HP DesignJet 800 Printer Banding Printing Problem.

[Phil Spyder]

Wondering if anyone can please help me on this…

I am a professional photographer and print large photorealistic
posters on an HP DesignJet 800 - 42” Printer using Adobe PhotoShop7,
Win XP Pro SP2 on a Dual Core Pentium Intel Platform with 2GB Computer
RAM, 250GB Computer Hard Drive along with 160 MB Printer RAM (Max RAM
the printer will allow) and a 20GB Printer Hard Drive.

I have no difficulty printing both TIFF or JPEG files up to a file
size of about 55MB with the “Best (Enhanced)” feature for “Images” at
“Maximum Detail” enabled on the “Paper/Quality” tab of the “HP
DesignJet 800 Properties” window and am very happy with the print
quality this setup delivers. However, when I try printing anything
larger than this file size, every print I try gives me a pair of
banding lines at about one third and another pair of banding lines at
about two thirds the way through of the print’s length using the
“Portrait” orientation.

Does anybody know what might be causing this and if there is a
workable fix that can resolve this problem? I’ve recently upgraded the
printer’s RAM from the standard 96 MB to the full 160 MB and that
didn’t help at all. As far as I can see I think I have enough capacity
in terms of computer and printer memory. I’m now wondering if a RIP
might not resolve this problem. Does anyone have any similar
experiences and if so can you please tell me if installing a software
based RIP helped to resolve this or a similar problem? If so, which
RIP is best? Features vs. Price, etc… Any help would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks.

Phil

 

[tomm42]

Wondering if anyone can please help me on this…

I am a professional photographer and print large photorealistic
posters on an HP DesignJet 800 - 42” Printer using Adobe PhotoShop7,
Win XP Pro SP2 on a Dual Core Pentium Intel Platform with 2GB Computer
RAM, 250GB Computer Hard Drive along with 160 MB Printer RAM (Max RAM
the printer will allow) and a 20GB Printer Hard Drive.

I have no difficulty printing both TIFF or JPEG files up to a file
size of about 55MB with the “Best (Enhanced)” feature for “Images” at
“Maximum Detail” enabled on the “Paper/Quality” tab of the “HP
DesignJet 800 Properties” window and am very happy with the print
quality this setup delivers. However, when I try printing anything
larger than this file size, every print I try gives me a pair of
banding lines at about one third and another pair of banding lines at
about two thirds the way through of the print’s length using the
“Portrait” orientation.

Does anybody know what might be causing this and if there is a
workable fix that can resolve this problem? I’ve recently upgraded the
printer’s RAM from the standard 96 MB to the full 160 MB and that
didn’t help at all. As far as I can see I think I have enough capacity
in terms of computer and printer memory. I’m now wondering if a RIP
might not resolve this problem. Does anyone have any similar
experiences and if so can you please tell me if installing a software
based RIP helped to resolve this or a similar problem? If so, which
RIP is best? Features vs. Price, etc… Any help would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks.

Phil

Sure sounds like a data feed problem, the data feed is generally
slightly slower than the printer so you don't need much RAM on the
printer. Is this USB or network feed? Try the other if you have it set
up for one. USB should be more dependable. If the printer feeds off
the hard drive check the connections. This is an older printer so it
may not be set up for big file sizes. I am more familiar with the HP
5000 and 5500.
You have to find a RIP that supports this printer. Since it is older
that maybe difficult. The two I here the most about are ImagePrint and
ColorBurst. I did a lot of work with photo printing Wasatch and felt
it was very good, Wasatch also covers a lot of printers. HP I believe
has their own RIP, something to look into. You may want to look into
another printer, there are some great deals on the Canon 8100 right
now.

Tom

 

[Phil Spyder]

Sure sounds like a data feed problem, the data feed is generally
slightly slower than the printer so you don't need much RAM on the
printer. Is this USB or network feed? Try the other if you have it set
up for one. USB should be more dependable. If the printer feeds off
the hard drive check the connections. This is an older printer so it
may not be set up for big file sizes. I am more familiar with the HP
5000 and 5500.
You have to find a RIP that supports this printer. Since it is older
that maybe difficult. The two I here the most about are ImagePrint and
ColorBurst. I did a lot of work with photo printing Wasatch and felt
it was very good, Wasatch also covers a lot of printers. HP I believe
has their own RIP, something to look into. You may want to look into
another printer, there are some great deals on the Canon 8100 right
now.

Tom- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The printer is actually currently set up with a USB connection and I
will definately check all the connections. Is there a way that you
might know of that I would be able to set up the printer for bigger
file sizes (ie. bigger hard drive on the printer or newer firmware
version or something like that)?

I did some research on HPs site and someone had a similar problem with
paper feed calibration, might that also be the problem? (Although I
would doubt it since file sizes up to 55MB print quite well at "Best
Quality" settings...)

http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?threadId=1095797

Also, do you think using a RIP such as those you mentioned might help
to resolve the "data feed" problem? How does a RIP work? Will it slow
down the "data feed" to allow the printer's driver to "catch it's
breath" and acurately process the continual flow of data being sent?
Do you think a good RIP could possibly offset the limitation of proper
support for "big file sizes" on this printer in your opinion? Thanks
Tom.