The maintenance tab allows you to perform machine maintenance or change the settings of the printer.  This article will show you how to access the maintenance tab, and walk you through some of the key operations available on the tab.

Manage print profiles

1. Open the application you use when you print. Select Print on the File menu to open the Print dialog box.

2. Select your model name, then Preferences or Properties.

3. The printer driver setup window appears.

    Based on application software you use, command or menu names may vary and there may be additional steps.
    

Manage maintenance (print head cleaning or configure a printing profile common to all application software)

1. Select the option that matches your version of Windows.

   •  Windows 7 -  Start menu > Devices and Printers.

   • Windows Vista -  Start menu > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Printers.

   • Windows XP - Start menu > Control Panel > Printers and Other Hardware > Printers and Faxes.

2. Right-click your model name icon, then select Printing preferences from the menu

3. The printer driver setup window appears.

 When you open the setup window through Printer properties (Windows 7) or Properties (Windows Vista, Windows XP) you won't see the same tabs you see in Printing preferences. Refer to your computer's user manual for more information.

Clean the print head

The print head cleaning function allows you to clear up a clogged print head nozzle. Perform print head cleaning if your print is faint or a specific color fails to print, even though there's enough ink.

1. Open the printer driver setup window.

2. Select Cleaning  on the Maintenance tab

3. When the Print Head Cleaning dialog box opens, select the ink group you want to use.

4. Select Initial Check Items to display the items you need to check before cleaning.

5. Make sure the machine is on and select Execute. Print head cleaning starts.

6. The Nozzle Check dialog box opens after the confirmation message.

7. To see if print quality has improved, select Print Check Pattern, or select Cancel to stop the process.

8. If cleaning the head once does not resolve the print head problem, clean it once more.

 Cleaning consumes a small amount of ink. Cleaning the print head frequently rapidly depletes your printer's ink supply. Perform cleaning only when necessary.
 

Deep Cleaning is more thorough than regular cleaning. Perform deep cleaning if two regular cleanings don't resolve the print issue.

1. Open the printer driver setup window.

2. Select Deep Cleaning  on the Maintenance tab.

3. When the Deep Cleaning dialog box opens, select the ink group for which deep cleaning is to be performed.

4. Select Initial Check Items to display the items you need to check before performing deep cleaning.

5. Make sure the machine is on and then select Execute.

6. Select OK when the confirmation message appears.

7. Print head deep cleaning starts.

8. The Nozzle Check dialog box opens after the confirmation message.

9. To check whether the print quality has improved, select Print Check Pattern. To cancel the check process, select Cancel.

 Deep cleaning consumes a larger amount of ink than cleaning. Cleaning the print head frequently rapidly depletes your printer's ink supply. Perform cleaning only when necessary.

 If there is no sign of improvement after deep cleaning, switch off the machine, wait 24 hours, and then perform deep cleaning again. If there is still no sign of improvement, see ink isn't ejected.
 

Align the print head manually

Print head alignment corrects the installation positions of the print head and improves deviated colors and lines.

This machine supports two head alignment methods: automatic head alignment and manual head alignment.

To perform an automatic head alignment, refer to align the print head and then complete the alignment from the printer's operation panel.

1. Open the printer driver setup window.

2. Select Custom Settings on the Maintenance tab the custom settings dialog box opens.

3. Switch head alignment to manual.

4. Check the Align heads manually check box.

5. Select OK and when the confirmation message appears, select OK again.

6. Select Print Head Alignment  on the Maintenance tab. The Start Print Head Alignment dialog box opens.

7. Load three sheets of A4 size or Letter size plain paper into the front tray.

8. Make sure the machine is on and select Align Print Head.

9. Follow the instruction in the message.

10. Check the printed pattern.

11. Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least amount of streaks in the associated boxes.

12. Even if the patterns with the least amount of streaks are selected in the preview window, their numbers are automatically entered in the associated boxes.

    

13. When you enter all the necessary values, select OK.

 If it's difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.

• (A) Least noticeable vertical white streaks.

• (B) Most noticeable vertical white streaks.

 If it's difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white streaks.

• (A) Least noticeable horizontal white streaks.

• (B) Most noticeable horizontal white streaks.

16. Confirm the displayed message and tap OK.

17. The second pattern prints. Check the printed pattern.

18. Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least amount of streaks in the associated boxes.

