DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> HELP! Kodak 1400 Printer Issues
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 6 of 6, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 07/22/2006 02:49:17 PM · #1
Hello all,

I've had the Kodak 1400 dye-sub printer for about a month and a half and I have yet to get a good print out of it. Everything is printing out of focus. It seems that the colors just aren't aligning properly. I've tried the calibration which just modifies the color, and I've tried increasing the sharpness via the printer driver with no change in the print quality.

I've never read of anyone having this issue with the printer and had heard that it gives great results... I'm not impressed as sharpness is not acceptable.

I was wondering if any of you had the printer and know how to fix it. I need this thing working for several photo shoots I have coming up soon.

I'll be calling Kodak on Monday, but thought until then I would ask around on here.

Thanks!!
 07/22/2006 03:00:11 PM · #2
You need to go to //www.Kodak.com and download "new firmware" version and it should take care of your problem. I use the 1400 and absolutely love the outcome. Sorry I am too busy to add the "link" right now. Good luck
Cindy
 07/22/2006 03:10:24 PM · #3
Originally posted by dolphnz8:
You need to go to //www.Kodak.com and download "new firmware" version and it should take care of your problem. I use the 1400 and absolutely love the outcome. Sorry I am too busy to add the "link" right now. Good luck
Cindy


Thanks Cindy. I forgot to mention that I've already tried that, along with installing the new drivers for it (Mac OSX).
 07/27/2006 11:13:00 AM · #4
I think you hinted you were using OSX.

The best advice I can give having been through the same problems are that :-

1. You need to disable the OSX driver from colour managing the printing. Navigate your way to the folder containing the ICC profiles and move them to a different folder (keeping a note of where they came from originally). The ICC files are in folder /Library/Printers/Kodak/1400/1400PM.plugin - ctrl click the 1400PM.plugin directory and do 'Show Package Contents' - now open the 'Contents' folder and the 'Resources' folder. Now you will see two files Kodak1400Glossy.icc and Kodak1400Matte.icc, just move them. You will find things look much better having done this though you may still need to mess about with the driver Gamma levels + sharpness.

2. Also consider getting a custom ICC profile made for the 1400. You can either find an online service who will do it via the post or invest in a ColorVision PrintFix Pro. The results will be even better than in step 1. The custom profile should be renamed the same as the old pofile you moved and dropped back into the directory in step 1.

Hope this helps,

Best regards, Ian.

London.
 08/01/2006 08:51:24 AM · #5
Originally posted by ianmac:
I think you hinted you were using OSX.

The best advice I can give having been through the same problems are that :-

1. You need to disable the OSX driver from colour managing the printing. Navigate your way to the folder containing the ICC profiles and move them to a different folder (keeping a note of where they came from originally). The ICC files are in folder /Library/Printers/Kodak/1400/1400PM.plugin - ctrl click the 1400PM.plugin directory and do 'Show Package Contents' - now open the 'Contents' folder and the 'Resources' folder. Now you will see two files Kodak1400Glossy.icc and Kodak1400Matte.icc, just move them. You will find things look much better having done this though you may still need to mess about with the driver Gamma levels + sharpness.

2. Also consider getting a custom ICC profile made for the 1400. You can either find an online service who will do it via the post or invest in a ColorVision PrintFix Pro. The results will be even better than in step 1. The custom profile should be renamed the same as the old pofile you moved and dropped back into the directory in step 1.

Hope this helps,

Best regards, Ian.

London.


Sounds like this would affect the color of the prints... will it also help the sharpness?
 08/02/2006 06:57:00 AM · #6
You can specify sharpness settings in the custom profile made by the PrintFix tool which may help. The Kodak driver defintely seems to not allow a high enough sharpness setting though - I know what you mean about soft edges - it's something I've seen on other dye subs (e.g. 9810)

I suppose the biggest issue mechanically with a dye sub is that is does three passes to deposit layers of colour. If there is a small margin of error on each pass then each layer could possibly be deposited out-of-line with the previous layer (in order of microns). This would also cause a softening of the edges if the alignment isn't precise enough on each colour layer.

Also the dye from the colour roll in the printer when heated turns to gas (it sublimes) which is then absorbed by the paper. I am no expert but I am guessing dye deposited by gas has less sharp edges when compared to ink?

I am assuming the mechanical precision on a sub 400GBP printer isn't as high as that on a 2000GBP printer? Or maybe I am wrong?

Message edited by author 2006-08-02 07:06:39.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 11/28/2025 10:46:32 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 11/28/2025 10:46:32 AM EST.