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Problem Solver

Print Quality Could Be Better

If you are having print quality problems, first perform a . Then, compare your test printing with the illustrations below. Click the caption under the illustration that best resembles your printout.

Horizontal banding

Vertical misalignment or banding

Horizontal banding

Vertical misalignment or banding

Color gaps

Incorrect or missing colors

Blurry or smeared printout

Horizontal banding

Try one or more of these solutions:

Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet feeder.

Run the Head Cleaning utility to clear any clogged ink nozzles. Windows 98, 95, or 3.1 users can start the now.

Select Automatic as the Mode setting on your printer driver's Main menu (Windows) or in the Print dialog box (Macintosh).

Check the error light. If the light is flashing, replace the appropriate ink cartridge. See Replacing an Ink Cartridge for details.

Make sure that Maximum is not selected as the Printable Area setting in your printer driver. When this setting is selected, banding may occur in the expanded area.

Make sure that the Media Type selected in the printer driver is appropriate for the type of media loaded in the printer.

Vertical misalignment or banding

Try one or more of these solutions:

Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet feeder.

Run the Print Head Alignment utility. Windows 98, 95, or 3.1 users can start the now.

Clear the High Speed check box in the Advanced dialog box of your printer driver's Advanced dialog box. For instructions, see Making the Advanced settings for Windows. For Macintosh, see Making the Advanced settings.

Run the Head Cleaning utility to clear any clogged ink nozzles. Windows 98, 95, or 3.1 users can start the now.

Make sure the Media Type setting selected in the printer driver is appropriate for the type of media loaded in the printer.

Color gaps

Try one or more of these solutions:

Make sure your paper is not damaged, dirty, or too old. Also, make sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet feeder.

Run the Head Cleaning utility to clear any clogged ink nozzles. Windows 98, 95, or 3.1 users can start the now.

Check the error light. If the light is flashing, replace the appropriate ink cartridge. See Replacing an Ink Cartridge.

Adjust the color settings in your application or your printer driver's Advanced dialog box. For instructions, see Making the Advanced settings for Windows or Making the Advanced settings for Macintosh.

Select Automatic as the Mode setting on your printer driver's Main menu (Windows) or in the Print dialog box (Macintosh).

Make sure the Media Type setting selected in the printer driver is appropriate for the type of media loaded in the printer.

Incorrect or missing colors

Try one or more of these solutions:

Change the Ink setting in your printer driver to Color. For instructions, see Using the Automatic mode for Windows or Using the Automatic mode for Macintosh.

Adjust the color settings in your application or your printer driver's Advanced dialog box. For instructions, see Making the Advanced settings for Windows or Making the Advanced settings for Macintosh.

Run the Head Cleaning utility. Windows 98, 95, or 3.1 users can start the now. If colors are still incorrect or missing, replace the color ink cartridge. If the problem persists, replace the black ink cartridge. See Replacing an Ink Cartridge.

Blurry or smeared printout

Try one or more of these solutions:

Make sure your paper is dry and the printable side is facing up. Also, make sure you're using an acceptable paper type. See Paper for specifications.

Select Automatic as the Mode setting on your printer driver's Main menu (Windows) or in the Print dialog box (Macintosh).

If the paper is curled toward the printable side, flatten it or curl it slightly toward the opposite side.

Remove each sheet from the output tray as it is printed, especially if you are using transparencies.

If you are printing on glossy media or transparencies, place a support sheet (or a sheet of plain paper) beneath the stack. Or, load one sheet at a time.

Run the Head Cleaning utility. Windows 98, 95, or 3.1 users can start the now.

Run the Print Head Alignment utility. Windows 98, 95, or 3.1 users can start the now.

Ink may have leaked inside the printer; wipe the inside of the printer with a soft, clean cloth.

Warning:

Be careful not to touch the gears inside the printer.

Caution:

Be careful not to wipe the carriage shaft.

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