Program to keep inkjet jets flowing ?

[Bob]

Are there any little windows software apps and/or instructions for
kicking a page with a little ink of each color out of my inkjet every
few days to keep the jets working?

I have an Epson c86 which I do not print on that often as I have a
laserjet for most jobs... but when I need it every few weeks I need it
working.

Thanks,

 

[Ed Ruf (REPLY to E-MAIL IN SIG!)]

Are there any little windows software apps and/or instructions for
kicking a page with a little ink of each color out of my inkjet every
few days to keep the jets working?

I have an Epson c86 which I do not print on that often as I have a
laserjet for most jobs... but when I need it every few weeks I need it
working.

If this is all you want, just run a nozzle check, no?

 

[Gary Tait]

Are there any little windows software apps and/or instructions for
kicking a page with a little ink of each color out of my inkjet every
few days to keep the jets working?

I have an Epson c86 which I do not print on that often as I have a
laserjet for most jobs... but when I need it every few weeks I need it
working.

Thanks,

There are purge pages you could one time print to a printer file, and send
to the printer, or automatically print, if your photo software supports it.

 

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Are there any little windows software apps and/or instructions for
kicking a page with a little ink of each color out of my inkjet every
few days to keep the jets working?

I have an Epson c86 which I do not print on that often as I have a
laserjet for most jobs... but when I need it every few weeks I need it
working.

Yes, it is called the print menu. Make a simple document with just a couple
of lines. Make them in a few different colors so all cartridges are used.
Every few days open it up and print it.

 

[Martin]

Yes, it is called the print menu. Make a simple document with just a couple
of lines. Make them in a few different colors so all cartridges are used.
Every few days open it up and print it.

[sarcasm]How wonderfully helpful...[/sarcasm]

Now to answer the question.. yes there is such a utility..

MIS have it in their knowledgebase here:

http://inksupply.info/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=25

Use the keyword "autoprint" if that link doesn't work properly

It's easy to use and setup and does exactly what you need..

Enjoy.. .

 

[Edwin Pawlowski]

[sarcasm]How wonderfully helpful...[/sarcasm]

Now to answer the question.. yes there is such a utility..

Sarcasm aside, my method takes no overhead in the computer and it works.

 

[Ed Ruf (REPLY to E-MAIL IN SIG!)]

Yes, it is called the print menu. Make a simple document with just a couple
of lines. Make them in a few different colors so all cartridges are used.
Every few days open it up and print it.

That's exactly what most nozzle check utilities built right in to the print
driver do.

 

[Bob]

Yes, it is called the print menu. Make a simple document with just a couple
of lines. Make them in a few different colors so all cartridges are used.
Every few days open it up and print it.

Actually I am looking for something that I can put into the windows
scheduler on my server that will kick out a page regularly. If I have
to rely on myself to do it will not get done regularly.

But, after thinking about it, I can just use the Windows Scheduler to
kick off a .bat print job to the printer each day.

 

[rafe b]

[sarcasm]How wonderfully helpful...[/sarcasm]

Now to answer the question.. yes there is such a utility..

Sarcasm aside, my method takes no overhead in the computer and it works.

No, your sarcasm was really uncalled for.

Your method isn't general because it
requires you to be *at the computer.*

After these many years, I'm surprised that
the major inkjet printer makers don't bundle
this utility with their drivers. A simple
background task is all it would take.

Oh, one other problem with your plan.
You can't really control the printer's color
channels with an RGB image, because
the print driver maps RGB into CMYK or
CcMmYK, or CMYKRB, or whatever
your printer happens to spit, in a way
that you can't directly control.

The only way to *really* do the job right
is to fire the nozzles directly using PCL
or ESC/P -- ie., using the printer's native
control language.


rafe b
www.terrapinphoto.com

 

[Gary Tait]

Oh, one other problem with your plan.
You can't really control the printer's color
channels with an RGB image, because
the print driver maps RGB into CMYK or
CcMmYK, or CMYKRB, or whatever
your printer happens to spit, in a way
that you can't directly control.

The only way to *really* do the job right
is to fire the nozzles directly using PCL
or ESC/P -- ie., using the printer's native
control language.

You can print out CMYK pages.

 

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Your method isn't general because it
requires you to be *at the computer.*

Most of us are there every day whether we print or not. Sure, you can
forget, but I'd rather not have some program sitting in memory for that
purpose.

After these many years, I'm surprised that
the major inkjet printer makers don't bundle
this utility with their drivers. A simple
background task is all it would take.

That is probably because almost no one cares about having one. I've been
using color printers for many years and never thought about it being a good
idea. Put me down on the "don't care" side. YMMV.

Oh, one other problem with your plan.
You can't really control the printer's color
channels with an RGB image, because
the print driver maps RGB into CMYK or
CcMmYK, or CMYKRB, or whatever
your printer happens to spit, in a way
that you can't directly control.

Sure, just load the right text or image that uses all the cartridges.

 

[rafe b]

You can print out CMYK pages.

