Print Quality Issues?

printer

You can fix most common print quality issues yourself before calling for technical support. The following information will help you troubleshoot the problem.

Print is Blurry or Smeared

• Make sure the media is acclimated to the printer environment for at least 48 hours.
• Check the Media Type setting. Make sure it is correct for the media you are using in the printer.
If the exact media type is not available in the printer driver, choose a media setting with a similar material type and thickness.
• Make sure the printable side is face-up when loaded in the printer. Also, make sure the media is compatible with your ink type.
• Check for an ink leak inside the printer. Clean up excess ink inside the printer using a soft, clean cloth.
• Clean the printheads. Use the printer’s Head Cleaning utility or manually clean the print heads.
Print has Smears on the Leading Edge
• If the edge of the media is curled in the direction of the printable side, flatten it or curl it toward the opposite side.
Also, try spooling out one or two feet of media past the platen. It will prevent the print heads from striking the curled edge.
• Check the Media Type setting. Make sure it is correct for the media you are using in the printer.
• Adjust the PLATEN GAP or HEAD HEIGHT to the proper distance for the loaded media.

Poor Ink Adhesion

All Printers

• Make sure the media is acclimated to the printer environment for at least 48 hours.
• Check the Media Type setting. Make sure it is correct for the media you are using in the printer.
If the exact media type is not available in the printer driver, choose a media setting with a similar material type and thickness.
If there is too much ink on the media, choose a media setting with a lower ink limit.
• If applicable to your printer, set the printer to the correct temperature for the media. Thicker media may require a higher temperature than thin media.
• Make sure the printable side is face-up when loaded in the printer.
• Set the printer to the correct speed for the media. Inkjet printers may require the number of passes to be increased or decrease for the media. Also, try to print in uni-direction mode.
• Older media (two years past the manufactured date) may be unprintable due to changes in its composition. Discard expired media and replace it with fresh product.

UV Printers

• Increase the intensity of the UV lamps.
• Increase the number passes for the media.
• Print in uni-direction mode.
• If there is too much ink on the media, choose a media setting with a lower ink limit.

Horizontal Banding

• Make sure the media is acclimated to the printer environment for at least 48 hours.
• Check the Media Type setting. Make sure it is correct for the media you are using in the printer.
If the exact media type is not available in the printer driver, choose a media setting with a similar material type and thickness.
• Make sure the printable side is face-up when loaded in the printer. Also, make sure the media is compatible with your ink type.
• Clean the print heads. Use the printer’s Head Cleaning utility or manually clean the print heads.
• Decrease the media compensation or feed rate for white banding. Increase the media compensation or feed rate for dark banding.
• Check the levels of the ink cartridges. Replace ink cartridges if they are low or empty.

Vertical Banding or Misalignment

• Make sure the media is acclimated to the printer environment for at least 48 hours.
• Check the Media Type setting. Make sure it is correct for the media you are using in the printer.
If the exact media type is not available in the printer driver, choose a media setting with a similar material type and thickness.
• Print in uni-direction mode.
• Adjust the PLATEN GAP or HEAD HEIGHT to the proper distance for the loaded media.
• Run the printer’s Print Head Alignment utility for the loaded media.

Print is Light or it Looks Faded

• Check that the ink cartridges have not exceeded their expiration date. The expiration date is on the cartridge label.
• Check the Media Type setting. Make sure it is correct for the media you are using in the printer.
If the exact media type is not available in the printer driver, choose a media setting with a similar material type and thickness.
• Clean the print heads. Use the printer’s Head Cleaning utility or manually clean the print heads.
• Check the levels of the ink cartridges. Replace ink cartridges if they are low or empty