HP Canvas Distortion / Shrinkage in Prints

Hi everyone. We are a boutique photographic lab based in Brisbane Australia. We recently took delivery of a 330 to replace our aging L25500. We've started using HP Premium Satin Canvas and are experiencing some worrying distortion (bowing) / shrinkage / contraction both horizontally and vertically across output. This fluctuates dependant on what point in the printing we are at and seems to lessen towards the end of longer jobs 5 metres or more. We are experiencing extremely high humidity here at the moment with 70-90% humidity so my thoughts are leaning towards that as the major contributor to this issue. As getting the productions area's humidity levels down is not a possibility are there any other options available to me? I assume increasing suction won't do a lot in this situation. We're in the middle of Christmas madness so any help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. Will

Image to further explain distortion. Canvas shown is approximately 240 by 150cm Vertical bars should be 100cm - Horizontal bars should be 150cm

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Hi Goferfoto, In your case I think we could have different effects acting at once. First of all I'll recommend you to eliminate the media bowing. This can be done with the Straightness Optimization Plot. See the forum topic below: L360 - Straightness Optimization Plot Once the bowing corrections are introduced, the length should be consistent, if not I'll recommend you to use the TUR with this jobs in order to reduce the tension applied in the front of the media. To sum up, I'll recommend you to follow the steps below: Set the straightness optimization parameter to compensate the bowing Print without the take up reel to reduce the front tension Reduce temperatures If left, right and center lengths are even but then this length has an offset correct this offset via RIP Please let me know if this works.

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Thanks Marc I'll give what you've suggested a try and get back to you asap Do you think humidity is making a big difference? Cheers Will

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