Ink Cartridges & Printing Problems - Poor Print
Quality
by Paul Curran
Why are there faint areas or gaps in my print out?
* Unlikely, but your paper may need changing due to
its deterioration due to its age.
* Check that the type of paper you are using in your
printer matches ('Media Type') the setting in the
printer software 'Main Menu' or 'Print' dialog box.
* You may need to clean the print head nozzles.
These can be cleaned by employing the 'Head
Cleaning' utility from within the printer software
interface you get when you want to print or by going
via the 'Control Panel' (found via 'My Computer')
and selecting the printers section. After the
cleaning operations are carried out by the printer,
a check pattern will be printed to show that the ink
cartridge nozzles are clean. If there are still poor
quality areas, repeat the operation.
I have white horizontal lines appearing?
* You may need to clean the print head nozzles - see
above
* If your printer has a light flashing indicating
low ink levels for a cartridge, then change it.
* Check that the type of paper you are using in your
printer ('Media Type') matches the setting in the
printer software 'Main Menu' or 'Print' dialog box.
The colors are not what I thought they'd be?
* Clean your print head nozzles - see above
* You've not chosen the color option in your printer
software interface. This has happened to me many
times. By default, my printer software had black
selected for all printing.
* Specific types of paper have one side only that
can be printed on. Ensure that it is loaded
correctly in your printer.
* Check that the type of paper you are using in your
printer ('Media Type') matches the setting in the
printer software 'Main Menu' or 'Print' dialog box.
* What you see on your monitor will never be
identical to what you get on your print out. It
shouldn't be that far out, but if it is, then you
you may have a color calibration issue between your
monitor and software package that you are using.
Finally;
Never buy brand name ink cartridges. Get what are
called compatible ink cartridges. They are much
cheaper and produce the same quality results.
www.ink-cartridge-store.com shows you the range of
such products available nowadays.
In my experience, if you use your ink cartridges
infrequently, then you will find yourself having to
use the cleaning utilities practically every time
you do use them. So I suggest printing out a b/w and
color text page (say, 200 words with black, red,
blue and yellow colors) on a regular basis (once a
week?) even if you are not using the printer. You
will save ink in the long run as the cleaning
utility will use a lot more than your weekly
maintenance pages.
This article may be reproduced in its
entirety provided the resource paragraph below is
included with the url kept active.
About the Author
(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing
Group and webmaster at
Ink Cartridge Store,
providing discount ink cartridge supplies and laser
toner products.
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