Ink Cartridges & Printing Problems - Poor Print Quality

Ink Cartridges & Printing Problems - Poor Print Quality



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.



-----------------------------------------------------------

(c)2005 by Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing

Group and webmaster at Ink-Cartridge-Store.com

[http://www.ink-cartridge-store.com], providing discounted

brand name compatible ink cartridge and laser toner

supplies.