Befriend your printer – colour error & image quality problems
Printer claims to be out of colour after just installing new cartridges? Prints have a smear or blank parts in them? This post is a walk-through of the most common colour and print quality-related problems with troubleshooting suggestions. Hope this helps!
IMAGE QUALITY PROBLEMS
Streaking, banding and blank pages
Check if ink is running low and if the printheads have been recently replaced.
If new printheads have been installed see if the protective tape is removed before the installation
If there should be ink and printer has been unused for a long time perform “printhead cleaning” program or try to print multiple pages in a row. Sometimes that is enough to get printheads working again if they haven’t dried completely clogged. If the trick doesn’t work you might have to get new printheads for the machine to work properly.
Faded, washed out, blurry prints and colour inaccuracy
Check the supply levels, draft mode settings and that the print is not from a low-resolution source (under 300 DPI). Try if a problem repeats on a different image from different file/source. Also note that printed colours won’t necessarily match the monitor if there is conflicting RGB/CMYK colour profile in use or uncalibrated display.
If the problem is not with the settings or the image file not being intended for print printer drums might be worn out or printheads misaligned.
Inkjet printers usually have a “printhead calibration” option available so it’s worth checking.
Is there a re-occurring pattern of colour missing or excess spots regularly on print?
This kind of problem might be caused by the worn-out drum. Many manufacturers have included “diagnostic print” on the printer UI and by comparing the gap between repeating colour problem to the print you can figure what part needs changing.
SMUDGING AND SMEARED INK
If in remains wet or rubs off from the print you might be using wrong paper type or heavy ink saturation.
Dirt in print
Try checking print cartridges, glass surfaces of the device and try “Printhead cleaning” program. (Or try printing multiple pages in a row.) You can also try wiping paper feed rollers carefully with lint-free cloth.
And sometimes there was a hair stuck on the scanner part facing the glass surface too. 😀
Low or no colour -errors
Have you just changed ink cartridges but the machine claims there is no colour?
If the printer is stuck on no colour error even after reboot it can be that the new cartridge is from another manufacturer than the printer, a firmware problem or dirt on the ink cartridge.
For example HP printers check if the cartridge used is from HP and some printer models won’t have their own error code for the situation. And the warranty only covers that manufacturers printer works with their intended supplies for the purpose.
If ink supplies come from the same brand and rebooting won’t get rid of the error? Or error popped up without any supply changes?
Take the ink cartridge out of the machine, look for the electronic chip surface (looks a bit like SIM -card) and wipe it clean with lint-free cloth. Then re-seat the cartridge. You can also try re-booting device again. If the printer is still stuck on error screen it’s time for a firmware update. You can find the firmware update instructions from the printer manufacturer’s website by looking with the serial or model info. Or the warranty pack info if you’re looking at company property – some service agreements may cover firmware updates too. If firmware is up-to-date and device is still not working the printer will be repaired with basic warranty too.
Read also: Befriend your printer – troubleshoot invisible paper jam!
