Paper Curl

[gll]

I have been trying to print using the roll paper on an Epson 4880, I bought a roll of Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta and Innova F type. on both I have had a problem with the head rubbing the paper somewhere around the first 1/3 of the print in the center, just a strip 2 inches or so. I'm thinking it is because of the curl, the only way I can get it to print is to stretch out a section for several hours then roll it back and print. anyone else had a problem like this ? I have wasted 3 or 4 16x20 prints and now trying to print and having to wait for the paper to lay down is sure slowing thing down. any suggestions are much appreciated.
Gary

[tropicpine]

A tool to solve this exact problem was reviewed in Photo Technique magazine this month.

[a1shots]

Get a roll of craft paper and roll the paper in the reverse direction. This is a problem we have on on one of our printers (an HP 5500 PSUV). When we print on the Albrecht Dürer paper, also by Hahnemuhle, the outer half of the roll comes in contact with the print heads when it is running across the length of the roll. By doing the above following we have been able to prevent the problem for the most part but it is a pain. When we print on that paper using an Epson 9880 we do not have that problem. Obviously it is a printer / media compatibility.