Epson 3800 Refurbished

[Bill W]

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I recently picked up a refurbished Epson 3800. It is my second due to the first being damamged in shipping by Fedex. This one arrived in like new condition except I had to perform a head cleaning nozzle check a couple of times. I then got an acceptable print. I let it sit a couple of days till I could do some more printing. I loaded some matte paper and ouch. The colors were great but blacks come out a matte green. I thought it was the paper so I went back to Premium luster which I use almost exclusively.

The printer switches back and forth on the black inks automatically. Still there is a problem rendering blacks.

Any suggestions before I contact Epson. they will suggest cleaning the print head again I am sure.

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[wparsonsgisnet]

Bill, this sounds like a lot of fun for you.

 

I bot a refurb 2400 from Epson some time ago and found it magenta-ish out of the box. I ended up buying Image Print and that solved all the problems.

 

So, IP knows that to do with a "vanilla" 2400 and that worked. Can you find a friend with the software who can check your printer? [Note to all: this is not a suggestion to pirate some software or anything like that. IP uses a dongle, so if a friend checks out your printer, then when this guy takes the dongle home, you don't have a copy of the software.]

 

If the IP stuff gets it right, then the printer is ok.

 

Nice software, too.

[Bill W]

I don't know anyone locally that has IP so outta luck there. I'll call or email Epson and see it they have any suggestions.

[Bill W]

Bill,

I went to Imageprint's website. For the 3800 the cost is $895. That's a bit pricy for me since this is just a hobby!!!!!! The 2400 is $495 in the lite version.

[wparsonsgisnet]

Bill,

 

My initial reaction to their prices was shock and a lack of interest. However, the software was highly recommended by another Forum member and the magenta hues of the 2400 (using the paper mfrs own profiles) sent me running toward IP. It's really great software.

 

You could go to their website and ask if they have any sales in your area so you can see the stuff.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Funny I almost just ordered a refurb from Epson than I read the fine print . No returns and maybe something missing from the original package. I ordered a new one from B&H be here next week

 

 

Refurbished Products: All sales are final. These are products that have been returned to Epson. They have been inspected and tested to ensure they perform properly. Some may have minor blemishes due to handling. They are available only while quantities last. Refurbished products may or may not contain a media pack or the same software package as new models. In order to provide these savings and to move final quantities, we cannot accept returns unless the product arrived damaged or defective in which case your remedy is replacement with the same model or equivalent. See Terms of Sale and Conditions.

[Bill W]

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Guy,

I have had good luck with refurbs. I bought a 2400 last year and it had been perfect. I thought I would get a 3800 for its larger ink supply and wider format. I have emailed Epson concerning the the issue with the black rendering. Its strange that I got a perfect print then let the printer sit for a couple of days since I had no time to print and now I have this issue. Will follow up with their response.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Yes I was going for it myself but I just did not like the wording, I hope they come to your rescue on this. Something sounds off there. Could it be maybe a profile. Jack knows this stuff real well I will send him a link to this , he maybe able to help.

[Jack_Flesher]

Bill:

 

First you need to be printing with Photoshop managing colors and second, all internal printer color management needs to be off. Lastly you need to select the correct profile for the paper you are wanting to print on. I suspect you are running into trouble with the latter and possibly the second steps, either of which will give you screwy color. (The reason the RIP's are so popular is they do all of these steps for you behind the scenes with a very friendly UI, and include sets of very good custom profiles.)

 

Finally, with Epson Luster -- which is a very good wide gamut paper -- if you default to the internal color management of the printer, the results are generally pretty good. Not nearly as good as using a custom profile, but usually acceptable to folks newer to printing...

 

Shameless plug, but in case you are interested, we are offering a printing workshop in Carmel next month and will be specifically covering printing with the Epson 3800... Feel free to contact me offline for more details.

 

Best,

[wparsonsgisnet]

Bill:

 

First you need to be printing with Photoshop managing colors and second, all internal printer color management needs to be off. Lastly you need to select the correct profile for the paper you are wanting to print on. I suspect you are running into trouble with the latter and possibly the second steps, either of which will give you screwy color. (The reason the RIP's are so popular is they do all of these steps for you behind the scenes with a very friendly UI, and include sets of very good custom profiles.)

 

Finally, with Epson Luster -- which is a very good wide gamut paper -- if you default to the internal color management of the printer, the results are generally pretty good. Not nearly as good as using a custom profile, but usually acceptable to folks newer to printing...

 

Shameless plug, but in case you are interested, we are offering a printing workshop in Carmel next month and will be specifically covering printing with the Epson 3800... Feel free to contact me offline for more details.

 

Best,

 

Jack, thanks for mentioning these things.

 

I was using PS with that software managing the colors, was using Ilford glossy, and had downloaded their 2400 profiles. Out of the box, the printer gave me a magenta cast.

 

Another poster had previously recommended IP and it turned out to be the solution.

 

I spent some time on the phone with an IP guy and he told me that they spend a lot of time calibrating in a precise fashion to each printer. Also, the new printers from Epson, like the 2400, are very precise in their process. Therefore, he said, the IP stuff should be identical across different printers in the 2400 family.

 

I didn't have a problem before the 2400. I've been doing as you prescribe, letting PS manage the color, and using the paper manufacturers' profiles, with great success -- except that I ended up doing a lot of proofing.

 

With IP (sorry guys, I'm not wealthy enough or connected enough to be in cahoots with the IP guys, this is an unsolicited endorsement, like the one I got earlier from my Forum buddy), everything came out right.

 

Actually, I have been having problems for a long time with the prints being darker than the screen image. I posted about this and another Pentone Huey user recommended changing the gamma setting.

 

I both got the Huey Pro upgrade and set the gamma higher (2.4, I believe), which made the screen images appear darker. This way they better match the printer output.

