Problems printing on roll paper, epson.

[thebrief]

Right so the deal here is I'm really struggling to print my rather lengthy image onto roll paper using my home printer, - Epson Stylus Photo R1800.

I have tried printing from both Photoshop and equally Acrobat, but to no avail. The problem being that the printer will not start from the correct position of the document. Ie, it starts printing half way through my image compared to the start...

The scale of the print is fine, just not the actual positioning horizontally.

The paper I have selected is A3 Bordlerless Manual roll.
The document size is 210.41 x 20.32 (cm) 300dpi


One theory I have is it could be a problem with the physical size of the image which is causing problems, but as you can imagine im completely baffled and its proving expensive and frustrating trying to resolve this issue, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

[ianm]

damn it, it's kind of rude to be asking for advice when you haven't even introduced yourself first

[thebrief]

My apologies, as far as introducing myself I'm new to this forum, and thought I could come here to get help from fellow designers across the board.

[uel_tectonic]

Dude,

I've literally spent the morning trying to print of my roll. In the end it was pretty straightforward. I assume you have a roll holder...
Hope this helps:

1) Unload your roll. Turn of the printer.
2) Turn on the printer. DONT load yet...wait...wait!!!
3) Set the document to print from Adobe Reader. If you select the r1800, and then click properties, you should get the epson printer dialogue, that looks like this:
4) Your source is 'roll'. Type is whatever. Size is your custom size...my size is 3270 wide X 7620 high. unit 0.01cm.
5) Send your document to print
6) Once it's started queing to be printed, load the paper into the back: feed it into the back of your r1800 untill it can't go any more. The printer will load it automatically.
7) Try not to touch anything...let the printer figure it out.
8) That should be it. Once it's finished printing. Press the roll button on the front and it will print a cut line for you onto the roll.

hope that helps chap

[thebrief]

I can only stress its not problems getting the printer to start at all, It feeds the paper perfectly, and prints perfectly. The problem is the start position of the printed document.

Ie. If I had a 2 metre long image, it wont print from the start but instead from the middle of the image. Which is what is confusing me.

[uel_tectonic]

Sorry i'm with you now....
i take it you've updated your driver.

What it could mean, and don't take this as a definate resolution, but it sounds as if your computer can't handle the memory/ information transfer during the print.
For example, your computer is giving the printer a hamburger, but it's only got space for a salad.

Try setting up a page- 2m long- in photoshop, and draw a thin line across the entire length in the middle of the page. Give this line a gradient, so you can match the cut off point on the screen, with that of the print out.
keep the resolution DOWN to a minimum -like 50 dpi etc.

If this prints out fine, then you have memory (possibly RAM) problem. you may even have a ****** cable....

if not, then there is a communication error (software related)....update!

lastly, try cutting off a length or paper and use the sheet feeder...see what happens

best of luck mate

[uel_tectonic]

....i just re-read your post.
do not do the setting as 'a3 boderless manual roll'

change it to roll....and use a custom sized paper. again, take of the A3. thats clearly the problem!

[Cwilk]

It's also possible your '0' point axis (x/y) at the left corner is pulled in on the document to start printing at a specific measurement. To fix that, just click on the corner in the document you're trying to print and it'll reset where your document starts to print from which would be where your 0 point axis is located.

[timada]

I’ve had problems with all the printers I’ve had before. With the Epson one I had the worst problems (imagine it quit on me in the morning when I had to print my final paper for University) – that’s why I will recommend you to just change the printer.