Epsons Guide to optimize Print Quality with the Epson SC-S30600
Introduction
The SureColor SC-S30600 and have been designed to meet the requirements of the indoor and outdoor
Signage market. Typical applications for the signage market include everything from billboards, soft signage and high
end point of sale materials such as backlit displays and high quality vehicle wraps.
For that requirement Epson has designed a range of print quality modes to address each of those applications, from
basic outdoor signage to high end indoor signage.
The aim of this guide is to assist you with achieving the very best results when using the SureColor SC-S30600
by combining the most appropriate print modes and the best setup practices, to achieve the right results,
for the chosen application.
What are these print modes?
Print Modes
2 Pass
4 Pass
6 Pass
8 Pass
Print Resolutions
720 x 720 dpi
720 x 720 dpi
1440 x 720 dpi
1440 x 720 dpi
When should I use them?
Print Modes
Viewing Distance
2 Pass
10 meters +
4 Pass
5 10 meters
6 Pass
2 5 meters
8 Pass
0 2 meters
Application
Billboards,
outdoor
banners.
Outdoor
posters,
Hoardings.
Large format
posters,
displays, oor
graphics.
HQ Vehicle
Wraps,
Backlit displays,
Small decals.
Whats the Best Print Mode for my Customer?
What can I expect with these print modes?
The Epson SureColor SC-S30600 have been designed to oer the highest quality at 8 pass mode
and therefore you can use this print mode with the expectation of high quality results
such as smooth gradients, uniform solid colors and sharp halftones.
When printing at 2 pass mode, oering 29.4 m 2per hour, it should be possible to observe banding
between each pass of the print head.
When printing 4 pass and 6 pass modes, a gradual improvement will be observed. There should be
an unevenness in tone on close inspection, the extent of which will depend on the actual image
itself. For example large expanses of solid color will show more imperfections then a busy halftone
image.
The degree of unevenness can be minimised or accentuated by the dynamics. Choice of substrate,
setup of the printer, quality of the color prole, setup of the RIP software.
The illustration below is intended as a guide to expected results.
2 Pass Mode
29.4
2
m /hr
4 Pass Mode
14.7 m /hr
6 Pass Mode
9.9 m /hr
8 Pass Mode
7.3 m /hr
What Can I do to Optimise my SureColor SC-S30600?
The SureColor SC-S30600 User Guide oers a great deal of useful tips and techniques
for setting up the printer. However, there are some settings that will have an immediate eect on
overall print quality.
Setting the best Print head gap or Platen Gap
The rst step in improving print quality on any Epson SureColor printer is to set the best platen gap
parameter. There are two considerations to make at this stage, quality and reliability. The closer a
printhead is to the substrate surface the better the overall quality. If the substrate gets too close to
the print heads because of substrate deformation (caused by reaction to heat or moisture) it can
result in head strikes. Head strikes are not always as dramatic as they sound, so if you observe
ecks of ink across the printout, it may be due to incorrect Platen Gap setting.
To resolve head strikes across the
substrate surface, rst increase the
platen gap setting.
In addition, consider lowering the heater temperatures, increasing the media suction and media
tension.
THICKNESS (mm)
0,1 > 0,3
0,31 > 0,75
0,76 > 1
GAP
TYPE
1,50 vinyl, polyester
2,00 banner, canvas
2,50 others
Print head Alignments
Before Head Alignments
To perform head alignments, using the printer control panel, select Media Setup>Customize
Settings>RIP Settings (or Media 1, 2 , 3, etc)>Head Alignment
RIP Settings :
Platen Gap (1,5, 2, 2,5)
Head Alignment
Roll Type (Side In, Side Out)
Tension Measurement
Media Tension
Use the Printer control panel
to access the media setup
menu.
Head Alignment
0.2 mm
input Thickness.
Range: 0.1-1.0 mm
Input the correct media
thickness for your substrate.
Head Alignment
Auto (Uni-D)
Auto (Bi-D)
Manual (Uni-D)
Manual (Bi-D)
[OK] Proceed [] Back
For the simple operation,
choose Automatic for either
the Bi-D or Uni-D mode.
