Setting up Epson 1400 for Screen printing

You are correct, the Epson 1400 is the printer of choice today for film output. And yes, to print halftones you will need RIP software that is specific to screen printing such as FilmMaker ($395) or AccuRIP ($495).

You can use the printer right out of the box for films because it is a dye based ink system, but you will save substantial money using a refillable cartridge system, whether you use all black or just one black. I know people who do both with perfectly fine results. Either RIP software will give you the option to choose which ink slots you want to use for black ink. If you choose to use just one slot, the other refillable cartridges are commonly filled with cleaning solution.

With a small format printer such as the 1400 you do not need a chip resetter. Turning the printer on and off will reset the chips. If this doesn't work, there are instructions on resetting that will not require you to use a resetter.

Lastly, be sure to use waterproof film for your best film output results.

Hope this helps! Good luck!!

Ok so I have Internet but I am on iPad as it may seem either my PC is dead or the generator is not hooked up to my office.

If you have already turned on the show advanced features in tools and options and can goto queue, print mode overrides, printer options, you can choose 720x720 big or small dots. Or 1440x1440 small dots. Color plane it is either 6 black or multiple black, make sure to check change default printer options I believe its at the top. Then goto variable dot setup. Click override mode. Then starting at top each slot has a number on left start with 1 then next slot 2 and third slot 3. Repeat 1,2,3 for the other 3 channels. For the percentages. Start at 10% for all channels. Increase by 2% if more ink is needed. Every printer is slightly different here. I have 1 that 10% is good and 1 that 15% is needed but start low save and close filmmaker restart then print a test page.

If you want to control your dot gain after you get a good film click calibration control and check override print mode color make sure override is marked and by density. The factory setting is real close for the 1400.

The 1,2,3 setting above is your dot size per channel. It will start with a small dot the lay a bigger dot over and ending with the largest dot. This helps with dot gain also. After you get all set when printing a gradient you can achieve tonal changes that only Watsach can match but its $1200. Also I believe if you download the new ver 4 your license info allows a free upgrade but caution there is a issue if printing out of Corel with certain versions. Not sure if they have fixed yet so I reverted back to 3 but seems to work fine with photoshop.

If some of the info looks wrong sorry this is all from memory and I can post screen shots soon as I get something going but I do have a pretty good memory.