Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

[jetpack1976]

Hi Guys/Gals,

I have been using the IRC3380i via network for 2 years. So far, its been great for me. However, suddenly without me changing anything (although my staff also swear they did not touch any settings), the halftones are all wrong.

I cannot get proper halftones anymore. The halftones are spaced so close to each other, it appears to be solid. Any greyscale printing say 30% K only to 60%k only range appears too dark. It is inaccurate.

The irc 3380i has a ps kit installed and we have been printing from both windows 7 and mac using ps3 drivers. I have reinstalled the drivers, asked canon tech to do a master factory reset on the entire machine, still no use. I have installed UFRII drivers, PCL 6 drivers, PS3 ver 14.0 drivers, still no luck.

I have played with all the halftone settings, resolution, gradation, error diffusion, pattern 1 to 7, still no dice. Cannot for the love of god figure out what went wrong.

The printer was perfectly fine and was printing round halftones perfectly. Suddenly, the dots seemed very small and spaced very close together. I have tried so many different settings until I can cry.

Most of the printing are done using pdf files. I have tried to filter out any problems by using a simple text file in pdf format and to test print. The wordings are in shades of grey and in CMYK mode. Most of the wordings are in 30% to 70% k only range.

Any pros or mods out there can provide any suggestions to my problems.

Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading

[vigour]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

Did you switch to non-canon toner?
Start by doing Auto Gradation with good paper
and calibration if you have a Fiery attached

[jetpack1976]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

Did you switch to non-canon toner?
Start by doing Auto Gradation with good paper
and calibration if you have a Fiery attached

Hi Vigour,

I am using original canon toner. I dont have the Fiery attached. Can I check what you mean by Auto Gradation?

I have done the simple calibration within the copier setting. They printed out some stuff, I scan, print again then scan again. I guess that is considered calibrated by canon standard.

[vigour]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

Good, that is auto-grad.
Sounds like you need new parts, mabe ITB, and/or transfer rollers

[teckat]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

Hi Vigour,

I am using original canon toner. I dont have the Fiery attached. Can I check what you mean by Auto Gradation?

I have done the simple calibration within the copier setting. They printed out some stuff, I scan, print again then scan again. I guess that is considered calibrated by canon standard.

-------------------------------------------
- PCL Printer Kit -Q1 (standard) in "i" Model
- PS Printer Kit -Q1 * (optional)/ u can use PS Driver only if this kit is installed & 512MB Expansion RAM-C1

To Verifying that an LMS Based Printer Kit is Installed >Perform the following steps:

1. Press the [Counter Check] button on the copier control panel.

2. Hit the [Device Configuration] button on the LCD screen.

3. Scroll down through all of the available pages on this Device Configuration screen. Look for either PS, PCL or UFRII. The methods listed here (ex. PS, PCL, or UFRII) are installed and are available for printing.


what apps are u printing from ??

how old are DRUMS ?
WHAT is % of toner coverage used on paper ?

The table below shows what type of half toning method is internally applied to each object type.

Method	Text	Graphics	Image	Usage
Standard	Error Diffusion	Resolution	Gradation	General Setting
Resolution	Resolution	Resolution	Resolution	"Resolution" applied to all objects
Error Diffusion	Error Diffusion	Error Diffusion	Error Diffusion	"High Resolution" applied to all objects
Gradation	Gradation	Gradation	Gradation	"Gradation" applied to all objects
Pattern 1	Error Diffusion	Error Diffusion	Resolution	For printing text & graphics. Suitable for documents, CAD.
Pattern 2	Error Diffusion	Error Diffusion	Gradation	For printing thin lines. Suitable for CAD, photos, DTP.
Pattern 3	Error Diffusion	Resolution	Resolution	For printing text. Suitable for documents, tables & graphics
Pattern 4	Error Diffusion	Gradation	Gradation	For printing text and images and images. Suitable for DTP, photos, web pages.
Pattern 5	Resolution	Resolution	Gradation	Suitable for screen processing
Pattern 6	Resolution	Gradation	Gradation	For printing other graphics objects than images and thin lines. Suitable for photos and graphics

Specify Standard to express halftone screening optimized for text, graphics and images respectively. Specify Resolution to express resolution-optimized halftone screening. Specify Gradation to express gradation-optimized halftone screening. Specify Error Diffusion to express halftone screening optimized for text and thin lines. Patterns 1 through Pattern 6 provide six variations of halftone screening combining Resolution, Gradation, and Error Diffusion with text , graphics and images in six patterns.
The Halftone setting is located in different areas for each driver. For example, the Halftone setting is located under Image Quality on the Fiery Printing tab of the imagePASS C1 PS driver, for the H1 and J1 specifically it is the Image tab.



