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Author Topic: Can this be added to the Unclogger?  (Read 23344 times)
Fred A
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« Reply #15 on: August 27, 2014, 09:29:51 AM »

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This has me wondering what the smallest/shortest strip of roll paper Qimage could print a head test pattern on?  Maybe if it was short enough I wouldn't always be compelled to switch paper to check.

As I understand it, the optimal size print is 8 x 10 for which the unclogger was designed.

Fred
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admin
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« Reply #16 on: August 27, 2014, 12:43:18 PM »

Most roll printers have a minimum length of 5 to 6 inches.  If you print the entire 17 inch width x 5 inches tall, that'll give you about the same print area and put down about the same amount of ink as an 8x10.  So you could try that.  While it was designed around an 8.5 x 11 page, it does conform to any page size.

Mike
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tomc
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« Reply #17 on: August 27, 2014, 04:34:42 PM »

I use a 24 inch roll of HP plain paper and a page size of 24 wide by 6 inch. I wasn't sure if the unclog software would deal with the 24x6 page size, but it works fine.

Another feature request: add the date and time to the unclog print. If I leave my printer alone for days, a pile of 24x6 strips will accumulate under the printer. With the date and time stamp I'd know the timeline of any head clogging.
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Alex
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« Reply #18 on: August 27, 2014, 04:51:53 PM »

I had a light light black clog last week.  Ran Qimage unclogger with only black/grey checked and could not tell from the Qimage print if the lt lt black channel changed, so between sheets of Qimage unclog pattern I had to run the Epson driver's print head check pattern, eventually gave up gong back and forth and just used the Epson driver auto check and unclog routine and it fixed the problem.

Another thought I have is if Qimage could print a very small footprint nozzle check pattern that could be included in (or just outside) margins of a printed image?  I suggest this as when i had the lt lt black clog it was not immediately apparent in the images as missing lt lt grey just reduces texture gradient and for some images this is very subtle.  I made about 6 prints before I realized what was going on.
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Mack
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« Reply #19 on: August 27, 2014, 05:55:38 PM »

...

Another thought I have is if Qimage could print a very small footprint nozzle check pattern that could be included in (or just outside) margins of a printed image?  I suggest this as when i had the lt lt black clog it was not immediately apparent in the images as missing lt lt grey just reduces texture gradient and for some images this is very subtle.  I made about 6 prints before I realized what was going on.

+2

I have to run a Epson nozzle check first, then maybe a QU Unclog if a nozzle is clogged on the diagonal, and then another Epson nozzle check after that QU Unclog pattern run as I am not sure what colors, bands, or stripes in QU show the nozzle clog.

Fwiw, on the other B&W printer I have to remember not to ever use the Auto Nozzle Check (only Manual) from the printer's menu with K7 Piezo inksets as they confuse the printer as there is no color.  Big waste of ink if it cannot figure out what is going on, but that's not a QU problem.

Mack
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Terry-M
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« Reply #20 on: August 27, 2014, 08:19:13 PM »

Alex,
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I had to run the Epson driver's print head check pattern, eventually gave up going back and forth
The QU Unclog print is not intended to show which nozzles are clogged although it may in bad cases. Use the driver nozzle check.
Quote
I had to run the Epson driver's print head check pattern, eventually gave up gong back and forth
That's not particularly difficult - do do you realise you can access all the driver functions including nozzle check from within QU? Use the Printer/Page setup icon, top right of the main screen.
Terry
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wolverine@MSU
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« Reply #21 on: August 28, 2014, 10:11:34 AM »

Alex,
Quote
I had to run the Epson driver's print head check pattern, eventually gave up going back and forth
The QU Unclog print is not intended to show which nozzles are clogged although it may in bad cases. Use the driver nozzle check.
Quote
I had to run the Epson driver's print head check pattern, eventually gave up gong back and forth
That's not particularly difficult - do do you realise you can access all the driver functions including nozzle check from within QU? Use the Printer/Page setup icon, top right of the main screen.
Terry
While it may not be particulary difficult, it is bothersome, and requires an additional piece of paper.  It would be extremely useful if the unclog routine could print a nozzel check pattern at the bottom of the page on which the unclog pattern is printed.  Granted it would require reducing the height of the individual stripes in the pattern, but would give an immediate indication of whether another unclog print should be run.  Now, it may be that due to technical reasons this may not be possible, but if it is possible, it would provide a direct metod of determining the success of the unclog operation.
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admin
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« Reply #22 on: August 29, 2014, 02:03:49 PM »

