Ink Smudging issues - Desperate for help!

Anna23

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Hello everyone!

I have just discovered the forum in the hope that someone on here has a solution to my problem because I am stumped and I have invested so much time and money into this project, I really don’t want to give up on it!

I have designed a journal and the first version I printed had an issue with smudging. I noticed that when I flicked back through the book all the black ink had transferred from one page to another and all the pages looked dirty. I used a matte photo paper that I have used before but only for prints, not in a book form. I assumed this was the issue.

So I bought a few more papers to try and every single one does the same thing, except with these papers I can’t even print on the backside of the pages with it smudging. I only have to run my hand lightly over these pages and I have ink on my hand and the black ink smudges.

I am using all genuine inks that are all about half full on my Epson XP-540.

I have no idea where to go from here I don’t know how to stop all the pages from smudging on to each other? I’ve just purchased a new wire binding machine and had SO many projects planned for it that are now impossible if I can’t have printed pages touching? I don’t understand.

Any advice would be greatly appreciate, I’m so gutted.
Thank you, Anna
 

The Hat

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I used a matte photo paper that I have used before but only for prints, not in a book form. I assumed this was the issue.
The only thing that could cause that is you media settings are wrong for the paper type your using..

If your paper is Matte photo then you should use the matte photo media setting in your printer setup, and not the plain paper setting as I suspect your using..

P.S. leave the ink and paper to dry over night fully before making books..
 

Anna23

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I am using a plain paper setting, I just assumed it was ok because the printout looked good. I will try the matte setting and see if it helps! Thank you!
 

palombian

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I suppose everything is fine when you print on office inkjet paper ?
Why do you want to use photo paper for books (most can't be printed on the back).
You can buy thicker office paper (120 or 160g/m2) and even 250g for colour printing in an office equipment store at much lower prices than photo paper.
 

PeterBJ

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I am using a plain paper setting, I just assumed it was ok because the printout looked good.....

That's the cause of the problem. When plain paper is selected a pigment black ink is used. This ink is water resistant and produces a sharper print on plain paper than dye inks. But it is totally unsuitable for photo paper. It doesn't stick well to the photo paper and easily rubs off and and it will smudge.

When photo paper is selected a dye black ink that is compatible with photo paper is used.
 

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