19. Even if the patterns with the least amount of streaks are clicked in the preview window, their numbers are automatically entered in the associated boxes.

    

20. When you enter all the necessary values, tap OK.

     If it's difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.

    

• (A) Least noticeable vertical white streaks

• (B) Most noticeable vertical white streaks

16. Confirm the displayed message and tap OK.

17. The third pattern prints. Check the printed pattern.

18. Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least noticeable horizontal stripes in the associated boxes.

19. Even if the patterns with the least noticeable horizontal stripes are clicked in the preview window, their numbers are automatically entered in the associated boxes.

    

20. When you have entered all the necessary values, tap OK.

     If it's difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal stripes.

    

• (A) Least noticeable horizontal stripes

• (B) Most noticeable horizontal stripes

 To print and check the current setting, open the Start Print Head Alignment dialog box, and select Print Alignment Value.
 

Print a nozzle check pattern

The nozzle check function allows you to check whether the print head works properly. Print the pattern if your prints becomes faint, or if a specific color fails to print.

1. Open the printer driver setup window.

2. Select Nozzle Check  on the Maintenance tab The Nozzle Check dialog box opens.

3. Select Initial Check Items to display the items that you need to check before you print the nozzle check pattern.

4. Load one sheet of A4 size or Letter size plain paper into the front tray.

5. Make sure the machine is on and select Print Check Pattern. The nozzle check pattern prints.

6. Tap OK when the confirmation message appears. The Pattern Check dialog box opens.

7. Check the print result. When the print result is normal, tap Exit.

8. If the print result is smudged or if there are any unprinted sections, select Cleaning to clean the print head.
    

Specify the ink cartridge to be used

This feature enables you to specify the most appropriate cartridge from the installed cartridges for your intended use.

When one of the cartridges becomes empty and can't be replaced immediately by a new one, you can specify the other cartridge that still has ink and continue to print.

1. Open the printer driver setup window.

2. Select Ink Cartridge Settings on the Maintenance tab. The Ink Cartridge Settings dialog box appears.

3. Select the cartridge to be used for printing and tap OK.

4. The specified cartridge will be used from the next printing.

 When the these settings are specified, Black Only doesn't function because the machine uses the color cartridge to print documents.

• Other than Plain Paper or Envelope is selected for Media Type on the Main tab.

• Borderless is selected from the Page Layout list on the Page Setup tab.

 Don't remove the cartridge that's not in use. You won't be able to print if you remove one of the cartridges.

Clean inside the machine

Perform bottom plate cleaning before you execute duplex printing to prevent smudges on the back side of the paper.

Also perform bottom plate cleaning if ink the smudges or if something other than print data appear on the printed page.

For details on how to load paper into the machine, see Clean the inside of the machine (bottom plate).

1. Open the printer driver setup window.

2. Select Bottom Plate Cleaning  on the Maintenance tab. The Bottom Plate Cleaning dialog box opens.

3. As instructed in the dialog box, fold the A4 size or Letter size plain paper in half horizontally, and then unfold the sheet.

4. Fold one side of the paper in another half, align the edge with the center crease, then unfold the paper.

5. With the ridges of the creases facing up, load the paper into the front tray, so that the edge of the half with no crease faces away from you.

6. Make sure the machine is on, then tap Execute. Bottom plate cleaning starts.

Clean the paper feed rollers

Perform feed roller cleaning when paper particles stick to the paper feed rollers and paper isn't fed properly.

1. Remove all sheets of paper from the front tray.
    

2. Open the printer driver setup window.

3. Select Roller Cleaning  on the Maintenance tab. The confirmation message appears.

4. Make sure the machine is on and then tap OK. Paper feed roller cleaning starts.

5. After the rollers stop, follow the instruction in the message, load three sheets of plain paper into the front tray, and tap OK. Paper ejects and feed roller cleaning is complete.

Manage power

This function allows you to manage the machine power from the printer driver.

The Power Off function turns off the machine. When you use this function, you won't be able to turn the machine on from the printer driver.

1. Open the printer driver setup window.

2. Select Power Off  on the Maintenance tab.

3. When the confirmation message appears, select OK. The machine power switches off, and the Maintenance tab displays again.