While it may not be particulary difficult, it is bothersome, and requires an additional piece of paper.  It would be extremely useful if the unclog routine could print a nozzel check pattern at the bottom of the page on which the unclog pattern is printed.  Granted it would require reducing the height of the individual stripes in the pattern, but would give an immediate indication of whether another unclog print should be run.  Now, it may be that due to technical reasons this may not be possible, but if it is possible, it would provide a direct metod of determining the success of the unclog operation.

I can add a sweep pattern that consists of diagonal lines for each color at the bottom.  That will provide some idea of the overall condition, but it will never be a replacement for a true nozzle check.  I cannot control each individual nozzle via the driver so even diagonal lines will look perfect if only a few nozzles are clogged.  Best you could do is look at those lines for "roughness" but honestly, banding shows up in the bottom row of the nozzle pattern if you have more than just a couple clogged nozzles.

Mike
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Mack
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« Reply #23 on: August 30, 2014, 01:56:00 PM »

While it may not be particulary difficult, it is bothersome, and requires an additional piece of paper.  It would be extremely useful if the unclog routine could print a nozzel check pattern at the bottom of the page on which the unclog pattern is printed.  Granted it would require reducing the height of the individual stripes in the pattern, but would give an immediate indication of whether another unclog print should be run.  Now, it may be that due to technical reasons this may not be possible, but if it is possible, it would provide a direct metod of determining the success of the unclog operation.

I can add a sweep pattern that consists of diagonal lines for each color at the bottom.  That will provide some idea of the overall condition, but it will never be a replacement for a true nozzle check.  I cannot control each individual nozzle via the driver so even diagonal lines will look perfect if only a few nozzles are clogged.  Best you could do is look at those lines for "roughness" but honestly, banding shows up in the bottom row of the nozzle pattern if you have more than just a couple clogged nozzles.

Mike

Mike, wouldn't a diagonal show a clogged nozzle easier than the current straight "unlcogger lines" now?  I cannot tell from the straight band-type lines if a nozzle isn't firing as the bands are only straight parallel lines and maybe not utilizing a nozzle in the head that is indeed clogged in the straight line printed.  A diagonal that utilizes all of the head may show it?  Might show up as being a jagged block where it could be a smooth band now if that one nozzle is out of the loop in the unclogger pattern.

Personally, the Epson Nozzle Check pattern is very fine and almost hard to see (Yellow), or the Gloss Optimizer (clear) or a very light black in the K7 piezo inksets.  Epson must have some reason for doing it that way, or maybe their method utilizes all the nozzles in the head and sets the bad one apart?

My two cents.

Mack
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Terry-M
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« Reply #24 on: August 30, 2014, 06:38:32 PM »

Hi Mack,
Quote
wouldn't a diagonal show a clogged nozzle easier than the current straight "unlcogger lines" now?
I don't think the unclogger pattern is intended to show blocked nozzles - it doe what it says in the tin "unclogg".
I agree the Epson test pattern is difficult to see and yellow needs a careful examination but it does work well.

I should say I've never had the need to use the unclogger in QU; my Epson 2000 has sat idle for 2 or 3 weeks now and again and the Epson test pattern is always clear after installing a new cartridge. I've had it for about 18 months now.
Terry
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rani
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« Reply #25 on: September 15, 2014, 02:59:25 PM »

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I agree the Epson test pattern is difficult to see and yellow needs a careful examination but it does work well.
Try to examine the patterns in blue led light.
It makes it much more visible, especially the yellow.
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wolverine@MSU
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« Reply #26 on: September 15, 2014, 05:21:09 PM »

A blue glass filter, or acetate sheet filter, will also increase the contrast of the yellow lines.
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