Hello! I am trying to print the Lasal Exhibition Luster 5x7 paper with my Epson 3880 and I'm having some difficulty with the settings. My problem is that I'm getting ink smear all along one edge. I have corrected the settings to properly reflect the paper thickness, platen gap and drying time. Every print, it's the same thing--no changes no matter how wide the platen gap is or how much I changed the thickness. I have also made sure my rollers and print head are clean. My maintenance cart is not full. I have no problems with any other paper. Not really sure why I can't get this right.

Can anyone else list all of their print settings for this paper and this printer? Thank you!

Lauren,
I have a few follow-up questions for you:
Is Premium Luster or Ultra Premium Luster your paper type setting when printing?
Are you printing borderless or with a border?
Do your sheets appear to have any curl at the edge if you lay them on a flat surface?
If you rotate the paper 180 degrees so the opposite end feeds into the printer first, do you see the same problem?

Thank you for your reply! Okay so I am
Using the Ultra Premium Luster setting, borderless, and the paper is super flat, no curved or bent edges.
I have no idea about rotating the print but I might as well try that out tomorrow.

Thanks for the additional info. Is the ink smear on the top (photograph) side of the paper, or on the underside? And if you make a bordered print, do you get the same smearing?

Yes, the ink smear is on the printable side and yes, the ink still gathers along the edge when I print with a white border--but the ink does not go not he border, just where the image is. I also tried using the "Premium Semi Gloss" setting and still same results. I tried using high speed printing, with it off, same results.

I have now printed over half the box, wasted prints, right in the trash, trying to get this right. I like how the prints turn out, thicker and better color vibrancy than the Inkpress. I wanted to use these prints for a custom album but I'm ready to just throw the rest away. Does no one else have a problem with this paper? I feel confidant that my printer works properly as I print on a variety of different papers and never had a problem like this.

Lauren, I must begin by saying that I am not an expert and do not use Lasal so you may want to stop right here. I also don't use any paper smaller than 8.5 x 11 so I have no real experience with 5x7. So you may wonder why I am even responding. But I do use Moab papers -- Juniper and Entrada.

If this was me and my problem, I would attack it from a problem-solving perspective. Some of these steps may sound very basic but I am not assuming anything at the start.

First make sure you are printing on the coated side of the paper. If not, everything usually smears but it is worth a check to make 110% certain. I once got a box of paper with the "print this side" label on the wrong side. I tried several prints until I realized what was wrong.

Second, you said this has not happened with other papers. Have you specifically tried other luster papers in 5X7? Have you tried borderless with them? Do you have some 5x7 luster sheets handy to try them now and make sure all is still well with the printer and the other papers. If you find perfect prints, then it would seem the issue is somewhere in the printer/paper combination.

Third, do you access to another printer... preferably another 3880. A friend or someone local. Try running the Lasal through the other printer. If the smearing still happens on another similar printer, then the reason may indeed have something to do with the paper. A problem with the coating? Something like that. Stuff happens. But if the prints come out fine on 5x7 Lasal on another printer (ideally another 3880) then it would seem the issue goes back to your printer and how it interacts with the paper. Compare the set ups.

Are you printing color or B&W. If color, convert to B&W and see if it still smears.

Hopefully you see where I am going with this. If I don't have an answer, I try to experiment until I can isolate at what point the error occurs. Yes it does take paper and it does use ink. But if you are systematic about it you can usually isolate the problem and correct it. And it beats trying the same things over and over only to get more and more frustrated. As a very good photographer friend of mine often reminds me when I am have issues, it is usually pilot error.

Hope this helps if only just a little.

Ed