Discuss the different types of equipment needed for screen printing. Topics include manual screen printing presses, automatic presses, dryers, folding machines, starter kits and high end machines.
I am new to screenprinting and am considering buying the Epson 1400 to make my films for burning my screens... I have been reading up in the forums here on the Epson printer and I was just wondering what you guys thought about the following idea...
I know when you buy the epson and only use the black you would still need to replace the other 5 color cartridges and that is a waste... what if I were to install a CIS system with all 6 using black ink... would that improve my chances of getting more opaque films. I know I would still need the rip software for half tones and 4 color and such, but money is a little bit of an issue at the moment. So I figure maybe this would be a good start for spot color jobs and to get started. Most of my designs are spot color anyway.
Any thoughts? Am I just being a dummy in thinking this might work?
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i have the 1400 but not the CIS system - I've read they usually work well. As for halftones and RIP, sure it's easier when you do it like that, but if money's tight you can create good bitmap halftones in Photoshop pretty simply (if you have Photoshop, that is ).
This is my method (not mine as in I invented it, I just use it - haha):
1) Change the color mode to grayscale
2) Change the color mode to bitmap.
3) A window will pop up. Make the output resolution the same as the input resolution. Select "halftone screen" as the method. Click OK.
4) A new window pops up. The frequency depends on your screen mesh. Some people get the frequency by dividing your mesh by 4. Some divide by 5. I divide by 4.5 Round the number and put that as the frequency. Standard angle for me has always been 45, but someone on here just informed me that 22.5 is better - I haven't tried it yet, but I will soon. I always use ellipse as the shape. Click OK.
5) Done.
I've seen them as low as $150 for a refurbished unit and $200 for a new unit, but it depends on the time of year and who you buy from. Epson often has it refurbished on clearance for around those prices, though it seems right now at most places its price is up to around $250-300 new.
I am new to screenprinting and am considering buying the Epson 1400 to make my films for burning my screens... I have been reading up in the forums here on the Epson printer and I was just wondering what you guys thought about the following idea...
I know when you buy the epson and only use the black you would still need to replace the other 5 color cartridges and that is a waste... what if I were to install a CIS system with all 6 using black ink... would that improve my chances of getting more opaque films. I know I would still need the rip software for half tones and 4 color and such, but money is a little bit of an issue at the moment. So I figure maybe this would be a good start for spot color jobs and to get started. Most of my designs are spot color anyway.
Any thoughts? Am I just being a dummy in thinking this might work?
You have a great idea and I wish it would work. The problem is that even if you have black in all of the carts, you have no way of telling the printer which slot to use (for example all of them if you wanted) without a RIP. The Epson will still think it has color ink in it.
I had the same thought and it works like a charm. I have an epson 1400 with the ciss from Ebay. I bought it empty and ordered the black ink uv resistant and filled all 5 chambers with the black. I dont have rip software, just photoshop and I print only 1 transparency for each color now and it works like if I had acu rip. I print beautiful 4 color process prints with the duo combination. If you have questions on how to set up each screen on photoshop I would be happy to help you out. You really dont need all that expensive stuff that everyone is trying to sell us/.
I have a 1400 with the inkjetfly.com CIS system, using the pigment ink that comes with the kit (black, cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, yellow).
Using Photoshop CS2 and printing on transparencies, these are the print settings I use:
Under the Print Settings Tab (select it under the area in which you type in number of copies):
Paper Type: Premium Photo Paper Semi-Gloss
Color Setting: Grayscale
Click the "Advanced Button, then the following:
Print Quality: PhotoRPM, and turn High Speed OFF.
This produces black films every time, and I still have all of the other colors available for every day printing and heat transfers.
Fill all 6 cartridges with black, then you will only need to print one transparency rather than doubling up on them for the opaqness. It is truly a dream come true for me and could be for you too. Photoshop and a 40 ciss from ebay and the ink was 35 bucks for like 5 bottles of black ink that almost filled to the top every ink cartridge and the resivoirs that go to each color. I have ink for 6 months for 35 bucks and I print big images 13x19 all the time. Good Luck. PEace
Epson 1400 CISS Question 
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