Epson R1900 printing pink/purple and off-centre

[philipus]

I'm having problems with my Epson R1900, which has worked fine since I bought it several years ago. After a while I began using 3rd-party inks and had, for the longest time, identical results to what I obtained with Epson inks.

Since a few months the prints are coming out either purple or pink. Today I tried to troubleshoot by cleaning the heads and printing photos and test patterns. I then noticed that, in addition to the weird colours, the image size and orientation are off (even though I used the same Photoshop settings as I always have). I recently installed El Capitan and had to re-install the Epson driver today because I have never tried to print with El Cap, so I'm not sure if the size/orientation problem has to do with the driver under El Capitan.

The colour problems, however, existed also under Mavericks.

Though the images print too small, off-center and all pink/purple, the test pattern's colours appear to be correct. The attached image isn't great quality (I only have an old digital compact) but the colours appear to be right. I would have expected the pattern also to be all pink or purple (of course, the pattern is all broken up but that has to do with dirty heads and not having printed for a while).

I'd very much appreciate any suggestions what could be wrong and what I could do to solve it. Unfortunately I don't have any Epson inks at home but, as I said, the 3rd party ink have not caused any troubles at all before.

Thank you very much in advance
Philip

 

[calebarchie]

Get some PiezoFlush and try clear up those clogged heads before moving forward, as for the orientation I believe that would be a software issue unless your paper sensor is seriously messed up (i doubt it)

 

[philipus]

Thanks very much for the suggestion. Just to be sure, something like this?

http://inkjetsolution.eu/en_US/p/PIEZOFLUSH-BOTTLE/50

Thanks again
Philip

Get some PiezoFlush and try clear up those clogged heads before moving forward, as for the orientation I believe that would be a software issue unless your paper sensor is seriously messed up (i doubt it)

 

[Dwig]

Get some PiezoFlush and try clear up those clogged heads before moving forward, as for the orientation I believe that would be a software issue unless your paper sensor is seriously messed up (i doubt it)

+1

The heads are obviously severely clogged, to the point that this is likely the sole cause for the color error.

The size and placement error is likely a bogus setting in the printer driver. I suggest that you review all of the printer settings in the systems print dialog. If you don't find the offending setting, do a complete uninstall of the printer and driver and only reinstall after a full reboot of the system with the printer physically disconnected.

 

[calebarchie]

Thanks very much for the suggestion. Just to be sure, something like this?

http://inkjetsolution.eu/en_US/p/PIEZOFLUSH-BOTTLE/50

Thanks again
Philip

Thats the one!
You can either inject it directly into the head (there are these cartridge 'adapters' and syringe) or get a empty set of ink cartridges to fill and flush. Keep them in there when storing the printer.

 

[philipus]

Great, thanks for the reply. I'll give it a go.

Thats the one!
You can either inject it directly into the head (there are these cartridge 'adapters' and syringe) or get a empty set of ink cartridges to fill and flush. Keep them in there when storing the printer.