SP1280/PhotoRPM/Borderless/Cut Sheets--How?

[Rus]

Help!

Anyone know how to force the Epson 1280 driver to allow Photo RPM to a
borderless print on cut sheet paper?

As soon as I choose borderless, the driver eliminates Photo RPM as a choice
for cut sheet paper. If I switch the driver to "roll" paper, then it will
allow me to choose Photo RPM borderless but doing so also causes the
printer to adjust its head travel too far to the left.

I just got this 1280 about a week ago. I've got a SP900 that allows
borderless Photo RPM to cut sheets. I just thought surely the 1280 would
allow the same combination of selections.

Yes, I know there's a possibility that print head and the paper edges will
collide, but, I've learned to cope with that on my SP 900 and I want to do
the same with the 1280.

Thanks for any help.

//rus//

 

[Tesco News]

Help!

Anyone know how to force the Epson 1280 driver to allow Photo RPM to a
borderless print on cut sheet paper?

As soon as I choose borderless, the driver eliminates Photo RPM as a
choice
for cut sheet paper. If I switch the driver to "roll" paper, then it will
allow me to choose Photo RPM borderless but doing so also causes the
printer to adjust its head travel too far to the left.

I just got this 1280 about a week ago. I've got a SP900 that allows
borderless Photo RPM to cut sheets. I just thought surely the 1280 would
allow the same combination of selections.

Yes, I know there's a possibility that print head and the paper edges will
collide, but, I've learned to cope with that on my SP 900 and I want to do
the same with the 1280.

Thanks for any help.

//rus//

This question has come up before, but quite a few months ago.

It seems that only certain media are firm enough for borderless printing,
and when borderless is selected the Driver then leaves the others out of the
media choices.

I suppose you could always make a different media selection and hope it
might work.

Roy G

 

[Rus]

Bummer. Well, thank you anyway.

Nope. There are absolutely no settings that allow Borderless and Photo RPM
in combination for a cut sheet of paper. I have to choose "roll" in the
GUI to get that combination and, of course, that skews the print by 1/2
inch to accomodate the beginning of the roll.

My SP 900 will do Borderless Photo RPM to cut sheet paper with no problem.
The 1280 came out about the same time as the 900. I presumed the same
features would be available in the 1280 engine. I had no reason to expect
that Photo RPM would be crippled in that way on the 1280.

I feel rather deceived in this instance. I bought from the Epson store. I
guess I'll see about return privileges.

At least I know now that I'd better ask lots of questions about the
features of the R1800 before I plunk down a half a grand on that printer.
It seems Epson doesn't fully divulge the specifications.

Dagnabbit. This kind of stuff always happens to me.

Well. Thanks again.

//rus//

 

[dlgillilan dlgillilan]

May I ask a question, since you brought up "RPM" photo printing?
I have a newly purchased Epson R320, much less expensive than
yours that you quoted below, and it offers the "RPM" option. I have
never used this option and just discovered it last night. Do you find
that it gives much superior prints of photos to the other option
of "Best Photo"? Also, the user guide states to use "Superior
Microweave" in addition to the "RPM"; do you know what
the superior microweave does to the print ?

Thank you for any help.

 

[Paul Furman]

Bummer. Well, thank you anyway.

Nope. There are absolutely no settings that allow Borderless and Photo RPM
in combination for a cut sheet of paper. I have to choose "roll" in the
GUI to get that combination and, of course, that skews the print by 1/2
inch to accomodate the beginning of the roll.

My SP 900 will do Borderless Photo RPM to cut sheet paper with no problem.
The 1280 came out about the same time as the 900. I presumed the same
features would be available in the 1280 engine. I had no reason to expect
that Photo RPM would be crippled in that way on the 1280.

I feel rather deceived in this instance. I bought from the Epson store. I
guess I'll see about return privileges.

At least I know now that I'd better ask lots of questions about the
features of the R1800 before I plunk down a half a grand on that printer.
It seems Epson doesn't fully divulge the specifications.

The R1800 has similar limitations on borderless printing. It also will
not print even black text if one color runs out and does not have a mono
setting for printing black text (which might have a bit of color).

 

[Rus]

The R1800 has similar limitations on borderless printing. It also will
not print even black text if one color runs out and does not have a mono
setting for printing black text (which might have a bit of color).

What? Epson tech support just assured me that the R1800 can do PhotoRPM
borderless.

Are you saying that it can't?

