wilfredo Posted June 13, 2012 Share #1 Posted June 13, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm very happy with the quality of my prints with the Epson 3880 but loading Epson Velvet Fine Art paper from the rear is a royal pain in the ass. It takes me about 8 tries before it finally loads. I keep getting "error" messages. I have resorted to loading it as Ultra Premium Presentation paper and running it through the middle upper slot. I suspect I'm losing some quality doing this. I tried widening the platen gap, but still get "load paper correctly" message. It gets to the point where you want to throw the printer out the window. Why does Epson create machines with hyper sensitive paper sensors? Any suggestions? I want to experiment with better quality papers but any thick makes the printer crazy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 Hi wilfredo, Take a look here Epson 3880 Loading. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
sanyasi Posted June 13, 2012 Share #2 Posted June 13, 2012 Several weeks ago I posted about my Epson 4880 and how the automatic feed system was damaged because of the thick paper I was using. I was instructed by Hahnemuhle to load from the back, too. I share your frustration. I found that I was get damaged prints about 1 in 6 times--noticeable scratches and ink marks on the sides of the paper. Plus there was the problem of having to reload paper four and five times because it was not straight. Yesterday, after two weeks of this, I gave up and went back to the front tray feed. It is obvious that this is how paper is meant to be loaded: Fifteen 17" by 22" prints without a problem. My wife suggested continuing to use the Hahenmuhle paper and just spending the $550 every 18 months to replace the feed system. I am going to give the Epson paper a try first, but if I don't like it, I will take my wife's advice to a point. I will use my current printer until it breaks again and I will then replace it. You can bet that I will pay a lot more attention to the feeding mechanism next time. In fact, I've already taken a glance at the Canon printers. Given the sophistication of paper coatings, it is unacceptable that Epson hasn't adequately addressed this problem. I sympathize, but don't have any suggestions. Jack Siegel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1JB Posted June 13, 2012 Share #3 Posted June 13, 2012 I have found that if I gently press down on the top edge of the velvet fine art when loading from the back of the 3800 it loads properly without a problem. Without the pressure it seems to want to reject the paper. I also always have to print on any paper with the platen gap set to wide. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted June 13, 2012 Share #4 Posted June 13, 2012 Wilfredo, On my 3800 it appears to be the same thing. The paper has to be loaded totally straight or it will not feed. I used a T-square to line up the sheet before inserting. I also found that equal amounts of pressure on both edges of the paper at the same time (IOW, using both hands to feed at the leading edge of the page) gave much better and quicker results than trying to guide it from the middle or the trailing edge. Same goes for Arches and other fine art stocks, or even for the thick baryta types from Hahnemuhle and Harmon, which have been my favourites for the last while. That velvet fine art stock rocks though... it's worth the trouble. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 13, 2012 Share #5 Posted June 13, 2012 Just to clarify terminology, the 3800 series printers have 3 feeds: top, rear and front. The first two are on top of the machine, the latter toward the back, while the front feed is the one literally accessed at the front of the printer. I became just as frustrated as the OP early on (3 years ago) using the rear feed, which often skewed the paper or left an error message, so I stopped using it. Instead, especially for any thicker or curled papers (Hahnemuhle Photo Rag, for instance), I began using the front feed. (The platen gap can of course be adjusted as needed.) I use the top feed for other thinner, less problematic papers. The only caution using the front feed on the 3800 series is to pay attention as the print is in process and the paper comes forward to the front of the machine to be sure no edges are curled upward, which could get stuck by one of the two 'paper guides' that protrude downward. Otherwise I find the front feeder to be quite easy compared to the often finicky rear feed. A friend uses the 4800 series printer and had a problem with the rear feed on that machine (I think it's positioned similar to the top feed on the 3800 series). He solved the problem by making sure that he aligned the paper with two hands and didn't release it until the feed mechanism grabbed the paper and began pulling it through. The top feeder on the 3800 doesn't have that problem, as the paper is merely placed in the tray slot and the machine does the rest. One could expect Epson to do a better, more consistent, job with these feeders. I don't use Epson papers, so maybe they work better with those, but Epson gets enough of my money already on inks. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpattison Posted June 15, 2012 Share #6 Posted June 15, 2012 It gets to the point where you want to throw the printer out the window. That's almost what I did with mine, but my boot smashed it first, so I took it to the tip. I'll never buy another Epson, especially as their Apple software is rubbish. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studio58 Posted June 15, 2012 Share #7 Posted June 15, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) My 4800 sometimes took 20 minutes to get a sheet to load, a real killer. The solution, covered the top so light was not coming in and confusing the sensor. Worked 95% of the time. I am soon selling the 4800 after 6 years of studio use and thousands of prints and upgrading to the 3880. Made some prints on one recently and was knocked out by the results. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted June 18, 2012 Author Share #8 Posted June 18, 2012 I'm going to try some of these solutions, including loading the paper in the dark so no light hits the sensors. It really is a shame that Epson has not gotten a handle of this issue. I don't see what the point of these sensors are if they don't work? I wish there was an option to override the sensors. I never had these issues with the my old Epson 2200. I love the prints I get but wondering if HP or Canon printers, produce the same quality prints? Thank you all for responding. