When Printing Becomes Faint or Colors Are Incorrect

If print results are blurred or colors are not printed correctly, the pint head nozzles are probably clogged. Follow the procedure below to print the nozzle check pattern, check the print head nozzle condition, then clean the Print Head.

If printed ruled lines are misaligned or print results are otherwise unsatisfactory, aligning the Print Head may improve print quality.

Important

Do not rinse or wipe the Print Head and ink tanks. This can cause trouble with the Print Head and ink tanks.

Note

Open the Scanning Unit (Cover) and make sure that all lamps on the ink tanks are lit red.

Increasing the print quality in the printer driver settings may improve the print result.

For details, refer to the on-screen manual: Advanced Guide

When the Print Results Are Blurred or Uneven:

Step 1 See Printing the Nozzle Check Pattern. See Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern.		After cleaning the Print Head, print and examine the nozzle check pattern.
If the pattern is missing:
Step 2 See Cleaning the Print Head.
If the problem is not resolved after cleaning the Print Head twice:
Step 3 See Cleaning the Print Head Deeply.

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Printing the Nozzle Check Pattern

Print the nozzle check pattern to determine whether the ink ejects properly from the print head nozzles.

Note If the remaining ink level is low, the nozzle check pattern will not be printed correctly. Replace the ink tank whose ink is low.

You need to prepare: a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper

1. Make sure that the power is turned on.
   
   
   

2. Make sure that one or more sheets of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper are loaded in the Cassette.
   
   
   

3. Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and open the Output Tray Extension.
   
   
   

4. Print the nozzle check pattern.
   
   

   (1) Press the Menu button.
   (2) Use the (Left) or (Right) button to select Settings , and press the OK button.
   
   The Settings screen will appear.
   
   (3) Use the (Left) or (Right) button to select Maintenance , and press the OK button.
   
   The Maintenance screen will appear.
   
   (4) Use the (Up) or (Down) button to select Nozzle check, and press the OK button.
   
   
   
   
   
   The pattern print confirmation screen will appear.
   
   
   (5) Use the (Up) or (Down) button to select Yes, and press the OK button.
   
   The nozzle check pattern will be printed and two pattern confirmation screens will appear alternately.
   
   
   
5. Examine the nozzle check pattern.

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Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern

Examine the nozzle check pattern, and clean the Print Head if necessary.

1. Check if there are no missing lines in the pattern (1) or no horizontal white streaks in the pattern (2).
   
   
   
   
   
   (A) No missing lines/No horizontal white streaks
   
   
   (B) Lines are missing/Horizontal white streaks are present
   
   
   

2. Select the pattern that is closer to the printed nozzle check pattern on the confirmation screen.
   
   

For (A) (no missing lines or no horizontal white streaks) in (1) and (2):

(1) Use the (Up) or (Down) button to select All A and press the OK button.

The cleaning is not required. The screen returns to the Maintenance screen.

For (B) (lines are missing or horizontal white streaks are present) in (1) or (2), or in (1)and (2):

(1) Use the (Up) or (Down) button to select Also B and press the OK button.

Clean the Print Head. The cleaning confirmation screen will appear.

(2) Use the (Up) or (Down) button to select Yes and press the OK button.

The machine starts cleaning the Print Head.

See Cleaning the Print Head.

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Cleaning the Print Head

Clean the Print Head if lines are missing or if horizontal white streaks are present in the printed nozzle check pattern. Cleaning unclogs the nozzles and restores the print head condition. Cleaning the Print Head consumes ink, so clean the Print Head only when necessary.

You need to prepare: a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper

1. Make sure that the power is turned on.
   
   
   

2. Make sure that one or more sheets of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper are loaded in the Cassette.
   
   
   

3. Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and open the Output Tray Extension.
   
   
   

4. Clean the Print Head.
   
   

   (1) Press the Menu button. (1)
   

   (2) Use the (Left) or (Right) button to select Settings , and press the OK button.

   The Settings screen will appear.
   
   

   (3) Use the (Left) or (Right) button to select Maintenance , and press the OK button.

   The Maintenance screen will appear.
   
   

   (4) Use the (Up) or (Down) button to select Cleaning, and press the OK button.
   

   
   

   The confirmation screen will appear.
   

   (5) Use the (Up) or (Down) button to select Yes, and press the OK button.

   The machine starts cleaning the Print Head.

   Do not perform any other operations until the machine completes the cleaning of the Print Head. This takes about 1 minute 30 seconds.

   The pattern print confirmation screen will appear.
   
   

   (6) Use the (Up) or (Down) button to select Yes, and press the OK button.

   The nozzle check pattern will be printed.
   
   
   
   

5. Check the nozzle check pattern.

   
   

See Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern.

Note If the problem is not resolved after cleaning the Print Head twice, clean the Print Head deeply (select Deep cleaning in step (4), above).

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