Thanks,

//rus//

 

[Rus]

May I ask a question, since you brought up "RPM" photo printing?
I have a newly purchased Epson R320, much less expensive than
yours that you quoted below, and it offers the "RPM" option. I have
never used this option and just discovered it last night. Do you find
that it gives much superior prints of photos to the other option
of "Best Photo"? Also, the user guide states to use "Superior
Microweave" in addition to the "RPM"; do you know what
the superior microweave does to the print ?

Thank you for any help.

Yours will be a much better print because it's a newer printer. The only
reason mine cost more is because it will do larger sizes of paper. It's an
old printer with old technology.

Photo RPM? I guess it's a matter of taste and preference. I've seen lots
of arguments in newsgroups and forums about it.

Photo RPM is the setting that gives you the high resolution advertised for
your printer. Like for your R320, Epson advertises 5760 x 1440. To get
that, you've got to choose the Photo RPM mode.

Photo RPM takes a lot longer to print. Sometimes, it seems like twice as
long or longer. People say it takes a lot more ink to print in Photo RPM.
I haven't compared ink usage between "Best Photo" and "Photo RPM."

I have compared many prints done in Photo RPM and Best Photo modes. To me,
compared side by side, the differences are subtle yet striking if you look
closely.

Photo RPM seems to provide more detail, better shading, and more accurate
skin tone. It makes a low-res file look better than the other modes of
printing. Photo RPM, to me, gives an exceptionally crisp rendering of a
high-res file.

I guess that a lot depends on your artistic interpretation of a photograph.
Some people are more interested in evoking emotional response. Some people
are bent toward abstract impressions. In those situations, I suppose it's
the overal composition that is most important and the loss of some fine
detail might not be missed. Loss of fine detail might even be the artists
intent.

Me? I just photograph family & friends and I put together a collage of
photographic prints on a wall made of corkboard in my den. I am forever
changing photographs on that wall. It sparks conversation and it provides
a path down memory lane for many people. My photography hobby is more like
a photo journalist than artist ... so accurate detail is important to me.

Looking at photographic prints on that wall, I can tell which are Photo RPM
mode and which are Best Photo mode. It's like the difference between a
freshly carved wood sculpture and a weather worn carved sculpture. Even at
a distance, with those photographs, I can see sharper outlines and detail
in the PHoto RPM pictures.

Try it and see. Only you can decide.

For this old technology 1280, the original driver had settings something
like 720 dpi, 1440 dpi, and 2880 dpi. Later versions of the driver then
called it Photo, Best Photo, and Photo RPM. They just totally dropped the
numerical designations.

It seems that Epson has held to those verbal descriptions from that day
forward. I think they do that in all the drivers now.

//rus//

 

[Paul Furman]

Paul Furman wrote


What? Epson tech support just assured me that the R1800 can do PhotoRPM
borderless.

Are you saying that it can't?

Sorry, I don't even know what RPM is. I'm just saying there's lots of
limits on sheet sizes for borderless and depending on the paper. Heavy
stock can't be printed smaller than 8 x 10, borderless is not available
for custom paper sizes, etc.

Eh... OK I looked up RPM
<http://www.photo-i.co.uk/BB/viewtopic.php?t=1200&view=next&sid=c27d5dab219f00937a9a0eddd321704e>
and I check for you and yes RPM is available for gloss, luster &
semigloss cut sheets! No RPM for watercolor, matte or velvet paper.

 

[Rus]

Also, the user guide states to use "Superior
Microweave" in addition to the "RPM"; do you know what
the superior microweave does to the print ?

Thank you for any help.

I forgot to address your "microweave" question. No, I don't know what it
does in addition to Photo RPM. That's one of those things they've added to
newer printers like yours. For my printers, If Photo RPM is chosen,
microweave is "greyed out" as though it is automatically incorporated and
can't be undone.

I don't have a Super Microweave setting on any of my Epsons.

If I were you, I'd print several of the same image using various settings.
Me? I'm sure if I had that R320, I'd be maxing the settings as they
suggest for most of my prints: Photo RPM and Super Microweave combined.

I'm sure it would take a long time to print. I've got the time. I just
set it and go off to do other things and I come back when it's done.

//rus//

 

[Rus]

Wow. Thank you for the quick response. I've exchanged eMail with Epson
about 10 times in the last few days over this SP 1280 problem. They didn't
seem to know much about the SP1280. It wasn't until approximately eMail
number 8 that they finally realized that what I told them was true.

They seemed to know so little about their own products, it was easy for me
to think that they were also wrong about the R1800 features with respect to
Photo RPM.

