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Introduction 1-9
NovaJet PRO 600e User's Guide
INTRODUCTION
8. Ink and Media
Using the right ink and media is a much bigger factor in print quality than most inkjet users realize.
It takes many months of using a printer before a user begins to understand what an exceptional
print looks like. Then and only then can they fully appreciate what quality materials and inks can
do. Inks must be developed specifically for a particular head, otherwise, cartridge reliability will be
severely reduced. ENCAD inks are specifically developed for ENCAD cartridges, printers, and
media. These inks create the perfect ink drop shape, trajectory, and landing shape when used with
ENCAD cartridges. The media controls the color, dot gain, and durability of the final print. As the
ink must chemically interact with the media, only medias developed specifically for a particular ink
can achieve the perfect dot shape that leads to improved image quality. Additionally, the chemical
bond created through co-developed inks and medias is much better than independently developed
inks and medias. Although many people will not be able to visually perceive differences in quality
inks and medias initially (poor inks and medias show more pronounced visual defects), a less-than-
optimal image quality, image color, or image durability will likely develop over time. Chemical
compatibility between inks (made for a specific head technology) and medias is a key, and often
overlooked ingredient to print quality.
9. Cartridge Preparation and Alignment
The single most overlooked factor in image color accuracy and quality is cartridge alignment. Even
if you carefully control factors 1 though 8, a printer with poor cartridge alignment or unmaintained
heads can severely deteriorate image quality. Cartridge maintenance and alignment are key to
producing images that exhibit the best of what a printer is capable of. Printer wiping stations must
be kept clean so that heads stay clean. Cartridges need to be aligned and checked to be sure that
all nozzles are working properly. Use a loupe to evaluate the registration of test patterns to achieve
the best possible accuracy. Whenever you adjust, move, or replace a cartridge, take the time to
realign the cartridges. Alignment errors of a single pixel (or single digit in the alignment process)
will affect both color and image quality.