Substrate feeding
Because all substrates feed through the printer with slightly different efficiencies it is highly
recommended to perform substrate feed adjustment on each media you use.
Heavy dark or light bands at regular intervals. Known as white banding or dark banding are a
common result of poorly configured paper feed settings.
It is possible to perform these adjustments while the printer is in operation to correct any issues
while in production.
To perform paper feed adjustments use the menu on the printer and navigate to the following
location. Media Setup>Customize Settings>Media 1, 2 , 3,>Paper Feed Adjustment. If a RIP is being
used, these settings can be adjusted through the RIP software interface.
Paper Feed Adjustment
-0.50%
Range: -5% - +5%
[OK] Done
Feed Adjustment
Auto
Manual
[OK] Proceed [] Back
Setting the best Media Tension
Depending on the substrate loaded in the printer, you can adjust the
media tension applied. You can also set the frequency of tension
measurement to ensure the SureColor SC-S30600 always
keeps a consistent tension on the substrate.
You can choose from 0 (no tension) to 40 (high tension). If you are
unsure of the best tension setting, follow this generic rule.
-
Thin media = low tension
Medium media = medium tension
Thick and/or heavy media = high tension
Tension Measurement set to Periodically is recommended and will
be performed every 5m. The measurement will be evaluated against
the Media Tension setting. If the Tension Measurement is turned to
O, the substrate system will roll more media than needed to avoid
tension.
Media Type
TENSION
Thin Film
5-10
Polyester, Vinyl
15-20
Banner, Canvas
25-35
Media Tension
Lv 15
Range : Lv 0-40
Current: Lv 15
[OK] Done [] Back
Tension Measurement
Periodically
Every Page
O
[OK] Done [] Back
Ive done that, but Im still not happy with the results, what else can I do?
Its important to realize that there are 3 critical elements involved in producing a high quality print.
The printer itself, the substrate setup and the quality of color profiles being used.
Quick Tips
If using a commonly used or widely available substrate, search the
Epson Media Qualification site. Epson are currently developing a
comprehensive library of quality colour profiles which include optimal
substrate settings. If they carry the Epson approved stamp, you can
use them with confidence. http://epson.color-base.com/
If you cannot find your substrate on the Epson Media Qualification Program, enlist the
support of your media reseller. Its quite common for
media manufacturers to supply quality profiles for
the key software vendors and printer
manufacturers.
Consider investing in the colour management
process. Either by bringing in an expert or by
investing in the required equipment and
software. Many printers consider colour
management a wise long term investment for their
business. It reduces wasted prints, ensures accurate repeat
work and gives predictable results across all output devices.
If your prints look over inked or under saturated, this is a strong sign that improvements to
the colour profiles are required.
Take the time to setup the substrates used frequently. Running the Substrate Setup on the
SureColor printers through the control panel will result in the best possible setup for each
substrate.
If using a media without pre provided
optimal printer settings, produce some
test prints showing 100% swatches of solid
colors such as Cyan, Blue and Greys. Based
on the evaluation of ink saturation, ink
drying and effect on the substrate adjust
and set best heater settings. Profiles
provided by the Epson Media Qualification
Program include technical profile
information. And covers heater settings and
ink limits
Example of Technical Profile Information from
Epson Media Qualification Program.
Always perform the required printer maintenance as outlined in the user guide. This will ensure your
print head is kept in optimum condition while printing and protect the overall lifetime of the
product.
If the printer is used for heavy production, it is beneficial to perform printer maintenance on a daily
basis.
When performing the maintenance, consult the User Guide for the best practices, they will save you
time and ensure best possible results.
Always use the recommended cleaning materials
C13T699300
SC-S30600 Ink Cleaner. (Cleaning liquid for printhead maintenance)
C13T724000
SC-S30600 Waste Ink Bottle (For replacing collected waste ink)
C13T724100
SC-S30600 Maintenance Kit. (Wiper cloth, cleaning stick, protective glove)
Thank you for your time and commitment to Epson, we wish you continued success with the Epson
SureColor S-Series range of indoor and outdoor signage printers.