Auto Power allows you to set  Auto Power On and Auto Power Off.

The Auto Power On function automatically turns on the machine when data is received.

The Auto Power Off function automatically turns off the machine when there are no operations from the printer driver or the machine for a specified period of time.

1. Open the printer driver setup window.

2. Make sure the machine is on and then select Auto Power on the Maintenance tab. The Auto Power Settings dialog box opens.
   
    If the machine is off or if communication between the machine and the computer is disabled, an error message may appear because the computer can't collect the machine status. If this happens, select OK to display the most recent settings specified on your computer.

3. If necessary, complete the following settings:

• Auto Power On:

  • Choose Enable to turn the machine on upon receipt of print data.

• Auto Power Off:

  • Choose the time from the list. When this time lapses without any operations from the printer driver or the machine, the machine turns off automatically.

5. When the confirmation message appears, select OK. The Maintenance tab displays again.

6. The auto power on/off function is enabled. When you want to disable this function, select Disable from the list according to the same procedure.

 When the machine is turned off, the status monitor message varies depending on the Auto Power On setting.

• When Auto Power On is enabled, Printer is standing by displays. When Auto Power On is disabled, Printer is offline displays.

 If you connect this machine to a network and use it, you can set Auto Power Off but the power won't switch off automatically.

Reduce machine noise

The silent function allows you to reduce the operating noise of this machine.

Use of this function may lower the print speed.

1. Open the printer driver setup window.



2. Select Quiet Settings  on the Maintenance tab. The Quiet Settings dialog box opens.

    If the machine is off or if communication between the machine and the computer is disabled, an error message may appear because the computer can't collect the machine status.

3. Set the quiet mode.

4. If necessary, specify one of the following items:

• Do not use quiet mode:

  • Select this option when you wish to use the machine with volume of normal operating noise.

• Always use quiet mode:

  • Select this option when you wish to reduce the operation noise of the machine.

• Use quiet mode during specified hours:

  • Select this option when you want to reduce the operation noise of the machine during a specified period of time.

  • Set the Start time and the End time of the quiet mode you want to activate this function. If both are set to the same time, the quiet mode won't function.
    
     You can set the quiet mode from the operation panel of the machine, the printer driver, or ScanGear (scanner driver).

• No matter how you set the quiet mode, the mode is applied when you perform operations from the operation panel of the machine or print / scan from the computer.

• If you specify a time for Use quiet mode during specified hours, quiet mode isn't applied to operations (copy, direct print, etc.) performed directly from the machine.

5. Make sure the machine is on and tap OK.

6. Tap OK when the confirmation message appears.

Chang the operation mode

If necessary, switch between various modes of machine operation.

1. Open the printer driver setup window.

2. Make sure the machine is on, and then select Custom Settings  on the Maintenance tab. The Custom Settings dialog box opens.

    If the machine is off or if communication between the machine and the computer is disabled, an error message may appear because the computer can't collect the machine status. If this happens, tap OK to display the most recent settings specified on your computer.

3. If necessary, complete the following settings:

• Prevent paper abrasion:

  • The machine can increase the gap between the print head and the paper during high-density printing to prevent paper abrasion.

  • Check the check box to use this function.

• Align heads manually:

  • Usually, the Print Head Alignment function on the Maintenance tab is set to automatic head alignment, but you can change it to manual head alignment.

  • If the printing results are unsatisfactory even after you execute automatic head alignment, see align the print head position from your computer, and execute manual head alignment.

  • Check this check box to perform the manual head alignment. Uncheck this check box to perform the automatic head alignment.

• Prevent paper double-feed:

  • Select this check box only if the machine feeds multiple sheets of plain paper at the same time. Use of this function slows down the print speed.

• Ink Drying Wait Time:

  • You can set the length of the machine rest time until printing of the next page begins. Move the slider to the right to increase the pause time, or to the left to decrease the time.

  • If the paper gets stained because the next page ejects before the ink dries, increase the ink drying wait time.

  • If you reduce the ink drying wait time, it speeds up printing.

4. Tap OK and when the confirmation message appears, tap OK again.

If your product issue was not resolved after following the steps above, or if you require additional help, please create or log in to your Canon Account to see your technical support options.

Or if you still need help, visit our Canon Community by clicking the button below to get answers:

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