 

How come this computer-photography stuff is so simple and inexpensive?

[Jack_Flesher]

The biggest "secret" to the good RIPs (like IP) is their internal, custom profiles. The second biggest advantage is the way they raster the image, usually different/better than the factory print driver. However, Epson stepped their own up significantly with the introduction of the 3800 and later x880's.

 

At any rate, generic paper profiles offered by manufacturers are usually nowhere near as good as a custom profile. So for a fraction of the cost of a RIP, especially if one only wants to use a few papers, custom profiles may be a more cost-effective solution --- but it assumes they print correctly with them to begin with A good custom profile can be had starting at around $25 from companies like InkjetArt.com.

 

Finally, WYSIWYG print output requires --- rather DEMANDS --- a properly profiled monitor. Printing without having a profiled monitor is an exercise in futility -- you'll spend 10x as much on wasted paper and ink printing "proofs" than you ever spend on a monitor profiling puck.

 

Cheers,

[Bill W]

Bill:

 

First you need to be printing with Photoshop managing colors and second, all internal printer color management needs to be off. Lastly you need to select the correct profile for the paper you are wanting to print on. I suspect you are running into trouble with the latter and possibly the second steps, either of which will give you screwy color. (The reason the RIP's are so popular is they do all of these steps for you behind the scenes with a very friendly UI, and include sets of very good custom profiles.)

 

Finally, with Epson Luster -- which is a very good wide gamut paper -- if you default to the internal color management of the printer, the results are generally pretty good. Not nearly as good as using a custom profile, but usually acceptable to folks newer to printing...

 

Shameless plug, but in case you are interested, we are offering a printing workshop in Carmel next month and will be specifically covering printing with the Epson 3800... Feel free to contact me offline for more details.

 

Best,

 

Jack,

I have been printing exactly as you have outlined for several years. I have used Epson Luster 99% of the time as well. The only thing I did different this time is I decided to use some archival matte I had sitting around. The 3800 changes the black to the matte ink automatically. The results in the blacks was the only issue. I switched back to luster and the 3800 switched inks again. I have not tried to use the internal color management of the printer. I do profile my monitor by the way.

[Jack_Flesher]

Jack,

I have been printing exactly as you have outlined for several years.

 

The only thing I did different this time is I decided to use some archival matte I had sitting around.

 

*The 3800 changes the black to the matte ink automatically.

 

The results in the blacks was the only issue.

 

I do profile my monitor by the way.

 

Then the profile for that paper was really bad.

 

*Regarding the 3800 changing the inks automatically. Just to clarify for others reading/learning from this, it only does that if you've selected the proper paper substrate in the printer dialog to begin with, and this is a different selection point than the paper profile: The paper profile is chosen in the CS3 print dialog while the paper substrate is chosen in the Epson printer and set-up dialog that follows after you hit print in the CS3 dialog.

 

Cheers,

[AlanJW]

I've had a 3800 since January and had no issues with color casts. I am an amateur and the printer sits in my "darkroom" at my weekend house and because of some family health issues I didn't get out there for a month, so the printer sat idle. Last weekend I finally got back there and fired it up and it went through its self clean start up cycle and then printed perfectly -- Harman Gloss (really a semi gloss) (they make a nice 17 x 25), and Ilford luster as well. I think you've got a profile that doesn't work.

[Bill W]

Then the profile for that paper was really bad.

 

*Regarding the 3800 changing the inks automatically. Just to clarify for others reading/learning from this, it only does that if you've selected the proper paper substrate in the printer dialog to begin with, and this is a different selection point than the paper profile: The paper profile is chosen in the CS3 print dialog while the paper substrate is chosen in the Epson printer and set-up dialog that follows after you hit print in the CS3 dialog.

 

Cheers,

 

Jack,

I have not had time to revisit my printing delima. I am at work now and of course I think, "did I change the paper in the printer dialog?" Of course I cannot remember now but I will check on it this evening and try some test prints. The problem I am having seems like a mismatch in paper/profile somewhere. I have not had this type problem since I owned a 2000P several years ago and it was ver sensitive to anything even when there was a full moon.........thanks....bill......

[johnwolf]

Sorry about the off-topic post, but I've got a question for you 3800 users.

 

For your largest print sizes, are you cropping to 16 x 20"? I like the 2:3 proportions. Is there a way to go to 16 x 24"?

 

I believe some companies are starting to offer 17 x 25" paper? Anyone using it? Will the 3800 accommodate this size? Thanks.

 

John

[Bill W]

Of course I am not there yet but I think since it will take 17" wide paper by 22" length. You do pick a paper size. I would guess that the print driver needs to be told the size of the output. In order to take 25" length, this would involve an updated driver.

[Jack_Flesher]

Sorry about the off-topic post, but I've got a question for you 3800 users.

 

For your largest print sizes, are you cropping to 16 x 20"? I like the 2:3 proportions. Is there a way to go to 16 x 24"?

 

I believe some companies are starting to offer 17 x 25" paper? Anyone using it? Will the 3800 accommodate this size? Thanks.

 

John

 

Not OT at all

 

Fortunately for me, my favorite paper (Harman FB AI gloss) is available in 17x25 sheets, so printing full 16x24's is easy. You get the full print with a perfect 1/2 inch border all the way around

 

Unfortunately, Epson only offers their large sheets in the 17x22 tabloid size...

 

Cheers,

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[arthury]

It sure sounds like the jet nozzle for Black is not completely out of the clogged land. The reason for the green is that there's not enough black ink coming out.

[Bill W]

I revisited my printing routine and that is not the problem. I will do ao nozzle check and head cleaning again. Like I have stated, I got a good print out of the unit so I know it is possible. I just hope the clogged nozzle is not a sympton of continuing issues.