Old inks causing poor results ? Opinions please

[Chris-P-Midlands]

Hi all,

Recently (Just b4 xmas) I began getting strange results on my mug prints. The print on paper looked fine, but when pressed, text edges had a minute 'splatter' looking shadowy, smudgy look to them, and also a 'dirty', yellowy looking background between text, and even in-between images. Images also began to look darker, & colours wrong, i,e, green looking black, blue looking almost black.

This is happening having had good results previously, and no changes to settings.

I am using an Epson printer, paper & inks all from City Ink Express, along with their ICC profile., and have never changed/flushed the system out)

Support at the supplier are saying that my inks may be too old ( I just top them up as & when needed ) (last batch purchased maybe a year or so ago?)

Would this be the case ? Does anyone have any experience of this ?

I have said to the supplier that I will change inks if that's whats required, and asked for advice re changing inks/flushing the system, but as yet, have had no guidance on this. If it comes to it, I may change the printer for an upgrade.


I am not a beginner, I have been subbing (and now manly HTV printing) for around 6 years. This particular printer is around 2-3 years old.

I have attached a couple of pics, but not sure how well it shows the 'dirty' yellow around the text.

Any opinions, & advice gratefully received.

Chris P

[JMugs]

I have had a problem in the past when everything took on a green hue. This was on an epson 7600. I changed the inks as they were out of date, flushed through by printing out blocks of solid colour. Problem was solved.
I can't say it will solve your problem, but it certainly was my problem.

Janners

[Fletcher]

[FONT=&quot]I Believe the dye particles tend to break down with age and cause erratic or fuzzy print from the nozzles. Most inks can be ran a little past the expire date, but dye sub inks apparently deteriorate fast and will likely cause issues.
I want to say sub ink has about a 2 year life but i could be wrong. [/FONT]

[Chris-P-Midlands]

Thanks Janners,

Much apreciated.

[Chris-P-Midlands]

Thanks mate,

Much apreciated

[Chris-P-Midlands]

I have had a problem in the past when everything took on a green hue. This was on an epson 7600. I changed the inks as they were out of date, flushed through by printing out blocks of solid colour. Problem was solved.
I can't say it will solve your problem, but it certainly was my problem.

Janners

Can I ask, How do you drain down a printer in order to change the inks ? Mine is an Epson L382

I have been talking to City Ink Express, who said they were to produce a video last weekend on how to drain this machine down, but nothing as yet, as far as i am aware? and slow comunication.

[socialgiraffe]

Can I ask, How do you drain down a printer in order to change the inks ? Mine is an Epson L382

Easiest way is to just print about 10 sheets of 100C 100M 100Y 100K. Draining a printer is a right FAFF and as ink is so cheap these days its not something to worry about.

[pisquee]

On the 7600 mentioned above there is "INIT FILL" in the service menus that will flush all the current ink to the waste tank and refill with the new inks ... no idea on smaller/consumer level printers though

[JMugs]

On the 7600 mentioned above there is "INIT FILL" in the service menus that will flush all the current ink to the waste tank and refill with the new inks ... no idea on smaller/consumer level printers though

Now that you mention it, I have a feeling I ended up doing that.

Janners

[DavidRLorenz]

Reading the small print on Inktec bottle you will be told to store in darkness. On my desktop dye sub printer the colors went bad. I had exterior clear tanks and the sun light spoiled the ink. Since then I store liter bottles in the fridge and no longer use exterior ink tanks on printer....all good. Inks I currently have are good at 2 years old now...in the dark.