In the PCL5c driver, you must hit the Details button on the Quality tab to locate the Halftone setting.

[jetpack1976]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

Hi All,

I have added 2 pics to illustrate my problem. First pic below show perfect halftones. PDF printout with 60%K only in cmyk mode.

Capture.JPG

The halftones are correct. I never mess around with the canon settings. It was just a straight print and go. I am using canon PS14 drivers.

Now, suddenly, my printout of the halftones became like this:-

Capture1.JPG

No matter what drivers I use or which halftone setting I use, all the printout became like the above. I tried, PS driver, UFRII drivers, PCL drivers, each different driver using different halftone settings. Either I get the above or even worse, a solid printout. I can never achieve the halftones like the first picture.

Any kind souls can shed some light what is wrong or is there any settings I can do to get back the halftones? I have also asked the tech to do a Master Canon Reset. It took about 20 mins to reset the entire machine back to factory settings. I have also checked under the counter settings and my PS Kit is alright.

Other then unable to do a good halftone printout, the machine is working fine.

Both printing are done using 600dpi only. I have 1.5g ram installed into the machine. No external RIP is installed. Is this a hardware or software fault.

Many thanks for reading this post.

[teckat]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

Using the 1200 dpi setting produces the best results.
--------------------------------------------


There is no such thing as a Master Canon Re-Set/ tech was full of crap
What is done is a DCON CLEAR & or RCON CLEAR , in your case probably a DCON CLEAR,
A P PRINT is printed out first with all those settings> then re-input after CLEAR is performed -

Or> tech took the Original Label settings from door & checked against Printer Settings for any changes.


This is what tech needed to inspect (Test Prints) > u need to separate issue from it being an internal print issue or external print issue (applications,drivers> etc.)

From Service Mode Post internal test Print PG 10

& Single Color Test Prints PG 5
for M -C - Y - BK

example of Magenta PG 5 test print-
PG5.JPG


in service mode
COPIER>TEST>PG>TYPE
Performs test print when test print type number is entered and start key is turned ON. (This setting must always be restored to 0 after making test print.)

First select>
#5 = Full-sheet half tones

Then select>
DENS-Y/M/C/K
Used to adjust density of each color for test prints (TYPE = 5).
Setting values
0 to 255: Increasing the value increases the density.
[Factory default/After RAM clear: 128]

Then select>
COLOR-Y/M/C/K
Used to set output of each color for each TYPE.
For example, to set single-color M output, set "COLOR-M = 1", and make the other settings 0
(only single colors can be output).
Setting values
0: Don't output
1: Output
[Factory default/After RAM clear: 1]

Then select>
PG-PICK =Used to select output level during test print output.(pick LETTER Paper LOCATION)
Setting values
1: Cassette 1
2: Cassette 2
3: Cassette 3
4: Cassette 4
5 to 6: Not used
7: Side deck
8: Manual feed
[Factory default/After RAM clear: 1]

Hit OK to send TEST PRINT / Make sure settings are returned back as shown to default

[teckat]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

Post internal test Print PG 10
& Single Color Test Prints PG 5
for M -C - Y - BK

[jetpack1976]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

Post internal test Print PG 10
& Single Color Test Prints PG 5
for M -C - Y - BK

Hi sir,

Please see below for the requested print outs:-

Colour 007.jpgType5 Density 180 006.jpgType5 Density 90 005.jpgPG5 Colour M 004.jpgPG5 Cyan 003.jpgPG5 Black 002.jpgPG5 Yellow 001.jpg


The first one left to right in sequence is type 10, type 5 black 180 density, type 5 black 90 density, type 5 m only 128 density, type 5 c only 128 density, type 5 k only 128 density, type 5 y only 128 density

Hope you can shed some light into my problem..

Thanks for replying this thread

[teckat]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

Hi sir,

Please see below for the requested print outs:-

[ATTACH=CONFIG]25304[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]25305[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]25306[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]25307[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]25308[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]25309[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]25310[/ATTACH]


The first one left to right in sequence is type 10, type 5 black 180 density, type 5 black 90 density, type 5 m only 128 density, type 5 c only 128 density, type 5 k only 128 density, type 5 y only 128 density

Hope you can shed some light into my problem..

