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Print Quality Problems

Horizontal banding
Vertical misalignment or banding
Incorrect or missing colors
Blurry or smeared printout

If you are having print quality problems, then compare it with the illustrations below. Click the caption under the illustration that best resembles your printout.

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

  • Use ink cartridges within six months after opening the packages.

  • Use genuine Epson ink cartridges.

  • Make sure the Paper Type or Media Type selected in the printer driver is appropriate for the type of paper loaded in the printer.
    See Selecting the Correct Media Type

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Vertical misalignment or banding
  • Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet feeder.

  • Clear the High Speed check box in your Advanced printer settings. See online help for details.

  • Make sure the Paper Type or Media Type selected in the printer software is appropriate for the type of paper loaded in the printer.
    See Selecting the Correct Media Type

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Incorrect or missing colors
  • Clear the Grayscale setting in your printer driver (for Windows). Change the Ink setting in your printer driver to Color (for Macintosh). See online help for details.

  • Adjust the color settings in your application or in your Advanced printer settings. See online help for details.

    If colors are still incorrect or missing, replace one of the color ink cartridges. If the problem persists, replace the black ink cartridge.
    See Replacing an Ink Cartridge

  • If you have just replaced an ink cartridge, make sure the date on the box has not expired. If you have not used the printer for a long time, replace the ink cartridges.
    See Replacing an Ink Cartridge

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Blurry or smeared printout
  • Make sure you are using the appropriate printer driver for the printer.

  • Use only paper recommended by Epson.
    See Paper

  • Use genuine Epson ink cartridges.

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

  • Make sure your paper is not damaged, dirty, or too old.

  • Make sure your paper is dry and the printable side is facing up.

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

  • Make sure the Paper Type or Media Type selected in the printer driver is appropriate for the type of paper loaded in the printer.
    See Selecting the Correct Media Type

  • Remove each sheet from the output tray as it is printed.

  • If you are printing on glossy media, 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 any thing to come into contact with the printed side of paper with a shiny finish. After printing on transparencies or glossy paper, allow the ink to set for a few hours before handling them.

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