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

This printer supports two head alignment methods: automatic head alignment and manual head alignment. Normally, the printer is set for automatic head alignment.
If the printing results of automatic print head alignment are not satisfactory, perform manual head alignment.

The procedure for performing manual print head alignment is as follows:
 

Print Head Alignment

1. Select Custom Settings from the pop-up menu on the Canon IJ Printer Utility.
    

2. Switch head alignment to manual

   Check the Align heads manually check box.
    

3. Apply the settings

   Click Apply and when the confirmation message appears, click OK.
    

4. Select Test Print from the pop-up menu on the Canon IJ Printer Utility
    

5. Click the Print Head Alignment icon

   A message is displayed.
    

6. Set the paper thickness lever to the right, and load paper in the printer

   Load two sheets of A4 size or Letter size plain paper into the rear tray.
    

7. Execute head alignment

   Make sure that the printer is on and click Align Print Head.
   The first pattern is printed.

   
   Important

   • Do not open the print head cover while printing is in progress.
      

8. Check the printed pattern

   Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least noticeable streaks in the associated boxes, and click OK.
    

   

   
   Note

   • If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical streaks.
     
     
     
     (A) Least noticeable vertical streaks
     (B) Most noticeable vertical streaks
      

9. Confirm the displayed message and click OK

   The second pattern is printed.
    

   Important

   • Do not open the print head cover while printing is in progress.
      

10. Check the printed pattern

    Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least noticeable stripes in the associated boxes, and click OK.

    

    
    Note

    • If it is 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
       

11. Confirm the displayed message and click OK or Cancel

    Click Cancel to complete the basic print head alignment.

    To run the alignment for correcting problems such as streaks appearing on the print surface, load one sheet of A4 size or Letter size plain paper in the rear tray and click OK. The third pattern is printed.

    
    Important

    • Do not open the print head cover while printing is in progress.
       

12. Check the printed pattern

    Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least noticeable streaks in the associated boxes, and click OK.
     

    

    
    Note

    • If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal streaks.
      
      
      
      (A) Least noticeable horizontal streaks
      (B) Most noticeable horizontal streaks

Note

• After head alignment is completed, you can print and check the current setting. To do so, click the Print Head Alignment icon and when the message is displayed, click Print Alignment Value.