Thanks for replying this thread

================================================== =============


1- how old are the DRUM UNITS ?
2- when was the last time u replaced the ITB Unit ?
3- also look into the Secondary Transfer Roller Assembly
The contact for the secondary transfer roller must be touching the transfer roller shaft. The contact should be touching the bottom side of the shaft of the secondary transfer roller.
1. Remove the screw and then remove the black plastic contact holder

2. Verify that the contact is touching the bottom side of the shaft of the secondary transfer roller as shown in the photo below. If it is not reform the contact so that it is touching the shaft.

[onlyinnewfoundland]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

What's up with that light are on the PG10....just laser glass dirt?

I find the drums put down this type of pattern on these units...I would start there, but like Teckat said, check the ITB and secondary transfer.

How many copies?

[jetpack1976]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

================================================== =============


1- how old are the DRUM UNITS ?
2- when was the last time u replaced the ITB Unit ?
3- also look into the Secondary Transfer Roller Assembly
The contact for the secondary transfer roller must be touching the transfer roller shaft. The contact should be touching the bottom side of the shaft of the secondary transfer roller.
1. Remove the screw and then remove the black plastic contact holder

2. Verify that the contact is touching the bottom side of the shaft of the secondary transfer roller as shown in the photo below. If it is not reform the contact so that it is touching the shaft.

Hi Sir,

I have asked the tech to dismantle the machine. the ITB looks good and solid. No physical damage, no sign of any wear and tear. I have also checked the secondary transfer roller and it is seated properly.

Any kind souls have any other suggestions? Is it a software issue that my copier is not printing out halftones?

Thanks for reading

[vamoursly]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

If you have checked the ITB, secondary transfer and they seems fine I would say looking at the previous pictures you put up your issues is with the drums in the machine.

Get your tech to change them and test the results.

V

[Canuck]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

What are the drum life counts? This is step 1....Dismantling machine isn't gonna fix anything. Have tech check counters in service mode....any imaging components over 100 percent replace them. Tweaking a driver or a file isn't going to fix anything if parts are worn out

[teckat]

Re: Need HELP on IRC3380i Cannon Halftone Issues

does the tech understand the copy process on this model ???

1-is image poor on Drum
2-is image poor on ITB BELT
did tech run some service mode procedures (i posted) to try and isolate where issue may start (called troubleshooting)

Plain & Simple> this is not a PRINT DRIVER ISSUE



A. Static Image Formation Block
Forms a static image on the surface of the photosensitive drum.
step 1: primary charging (charges the surface of the drum to an even negative potential)
step 2: laser beam exposure (forms a static image on the surface of the photosensitive drum)
B. Developing Block
Deposits toner over the static image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, thus turning it into a visible image.
step 3: development
C. Transfer Block
Moves the toner image from the surface of the photosensitive drum to print paper.
step 4: primary transfer (moves toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum to the ITB)
step 5: secondary transfer (moves toner from the ITB to paper)
step 6: separation (separates paper from the ITB)
D. Fixing Block
Fuses the toner image to the paper.
step 7: fixing
E. ITB Cleaning Block
Cleans the ITB by removing residual toner.
step 8: ITB cleaning (removes residual toner from the ITB)
F. Drum Cleaning Block
Removes residual toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum to prepare for the next print job.
step 9: drum cleaning (removes residual toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum)
step 10: post-exposure (prevents uneven density by evening out the surface of the photosensitive drum)




NOTE: IMPORTANT
-Do not replace drum units with new ones unnecessarily, in order to check function operations during service, etc.
The device blows the drum fuse as soon as it detects a new drum unit and resets the drum life counter to 0.
Even if the old drum unit is replaced immediately, the drum life counter will increment as a new drum unit.
Service Mode:
COPIER > FUNCTION > INSTALL > AINR-OFF
Invalidates drum initialization that is performed when a new drum unit is installed. Also, the fuse is not blown, as it would usually be after drum initialization is completed.

This mode would be used to replace a drum unit temporarily in order to check image quality, for example when trying to trace the cause of a problem.

0: Initialization carried out for new unit. Fuse blown. (Default)
1: No initialization for new unit. Fuse not blown.
Further, this service mode should be set to [1] only when necessary for service. After the service is complete, the setting must always be returned to [0].