I certainly tend towards believing you. Epson tech support seems to only
regurgitate the marketing hype if they think they can get away with that.

Thank you for checking out your R1800 for me. As soon as I get approval
for return of this 1280 to the Epson store, I'll be placing an order for
the R1800.

I'd appreciate it if you'd let me in on any other shortcomings of the
R1800. There always seems to be some sort of sting in any purchase of any
product.

I guess I'm making a big deal out of this Photo RPM thing. I just know
that with the SP 900 that I have, Photo RPM pleases me the most.

I even use Photo RPM for printing CD/DVD's. The SP 900 that I have knows
when a disc is in it. It will print at any resolution settings I choose.
(I'm hoping the R1800 will do the same when I get it.)

//rus//

 

[Rus]

Oh, by the way, thanks for the link. Quite informative.

Epson mentions at the following page that RPM varies the droplet size when
in RPM mode.

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?oid=22708397



//rus//

 

[Paul Furman]

Thank you for checking out your R1800 for me. As soon as I get approval
for return of this 1280 to the Epson store, I'll be placing an order for
the R1800.

Seems a legitimate complaint now that I understand. On the R1800, heavy
190gsm watercolor paper needs to go through the roll/manual feed which
includes a regular vertical loading path behind the normal one and a
bare roll feed slot in the back... so you could load any paper in roll
feed mode presumably.

I'd appreciate it if you'd let me in on any other shortcomings of the
R1800. There always seems to be some sort of sting in any purchase of any
product.

I just tried 2 sheets of semigloss pearl generic paper & in borderless,
there was a clear mark down one side with a change in gloss. I don't
like that paper anyways.

There is no b&W mode for turning off colored text and if you run out of
one ink, nothing will print.

I did get some banding in a very difficult print with a gentle blurred
wash from bright greens to blacks... I didn't try head cleaning yet, I'm
really just beginning to experiment seriously.

I guess I'm making a big deal out of this Photo RPM thing. I just know
that with the SP 900 that I have, Photo RPM pleases me the most.

I should try RPM on that difficult one... it is low res but really
challenging tones.

I even use Photo RPM for printing CD/DVD's. The SP 900 that I have knows
when a disc is in it. It will print at any resolution settings I choose.
(I'm hoping the R1800 will do the same when I get it.)

I should try RPM on that difficult one... it is low res but really
challenging tones. I'm not planning to try CD printing.

 

[Tesco News]

Oh, by the way, thanks for the link. Quite informative.

Epson mentions at the following page that RPM varies the droplet size when
in RPM mode.

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?oid=22708397



//rus//

Hi.

Remember that Borderless is only available for certain Media, irrespective
of print size. The lighter / softer media seem to be left out of the media
choices when Borderless has been selected.

I only found out tonight, (the hard way), that Borderless will cancel out
any User Size which was set before Borderless is selected and revert to one
of the standard sizes.

Roy G

 

[Rus]

Remember that Borderless is only available for certain Media, irrespective
of print size. The lighter / softer media seem to be left out of the media
choices when Borderless has been selected.

I only found out tonight, (the hard way), that Borderless will cancel out
any User Size which was set before Borderless is selected and revert to one
of the standard sizes.

Roy G

Thanks for the "heads up" on those issues. You've given me lots to think
about and there surely are more limitations than we'd like for a printer of
that caliber.

Surely seems as though the coders could build a driver that could calculate
overspray for any size borderless print--even those odd sizes we dial in
ourselves.

Even with its limitations, I'm still going to buy the R1800. I think you
made a good choice. (I'm envious because you've already got one!)

I've tried at least one of every brand if inkjet printer on the market.
All the others severely disappoint me in one way or another. Epson stings
me every now and then with some illogical aggravating deficit but its the
product that most closely fits my desires.



//rus//

 

[dlgillilan]

I want to thank the ones who wrote back with more information
on the "Photo RPM" setting, the link for RPM information, and
further info. on Epson printer settings. I plan to try the RPM setting.
I do not blame the man for sending back the printer he bought for
another one, as the first had limitations he did not know of. I am
happy with the R320 printer, and I do run tests and compare, I have
compared the "Draft" to the "Best Photo" and I see great differences,
the draft just won't do it for me, I guess it is just to ascertain the
"Fit" of the photo to the paper, etc.. Best photo will be the one I use
mostly, and RPM for special prints and 8x10s most likely.

Thanks again for the help.