Print Head Alignment (Mac OS X)

Print Head Alignment adjusts differences in the print head position and corrects horizontal and vertical shifts when printing graphs, lines, and text. Print Head Alignment can be performed either automatically or manually. The manual print head alignment corrects minute differences that may not be corrected by the automatic Print Head Alignment. Perform the manual Print Head Alignment if necessary.

Note: When performing Print Head Alignment automatically, one sheet of Matte Photo Paper is required. If you do not have Matte Photo Paper with you, perform Print Head Alignment manually. The automatic Print Head Alignment takes approx. 7 minutes to print pattern. - When performing Print Head Alignment manually, four sheets of plain paper are required.

<How to open the IJ Printer Utility window>

Note: - After confirming that the cable connects the printer to the computer and the printer is powered on, follow the procedures below. - After confirming that printing is not being performed, launch the IJ Printer Utility.

1. Launch IJ Printer Utility.
   
   Note: In versions of Mac OS X older than 10.4, open the IJ / BJ Printer Utility from the Library>Printers>Canon>BJPrinter>Utilities folder.
   
   
2. In the Apple menu select System Preferences
   
   
3. Open Print & Fax.
   
   
4. Make sure the correct printer is selected and, depending on OS version, click 'Open Print Queue...' or 'Print Queue...'.
   
   
5. Click the Utility / Printer Setup icon.
   
   Note: In Mac OS X 10.6, select 'Utility' at the top of the screen, and then click the 'Open Printer Utility' button.
   
   
6. Select the printer, then click 'Maintenance'.
   
   
7. In the pop-up menu, select 'Custom Settings'. - The window you see varies according to the printer model.
   
   
   
   
8. To perform Print Head Alignment automatically, deselect 'Align heads manually'. To perform Print Head Alignment manually, select 'Align heads manually'. Then, click 'Send'.
   
   
   
   
9. Click 'OK'.

<How to perform Print Head Alignment automatically>

1. Make sure that the power is turned on and a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized supplied paper or Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 is loaded in the Rear Tray. Load them with the printing side (whiter side) facing you in the Rear Tray.
   
   
2. Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and extend to open the Output Tray Extension.
   
   
3. In the pop-up menu, select 'Test Print'.
   
   
   
   (1) Select 'Test Print' in the pop-up menu.
   
   (2) Click 'Print Head Alignment'.
   
   Note: If you click Check Setting, the printer prints out the current setting and the display goes back to Canon IJ Printer Utility. To see the current setting first, load a sheet of plain paper in the auto sheet feeder and click Check Setting.
   
   (3) Confirm the displayed message, and click 'Align Print Head'. The print head alignment pattern will be printed and the printer will adjust the print head position automatically. Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress. Printing takes about 7 minutes to complete.
   
   
   
   
4. When printing is completed, performing Print Head Alignment automatically is completed.
   
   Notes:
   
   The pattern will be printed in black and blue.
   
   If the above does not improve the print results, align the Print Head manually.

<How to perform Print Head Alignment manually>

1. Make sure that the printer is turned on.
   
   
2. Load three sheets of Letter-sized plain paper in the Cassette.
   
   
3. Open the Paper Output Tray and extend the Output Tray Extension.
   
   
4. In the pop-up menu, select 'Test Print'.
   
   
   
   
5. Click 'Print Head Alignment'.
   
   Note: See section <How to open the IJ Printer Utility window> above to verify the printer is set to 'Align heads manually'.
   
   
6. Load three sheets of letter-sized plain paper in the cassette, and then click the 'Print Head Alignment' button.
   
   Note: If you click 'Check Setting', the printer prints out the current setting and the display goes back to Canon IJ Printer Utility. To see the current setting first, load a sheet of plain paper in the auto sheet feeder and click 'Check Setting'.
   
   
7. Printing will start. Do not perform any other operations until the printing is completed.
   
   
8. The patterns will be printed.
   
   
   
   
9. Refer to the printed sheet, and enter the numbers on the Print Head Alignment window.
   
   
   
   9-1. Select the pattern with the least amount of visible, vertical streaks in the field for Column A.
   
   Note: If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
   
   
   
   (A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks.
   (B) More noticeable vertical white streaks
   
   9-2. Enter the pattern number of the selected pattern in the Column A box displayed in the right side of the screen.
   
   9-3. Similarly, enter the numbers of the selected patterns in the Column B to G boxes and click 'OK'. For column F and G, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal streaks.
   
   
   (C) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
   (B) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
   
   9-4. When all the numbers are entered, click 'Send'.
   
10. Now, print the second pattern sheet. Set one sheet of letter size plain paper in either of the paper sources selected at the <Paper Feed Switch>, then click 'OK'.
    
    
    
    
11. Printing will start. Do not perform any other operations until the printing is completed.
    
    
12. The patterns will be printed.
    
    
    
    
13. Refer to the printed sheet, and enter the numbers on the Print Head Alignment window in the same way as procedure 9.
    
    
    
    
14. After entering all the numbers, click 'OK'.
    
    If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
    
    
    (E) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
    (F) More noticeable vertical white streaks
    
15. Print the third pattern sheet. Set one sheet of letter size plain paper in either of the paper sources selected at the Paper Feed Switch, then click 'OK'.
    
    
    
    
16. Printing will start. Do not perform any other operations until the printing is completed.
    
    
17. The patterns will be printed.
    
    
    
    
18. Examine the printed sheet, and enter the pattern numbers of the most even pattern for each column in the Print Head Alignment window.
    
    
    
    
19. After entering all the numbers, click 'OK'.
    
    If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal streaks.
    
    
    
    (G) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
    (H) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
    
    

Performing Print Head Alignment is completed.