Why Is My Epson Stylus 1390 Printing White Ink with Lines or Thin Coverage?

Question:

I’ve been using my Epson Stylus 1390 for about a month, after purchasing it from someone who had it for at least a year. I print every day and spend at least two hours trying to get it to print white ink properly. Recently, I’ve noticed that the white ink prints with lines and is very thin on the back of the image. I’ve cleaned the printhead and performed daily maintenance, but the issue persists. What could be the cause?

Answer:

Thank you for contacting us at BCH Technologies, and we sincerely apologize for the delay in responding. We understand how urgent printer issues can be, especially for professionals working with Direct to Film (DTF) printing, and we appreciate your patience. We aim to treat each inquiry with the careful attention it deserves. We’re also truly grateful for your support of our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), where your engagement helps us grow and refine our technical expertise.

Understanding the Issue: Thin White Ink and Banding

From your description, there are two main symptoms:

• White ink prints with visible lines (commonly called “banding”).

• The white layer appears thin, especially on the back side of the print.

These signs typically point to issues related to:

1. Clogged or partially firing printhead nozzles

2. Ink settling or separation inside the dampers

3. Improper printer shutdowns are affecting printhead maintenance

Primary Cause: Printhead Drying or Poor Shutdown Practices

Even though you are performing daily cleaning, one major contributing factor might be incomplete shutdown procedures, which are crucial for DTF printers. Over time, improper shutdown leads to nozzle drying, cap station contamination, and degraded ink flow.

Let’s go over a complete BCH-standard DTF shutdown routine that can help resolve and prevent these issues:

BCH Standard DTF End-of-Day Protocol

1. Finish All Print Jobs
   Ensure no print is in progress before powering down the printer.

2. Unlock the Printhead for Cleaning Access

   • Press the power button to begin shutdown.

   • Once the printhead starts moving left, quickly unplug the printer or use the main switch to cut power.

   • This stops the head mid-motion so that you can slide it freely.

3. Clean the Capping Station Gasket

   • Use only distilled water (no DTF cleaning fluid).

   • Gently wipe the rubber cap edges with a lint-free cloth or foam swab.

4. Clean Around the Printhead

   • Use a damp paper towel (with distilled water) and slide it under the printhead.

   • Lightly wipe to remove any built-up ink.

   • Leave the damp towel underneath overnight to prevent nozzle drying.

5. Flush the Waste Line and Capping Station

   • A syringe or TMS machine is used to pull ink from the waste line.

   • Refill the cap with distilled water and repeat until the fluid runs clean.

6. Wipe the Wiper Blade

   • Lift the rubber wiper blade (beside the cap station) and clean it with distilled water.

7. Fill the Capping Station with Water

   • Add a few drops of BCH Wetter Solution (https://bchtechnologies.com/dtf-wetter-solution.html) to prevent overnight drying.

8. Turn Off the Heating Plates

   • Power off all platens and let them cool.

9. Restart the Printer and Park the Head

   • Power the printer back on and confirm the head returns to the capping station.

10. Cover the Printer

• A dust cover or plastic wrap protects the unit from air drafts and debris.

11. Log Daily Maintenance

• Keep a maintenance log to track what was done and when.

Additional Tips:

• Rotate White Ink Dampers Weekly
  White ink tends to settle and separate. Remove and rotate the dampers to prevent channel blockage.

• Prime the Dampers and Lines Regularly
  Air bubbles or stagnant ink can affect performance. Use a priming syringe to draw ink through until the flow is consistent.

• Inspect for Air Leaks
  Check ink lines, dampers, and seals. Air leaks can disrupt ink delivery, especially for white ink.

Still Seeing Thin or Streaky White Prints?

If your white ink appears thin or washed out, it may be due to:

• White ink pigment separation – Stir the white ink manually or use a bottle shaker regularly.

• Low printhead firing temperature – White ink requires adequate platen heat to adhere.

• Layering settings in your RIP software – Ensure your white layer is thick enough in the RIP profile.

Important Notice About Repairs and Support

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're unable to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) via our local diagnostic facility. Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So, it might take a few weeks to get your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair the whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thank you again for sharing your concerns. Your engagement means great to us, and we’re committed to providing helpful guidance wherever possible.