Epson Stylus Photo 1500W Horizontal Ghosting

[brian_mk]

Printer: Epson Stylus Photo 1500W.
Some months ago lines of printed text began to exhibit horizontal ghosting or blurring.
The problem goes away if I check Grayscale or disable bi-directional printing.
Attached is an example.
What could be the problem and how can I fix it?

I have tried nozzle check and head alignment.
I have cleaned the carriage position encoder strip and the carriage rod.

As you can see from the example, the problem gets better and worse in a repeating cyclic pattern as the paper passes through the printer.

 

[PeterBJ]

I don't know much about Epson printers but here is a post about a Canon printer with a similar problem. It is caused by a defective printhead, see the pigment black section of the nozzle check.

Uploading a scan or photo of a nozzle check might help Epson experts to diagnose the printer.

 

[brian_mk]

Here is the nozzle check.
I am aware that there is some contamination of the yellow channel with black ink so there is probably some head delamination. Printing yellow test images helps clear the channel makes the printer useable.
See my previous thread:-

Thread 'Epson 1500W print head replacement'

Jan 27, 2026

The print head in my 1500W has the common 'black ink leaking into the adjacent yellow channel' problem (delamination) and needs to be replaced.
Has anyone carried out a print head replacement? I have watched a couple of videos and it looks feasable.
Replacement heads are available from Aliexpress for just over £100. Are they any good?
There seem to be two different part numbers available: F1730350 or R1390.
I get the impression that F1730350 is a non-original replacement.

• brian_mk
• Replies: 11
• Forum: Epson InkJet Printers

I don't see how that could affect the ghosting issue.

As per my previous thread, replacing the printhead is not an option:-
Genuine Epson printheads are pretty much impossible to find and probably as expensive as buying a new printer.
Finding a trusted seller in the UK or China is a lottery.
Also, you need the Epson 1500W adjustment program to to set up bi-directional print alignment and to configure the head ID. That software doesn't appear to be made available to the public.

 

[brian_mk]

My guess is that there may be some problem with the servo control loop that controls the carriage position and speed. It uses a DC motor and an encoder strip rather than a stepper motor.
I cannot understand why the problem goes away if 'grayscale only' is selected.
I also cannot understand why the ghosting distance changes in a cyclic pattern as the paper moves through the printer. Perhaps the result of some heating/cooling effect?