Shift in color from print a few days ago

[charissabuskirk]

Not sure if this would entirely fall under the Mimaki part of the forum, and should probably be posted in the color mgt as well...

I printed a file a few days ago which consisted of a solid PMS color only (a dark grey) and when I print now it's coming out a completely different color (muddy brown). Nothing has changed.

*Same file directly from my rip queue
*Same material, same profile, same inks
*All my nozzles are firing, did a cleaning and nozzle wash anyway.
*Tried re-ripping, changing profiles.
*Shut down, reboot computer and printer.

Clincher- printed another color specific job and it was fine. Printed a few other jobs, they are correct as well. What is it with this one file/color that my rip or printer doesn't like? They used the Pantone GOE coated: 162-1-5. I have on/off issues with this color, and I'm completely lost with where to go from here. Any ideas?

 

[charissabuskirk]

Not as controlled as I would like, but it's been about pretty constant for the last few weeks.

 

[Gino]

I'm not a Mimaki user, but these questions don't really pertain to the equipment.

Are you using the exact same roll of vinyl ?? Not another roll of the same thing, but the exact same roll ??
Have you turned the print so the heads travel a different direction ??
Have you changed any speeds ??

 

[charissabuskirk]

Gino-
1- No, it is not the same roll. I thought the same thing so I loaded another new roll, same issue. Unless the 3 rolls I have in stock are from the same batch...
2- No, I didn't rotate the print but it's a solid block of color.
3- No, but I did check uni and bi directional printing as well as changed the head height.

 

[Letterbox Mike]

If it's a different roll I suspect either that or the heat settings weren't the same, or an environmental difference. Any of those won't make a significant difference between two prints if it's a full-color image, but it's always more apparent in a solid block of color, and I'll go out on a limb and say gray is going to be one of the worst colors at showing a color shift like that.

 

[charissabuskirk]

I had the same idea about the new roll. Unfortunately I don't have that roll anymore. I do have another roll I can try, but all 3 were ordered at the same time.

Heat settings won't change because it's controlled by the profile.

Environmental could always be a factor, even thought the shop is inside sometimes temperature is an issue (summer and winter) but it's been a nice 72 in here for weeks.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'm going to try some and see where I get. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something big here. I've been fighting with this Jv3 for almost a year now, I think it's time to propose an upgrade.