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Problem Solver

Print Quality Problems

Horizontal banding
Vertical misalignment or banding
Incorrect or missing colors
Blurry or smeared printout
Print quality does not improve after head cleaning

If you are having print quality problems, first perform a . Then, compare your test print 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
Incorrect or missing colors	Blurry or smeared printout

Horizontal banding

Try one or more of these solutions:

• Run the Print Head Alignment Utility.
  Aligning the Print Head

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

• Run the Head Cleaning utility to clear any clogged ink nozzles.
  Cleaning the Print Head

• Clear all customized settings, and then select Text & Image as the Quality Type setting on your printer software's Main menu (Windows), or select Automatic as the Mode setting in the Print dialog box (Macintosh).

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

• Make sure the Minimize Margins is not selected under More Options in the Page Layout menu (Windows) or that the Maximum is not selected as the Printable Area setting in your printer software (Macintosh). When this setting is selected, banding may occur in the expanded area.

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

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Vertical misalignment or banding

Try one or more of these solutions:

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

• Run the Print Head Alignment utility.
  Aligning the Print Head

• Clear the High Speed check box in the Advanced dialog box.

• Run the Head Cleaning utility to clear any clogged ink nozzles.
  Cleaning the Print Head

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

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Incorrect or missing colors

Try one or more of these solutions:

• Change the Ink setting in your printer software to Color.

• Adjust the color settings in your application or in your printer software's Advanced dialog box.

• Run the Head Cleaning utility.
  Cleaning the Print Head
  If colors are still incorrect or missing, replace the color ink cartridge. If the problem persists, replace the black ink cartridge.
  Replacing an Ink Cartridge

• Do not use ink cartridges beyond the expiration data printed on the cartridge package. Also, if the printer has not been used for a long time, replace the ink cartridges.
  Replacing an Ink Cartridge

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Blurry or smeared printout

Try one or more of these solutions:

• Make sure that you are using the appropriate printer driver for your printer.

• Use only paper recommended by EPSON.

• Make sure that the printer is on a flat, stable surface that extends beyond the printer base in all directions. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted.

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

• Make sure that your paper is dry and that the printable side is facing up. Also, make sure that you are using an acceptable paper type.
  Paper

• Clear all customized settings, and then select Text & Image setting as the Quality Type setting on your printer software's Main menu (Windows), or select Automatic as the Mode setting 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.

• Set the adjust lever to the  position and make sure that the Media Type setting in your printer driver is correct.

• 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 only one sheet at a time.

• Do not touch or allow anything to come into contact with the printed side of transparencies or paper with shiny finishes. After printing, documents that are printed on transparencies or glossy media should not be handled for a few hours to allow the ink to set.

• Run the Head Cleaning utility.
  Cleaning the Print Head

• Run the Print Head Alignment utility.
  Aligning the Print Head

• Load and eject dry paper several times. If the problem persists, ink may have leaked inside the printer, so 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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Print quality does not improve after head cleaning

If the quality of your printouts remains poor even after repeatedly cleaning and aligning the print head, at least one of the ink cartridges may be old or damaged and should be replaced.

To replace an ink cartridge before EPSON Status Monitor notifies you that the cartridge is empty.
Replacing an Ink Cartridge

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