scratches and banding that i can't fix :(

[KellyT]

hi printers!

i'm running three epson 11880's and am encountering a couple issues i haven't had before printing on baryta media with the settings i've always used. first, i'm getting fine scratches, about an inch in length that are especially noticeable in the deep blacks. i've tested all platen gap setings, suctions, print drying time as well as feeding excess paper out on the front and back end of the image to lessen the curl of large rolls. i can't seem to eliminate it. second, in my deepest blacks i'm geting what appears to be large banding. i've cleaned repeatedly, reset the paper to avoid skewing, and even run new test files of pure black. i've had these printers for 2 1/2 years and have not had these issues to this extent. i've been using CS3 but have also tested on CS5. I get the same issue on both Mac OS Tiger and Snow Leopard, run off different computers. I have the correct settings, drivers, firmware, etc. I've been running and troubleshooting these printers since day one and am running out of ideas and time to solve this. Please help! Thank you!

[Johu]

Hi Kelly,
This sounds to me as case where the material cant handle the amount of ink it's been fed and thus curls up a little making the print head scratch the material. I can see two possible cures if this the case. You were on right track about platen gap and suction. What I have done in cases like this is increase the head height and suction. Also I am mostly using CGS Color Tuner rips where you can set GCR while doing color matching thus decreasing the amount of ink and thus decreasing the curl effect. Last option of course is to change material to something less sensitive material.

I am guessing that you are using matt or other kind of material which absorbs part of the ink.

[Cliff]

sounds about right for the banding,... fine lines check your pressure rollers etc.