Align a PIXMA MG3220 Print Head From a Windows PC
Article ID: ART135860 | Date published: 05/13/2015 | Date last updated: 03/02/2020
 

Description

Learn how perform a manual print head alignment from a Windows PC to improve the print quality on your PIXMA MG3220 printer.

Solution

If you see issues with the colors or lines on your printed pages, a print head alignment can correct the issue.

You can perform a manual or automatic print head alignment on your printer. This article covers a manual alignment. Refer to this link if you want to perform an automatic print head alignment.


Align the print head manually

There are two parts to a manual print head alignment.

  1. Print the alignment sheet.
  2. Check the printed pattern.


1. Print the alignment sheet

  1. Open the printer driver setup window.

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

  3. Check the Align heads manually checkbox.

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

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

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

  7. Make sure the printer is turned ON and select Align Print Head. Follow the instruction in the message.



2. Check the printed pattern

  1. When you complete the steps above, the first pattern prints. Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least amount of streaks in the associated boxes.

    First sample printer pattern.

    ​When you pick a vertical pattern, choose the setting with the least noticeable white streaks. In this example, you would choose (A) not (B).

    Sample vertical pattern with (A) showing fewer noticeable streaks than (B).

    When you pick a horizontal pattern, choose the setting with the least noticeable white streaks. In this example, you would choose (A) not (B).

    Sample horizontal pattern with (A) showing fewer noticeable streaks than (B).

  2. ​After you enter all the values, select OK.

  3. ​Confirm the message that displays and select OK. The second pattern prints.

    Second sample printer pattern.

    Enter the numbers of the vertical patterns with the least amount of streaks in the associated boxes. In this example, you would choose (A) not (B).

    Sample vertical pattern with (A) showing fewer noticeable streaks than (B).

  4. After you enter all the values, select OK.

  5. Confirm the message that displays and select OK. The third pattern prints.

    Third sample printer pattern

    Enter the numbers of the horizontal patterns with the least noticeable horizontal stripes in the associated boxes. In this example, you would choose (A) not (B).

    Sample horizontal pattern with (A) showing fewer noticeable streaks than (B).

  6. After you enter all the values, select OK

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