ET-8550 Overspray

[Epatcola]

Another old thread from DPreview also this and this brought back into the light by Keith Cooper with this youtube video.

The claim being that the (or some) ET-8550 sprays some extra ink in the margins of the print.

At the time I thought this was complete bollocks and still do (calling it overspray anyway). I was surprised Keith Cooper included something he has never witnessed in a video with advice that people waste paper and ink checking their new printer for the problem.

IMO the most likely cause it dye ink wicking along fibres in matt papers which is not going to change from one printer to another.

Has anyone here experienced this?

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

No problem here. I'm looking at some prints right now. There's not a trace of it, not even with black ink or strongly colored ink, or under strong light and magnification. I'm comparing blank paper with the edge of a print. Epson Premium Presentation Matte, a third party matte paper, and Epson Premium Gloss. No problem anywhere.

EDIT: I can imagine a nozzle getting damaged or clogged so droplets get atomized and sprayed all over. (???)

 

[bwrobins]

Only ever happens with the VFA setting and is generally very feint with no apparent impact on the actual printed image. It's out of warranty and I'm not following the DPR community's advice and throwing out the printer.

Because it's apparently media setting dependent, it's a strange behavior for a supposedly wholly defective printer that "needs to be junked".

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

I don't know if this makes you feel better or worse, but I have a print here that was printed on matte with a VFA setting. No problem at all.

The difference with VFA is that it uses some pigment black, which could, in principle, more likely to clog a nozzle. Just speculation, because I haven't seen it. Anyway, I won't comment more, because I haven't seen it.

 

[Epatcola]

Only ever happens with the VFA setting and is generally very feint with no apparent impact on the actual printed image. It's out of warranty and I'm not following the DPR community's advice and throwing out the printer.

That also means it only happens on matt papers. With VFA media type the speed is half that of standard matt and I assume it puts down more ink. I suggest similar to best quality mode only available for ultra glossy paper which is also half speed and ought to have specific color profiles.

One early comment on DPreview suggested it was most noticeable on dark green color edges. Does it take more ink to make R or G or B by mixing two of CMY?

I still think the concept of the print head spraying random dots only on matt paper and only past the edge of the print is ridiculous.

Various test could be done.

What difference does bi/uni directional printing make?

Is there 'overspray' when you print a black of dark green blob in the middle of a white page?

If you rotate the paper (and so its grain) 90 degrees does the 'overspray' move to top and bottom?