[SusanneBCS]

Sometimes I need to reprint a particular film separation for a job or make an adjustment to a current file and reprint. Very time I do the films do not line up. For example - I need to adjust the white film for a 3 color job that has already had the films printed and screens burned. After making and adjustment the white I reprint the white film only. After comparing that with the existing films - it does not line up. the registration marks are a little off. The file appears to be stretched vertically just enough for the film to not work. The only work around I have found is by reprinting all of the films at the same time. As you can imagine - this is not ideal...

I am working from illustrator - using accurip and printing to the epson T3200.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[NoXid]

I've noticed that my films shrink a tiny bit over time. It is not a problem if all the films for a job are the same age. Assuming you aren't seeing this issue with films you first printed earlier that day, I'd say that plastic film shrinks over time and if you need to replace one, you need to replace all.

 

[SusanneBCS]

I've noticed that my films shrink a tiny bit over time. It is not a problem if all the films for a job are the same age. Assuming you aren't seeing this issue with films you first printed earlier that day, I'd say that plastic film shrinks over time and if you need to replace one, you need to replace all.

Not the issue - but thanks. If I print a film and then go right back and print it again - they are not the exact same size. This is not an issue if I only need one screen for a job - but if it has a underbase or needs just one color tweaked - I'm screwed. I always have to reprint the whole set.

 

[kong7014]

Double check your print settings in illustrator and printer properties. Make sure you're printing at 100% and not scaling to fit a different size media. And I'm sure you are but I'll say it anyway... Make sure you select your Accurip(printer) and not your printer. That's all I can think of. Hope it helps.

 

[kong7014]

If it were me and I didn't have the time to reprint an entire job and remake screens, I would check the length and width of what I have produced already. Ensure that those measurements are matched as close as possible in Illustrator, then print the white underbase from that. Obviously not good enough for the colors or halftones though.

 

[FlashDave]

It may be that the rollers on the printer are worn or dirty therefore causing an inconsistent feed?

 

[kong7014]

If you do suspect it's the printer, make a 5 inch square in Illustrator and print it. Then measure the dimensions of the print. It should be exact. Please note I do not have experience with your printer but I've never had Illustrator or Accurip print anything off scale as long as it wasn't my user error.

 

[SusanneBCS]

It may be that the rollers on the printer are worn or dirty therefore causing an inconsistent feed?

Printer is less then a year old. it's been doing it all along.

Any other ideas?

 

[FlashDave]

Oh so its not something that has just started happening.
Maybe check the printer settings such as selecting the correct paper type and or media thickness setting? It sounds like the media (film) could be slipping.

 

[NoXid]

No. There is something else going on. If it were slippage, that would happen when printing the individual films for a multi-color job, but it does not. The problem occurs when just one film needs to be reprinted for a multi-color job.

 

[ejnrby]

When you print your separations, print a line going down the length of the whole design off to one side. What happens, especially with AccuRIP, is that the blank spaces get messed up. Having it print a little bit the whole way down the design generally fixes the issue because it has to measure that empty space.

Edited to Add: Also, some people have noticed problems on the T3200/T3270 with 2" cores as it gets closer to the end. Try a 3" core if you aren't already & that might solve some problems!