let me make changes to Color or Color Settings. Why should it?

Is there a way to force it to use only black ink?

(Epson Stylus Photo R1900, Photoshop 2023, macOS Monterey 12.6)

Reply
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Printers and Color Printing Forum
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.