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 18, 2012 Share #9 Posted June 18, 2012 There are no sensor issues using the front feed. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studio58 Posted June 20, 2012 Share #10 Posted June 20, 2012 I don't see what the point of these sensors are if they don't work? I love the prints I get but wondering if HP or Canon printers, produce the same quality prints? Thank you all for responding. It is not that the sensors do not work. I have been led to believe the light somehow confuses them. Therefore, I just covered the top of the printer with a cloth and that seemed to overcome the problem As far as print quality is concerned, from my own experience and what I have heard, the Epson is King. I think you would be making a big mistake in choosing another brand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 20, 2012 Share #11 Posted June 20, 2012 ...Therefore, I just covered the top of the printer with a cloth and that seemed to overcome the problem... Use the front feed instead; no cloth required. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studio58 Posted June 20, 2012 Share #12 Posted June 20, 2012 I use the front feed always (cloth required) unless I am using roll paper. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 21, 2012 Share #13 Posted June 21, 2012 I use the front feed always (cloth required) unless I am using roll paper. . Good trick, since the 3880 (which Wilfredo is complaining about) doesn't have a roll paper option. And the front feed on the 3880 has no sensor issues to worry about as the paper is first fed flat to the rear of the machine and then automatically fed back through the front. Perhaps you're cutting the roll paper to use on the 3880, but I fail to understand why there would be any sensor issue whatsoever. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studio58 Posted June 21, 2012 Share #14 Posted June 21, 2012 My 4800 sometimes took 20 minutes to get a sheet to load, a real killer. The solution, covered the top so light was not coming in and confusing the sensor. Worked 95% of the time. I am soon selling the 4800 after 6 years of studio use and thousands of prints and upgrading to the 3880. Made some prints on one recently and was knocked out by the results. Did you bother to read my first post ? I made it quite clear that I was experiencing similar problems with my 4800 and offered my solution as a possible avenue that may also work on the 3880. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 21, 2012 Share #15 Posted June 21, 2012 I did...five days ago...but didn't remember today when you posted again. Still, your post #10 could be misleading to the OP if he didn't recall the differences between the 3800 and 4800 feed mechanisms. You quoted him venting about the sensor issues, while the point I was trying to reiterate to him is that he won't have any sensor issues using his front feed. Didn't mean to talk over you in the process. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share #16 Posted June 21, 2012 I tried using the front feed, and the paper jammed twice. My last two sheets of Velvet Fine Art paper ruined. Ahhhh, another trip to B&H for paper! Honestly, my advice to potential Epson 3880 buyers: the Epson 3880 is a risky proposition. I suggest you explore other more reliable less stress inducing printers. I'm stuck with mine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1JB Posted June 21, 2012 Share #17 Posted June 21, 2012 What program are you using to print? I use Qimage and it will at times change the platten settings when I select a new paper profile. I assume you're using the correct paper profile and have adjusted the platten gap. It may be something with the 3880 mechanism but by applying gentle pressure to the edges of the paper and having the platten set to wide I never have a problem with velvet fine art feeding. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 21, 2012 Share #18 Posted June 21, 2012 I tried using the front feed, and the paper jammed twice. How so? Did you read my comment on watching the paper guides as the paper proceeds toward the front during printing, or did you have another issue? Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1JB Posted June 21, 2012 Share #19 Posted June 21, 2012 What I don't understand is how the paper is jamming and being damaged once it is fed in. The only time I've had a problem with paper being damaged is if the platten setting is to narrow. I thought the problem was that the paper couldn't be fed into the printer without being rejected? If it feeds but then you here the printer head beating on the paper the platten setting is too narrow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 21, 2012 Share #20 Posted June 21, 2012 If it feeds but then you here the printer head beating on the paper the platten setting is too narrow. That's not always the issue. When using the front feeder of the 3800 series, if the paper tends to curl upward, it can catch on one or both 'paper guides' that protrude downward as the paper moves from back to front. This is not an issue as the paper initially feeds from front to back, as the paper is held flat through the feeder. I watch carefully when using certain papers in the front feed. The platen gap is already set appropriately and that's not an issue for me (although it certainly needs to be set correctly). It's strictly about paper curl as the paper exits. I've gotten used to this, so it's really no big deal, and certainly better for me than using the rear feed. I simply press down on the paper end if it's curling upward as the edge passes the paper guides. The simplest feed on the 3800 series, if the paper suits, is the top feeder...just put it in the tray and hit print...but some thicker, more heavily coated papers that have a tendency to curl (Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Pearl, for instance) don't like the top feed, particularly if the image area is close to the paper edge. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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