You can, and the operating system will
convert them back to RGB, which the
print driver will then separate out back
any which way it pleases. If it's a CcMm
printer (light versions of C and M) you
can't predict or force the use of one or
the other. It gets even more
complicated with the newer inksets
with multiple blacks, red, blue, and
gloss optimizers.

An image like the Granger Rainbow
is your best bet for getting all the jets
fired, since it spans not just all hues,
but the full range of lightness values.

Available as a TIF here, or you can
make your own in Photoshop.

<http://www.colorremedies.com/realworldcolor/>


rafe b
www.terrapinphoto.com

 

[rafe b]

Most of us are there every day whether we print or not. Sure, you can
forget, but I'd rather not have some program sitting in memory for that
purpose.

You never go away on vacation? House
unattended for a few days or a week or two?

Nobody would be forced to use the program.
You could disable it or set it to print at any
reasonable interval. It would have near-zero
CPU overhead, even while running.

Sure, just load the right text or image that uses all the cartridges.

See my response to Gary Tait. There is no
unique mapping from RGB to inks. Even if
you're working in CMYK mode in Photoshop.

If you've never had a clogged printer, consider
yourself blessed. I suspect most of us have,
over the years.

The most common cause, especially for
pigment-ink printers, is simple disuse.


rafe b
www.terrapinphoto.com

 

[Martin]

You can, and the operating system will
convert them back to RGB, which the
print driver will then separate out back
any which way it pleases. If it's a CcMm
printer (light versions of C and M) you
can't predict or force the use of one or
the other. It gets even more
complicated with the newer inksets
with multiple blacks, red, blue, and
gloss optimizers.

An image like the Granger Rainbow
is your best bet for getting all the jets
fired, since it spans not just all hues,
but the full range of lightness values.

Available as a TIF here, or you can
make your own in Photoshop.

<http://www.colorremedies.com/realworldcolor/>


rafe b
www.terrapinphoto.com

Can I just note that the utility I pointed to does in fact require you
to choose an image file to print. It doesn't have a specific file.

As to the whole issue of whether there's any point in doing a scheduled
print or not. Given the choice or printing nothing at all or scheduling
a regular print that at least keeps the printer ticking over I know
which I'd choose.

Granted there's a minimal memory cost here but there's nothing stopping
you from disabling the schedule until you're planning on leaving the
unit unattended as happens in schools which have plenty of printers
sitting around idle, slowly clogging up.

All in all it's been a useful discussion but I can't help but think that
it's ended up being more than a tad pedantic.

 

[rafe b]

Can I just note that the utility I pointed to does in fact require you
to choose an image file to print. It doesn't have a specific file.

Yes, I knew that. Even so, it's certainly useful and
better than nothing. With the Granger image, you're
likely to get most of the color nozzles, and one of
the blacks, firing. You just won't know how much
of each is being used.

As to the whole issue of whether there's any point in doing a scheduled
print or not. Given the choice or printing nothing at all or scheduling
a regular print that at least keeps the printer ticking over I know
which I'd choose.

Me too. It could be configurable in any number of
ways and has near-zero overhead.

All in all it's been a useful discussion but I can't help but think that
it's ended up being more than a tad pedantic.

There are basic concepts to be considered.

Plus, there's an argument over how much
clogging *really* happens. It's very much
a "YMMV" situation.


rafe b
www.terrapinphoto.com

 

[measekite]

A program like this might be of some benefit but would be more
beneficial for the ink clogging refillers.

 

[Bob]

Most of us are there every day whether we print or not. Sure, you can
forget,

I have plenty of other things to forget without adding another

but I'd rather not have some program sitting in memory for that
purpose.

Well, I was thinking of a scheduled program that fires from the
Windows scheduler as needed. There's little overhead in that. Besides,
unless you load your own systems from scratch, then strip out the
extra nonsense MS puts in, carefully load your application software
and remove the "extras" that come with them, and avoid machine
hogging programs like Norton and Macaffee... well, you've got plenty
of things running that are already wasting way more space and CPU
time.

That is probably because almost no one cares about having one. I've been
using color printers for many years and never thought about it being a good
idea. Put me down on the "don't care" side. YMMV.

If they had a note on the Quick Start guide that said "loading this
tiny little module will prevent or vastly reduce head clog" then I
think most people would load it.

 

[Bob]

The only way to *really* do the job right
is to fire the nozzles directly using PCL
or ESC/P -- ie., using the printer's native
control language.

Interesting idea - What does Epson use for a control language? Any
pointer to on-line references?

 

[Gary Tait]

You can, and the operating system will
convert them back to RGB, which the
print driver will then separate out back
any which way it pleases.

So what does that matter.

A:The conversion is done mathematically from the tiff files I have seen
purge pages in.

B: The goal is just to periodically excersize the printer to keep the head
from drying ot. I don't think color rendering needs to be that accurate.

 

[Gary Tait]

A program like this might be of some benefit but would be more
beneficial for the ink clogging refillers.

It would matter only to those that infrequently use their printers,
regardless if they use aftermarket in or OEM, equally either way.