My print quality is poor and I think my print heads may be clogged. How do I clean the print heads?

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Poor quality prints are a common occurrence and can have several possible causes. Sometimes we need to eliminate the probable causes one at a time before going to the expense of replacing an ink cartridge. The first step is to perform a test print out to see exactly where the problem is. Is the issue the ink coverage or is it in the alignment of the print? The alignment problem is easily noticeable as the text may be slanted or distorted but other print clearly enough. The other problem that you can encounter is the obvious poor quality of the print with parts missing or gaps appearing in the text or image.

Printing a test print will reveal where the problem is. To print a test page go to file print > properties > maintenance > print head alignment. You will need to load several sheets of paper in the printer as you will more than likely be printing out several test pages. The alignment test page will show if the letters are slanted and ask you to choose the best settings from the display in an effort to reset the alignment. It’s quite rare for the alignment to require must adjustment but it does happen from time to time. If the alignment is not the issue then it’s time to print out a text page to check the print quality.

To print this test page go to file print > properties > maintenance > nozzle check. This will print four lines of each colour and display any broken lines or gaps in the printing. If the four lines are not completely solid, it will be necessary to perform a head cleaning procedure in an effort to clear any blockages either in the print head or ink cartridges. To perform this the head cleaning procedure go to file print > properties > maintenance > head cleaning. After each head cleaning procedure it is necessary to print a test page and you will be prompted to do this by the cleaning programme.

If the print out is not to the standard required it may be necessary to perform this procedure several times. This of course will affect the life of the ink cartridge as quite a lot of ink is dispensed during the head cleaning as it is forced through the print head as it tries to clear any blockage. If none of the above make much difference to the print quality it is worth trying a new cartridge in case one of the cartridge is faulty – try replacing the black or one of the colour inks that show up particularly bad on the test page print out. In some cases the print head may be worn and require replacement, in this case it may be more economical to replace the printer depending on the value of the current printer.

Originally published at printerinkcartridges.ie

My black ink cartridge will not print but my colour ink cartridge is printing perfectly

If your printer will not print black on your document then there are a couple of possible issues that might need resolving. First of all has the printer given a warning about low ink or has the ink actually run out and need replacing? If so, then replace the ink cartridge as directed. It’s a myth that you don't need black ink to print a colour image or indeed that you can print black text without the printer requiring a colour cartridge. The majority of printers require both the black and colour ink cartridges to be recognised as having ink and will not operate if one of the colours is out of ink.

If you have just installed your ink cartridges correctly and there are no error messages relating to the cartridges, but the black ink is still not showing when you print a document then the issue may be a blocked print head. The first step in checking this out is to go to the printer maintenance facility and run a test print to see if there is a trace of black printing at all. You can access this procedure in a couple of ways, either go to your printer icon at the bottom of your screen and select printer utility > maintenance > clean heads or go to file print and select printer utility > maintenance > clean heads. Performing a head cleaning procedure will force ink from the ink cartridge through the print head and clear any blockage that may be preventing the printing of the document. It’s important to remember that each time you perform a head cleaning procedure you print a test page to monitor the improvement of the print quality. The printer is clever enough to know that if you decide to perform another head cleaning procedure after printing a test page that the blockage was not cleared and will force a greater amount of ink through in a further attempt to clear the blockage. Although you may have no real option but to see it through, the downside of performing several head cleaning procedures is that it uses a lot of ink and will drain the ink cartridge quite fast.

The head cleaning will usually clear up the issue of the black cartridge not printing but if it’s still the case that the printer will not print black or the quality will not improve it’s possible that the print heads in the printer are the issue. Depending on the original cost of the printer it may be more economical to replace the printer than try to have the print head replaced.

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Tips to Clean and Handle Ink Cartridges for Best Results

First of all you need to establish whether or not your printer ink cartridge needs to be cleaned. Run a test print and look for streaks or other indications such as dots that suggest that the ink cartridge needs to be cleaned. If you feel that the ink cartridge needs to be cleaned then select this option from the printer utility on your printer – anyone that is not sure how to perform this function on their specific printer should refer to their user manual. Once the cleaning is complete, print another test page and check the quality. Repeat the procedure until you are satisfied with the result.

How to clean the inkjet printer head

Almost all printers have a built in cleaning function that you can use to clean the printer head. If you are having difficulty with good quality print outs form your inkjet printer the heads may require cleaning. You should check your user manual to find out the exact procedure that you are supposed to use for your inkjet printer. Should that not work, or your inkjet printer does not have this function, then you should buy a substance that is over 90% alcohol and apply it to the printer head.

Inkjet printer frequently drying out

It is good practice to run a print head cleaning every week. When the print head on the printer is dry, replacing the ink cartridges will not do solve the problem. The print head is located in the printer, not the inkjet cartridge. Running a print through the printer on a regular basis will help prevent drying out.

Best way to handle an ink cartridge

Try to avoid touching the ink nozzle with your fingers when handling an ink cartridge. The ink in an opened inkjet cartridge will usually dry out within a couple of days if it is not in the printer. If an opened ink cartridge will not be used for a period of time, it should be wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a plastic bag and sealed. If the ink nozzle was to become clogged, you can dissolve the dried ink by soaking the ink cartridge in water for a few minutes. To soak the ink cartridge, place it in a foam container and fill the cup with water until the ink cartridge is halfway immersed in water. To dry the ink cartridge, blot it with a soft lint-free cloth. An ink cartridge should be replaced as soon as you notice the ink is getting low, to avoid damaging the print head.
Usual signs that the ink is low include light prints or white streaks. It is best practice to check the ink level before a large print run to ensure that you do not run out of ink. If the ink cartridge is leaking after a refill, do not put it back into your printer. Sometimes an ink cartridge may leak a small amount of ink after a refill, but once the air pressure inside the ink cartridge equalizes it will stop leaking. In the event that the ink cartridge leaks a lot, put the ink cartridge on a folded piece of paper or in a paper cup until the leak stops, then wipe the ink cartridge clean and put it in the printer. The print head should be cleaned before printing if the printer has not been used for a long time.

Compatible Inkjet and Toner Cartridges

A compatible inkjet or toner cartridge is manufactured by a different company than the original. Compatible inkjet cartridges are as reliable as the original and give as good a print quality too. Claim to the inkjet cartridges are remanufactured so that you can replace your inkjet or toner cartridge without needing to buy a branded version. So if your printer is made by Canon, Dell, Lexmark, HP, Epson or Brother, it is possible to use a compatible inkjet or toner cartridge. Possibly the most important thing is that you save a lot of money. This can be up to 50% savings on inkjet or toner cartridges in some cases.

Originally published at printerinkcartridges.ie

My printer is connected to my computer but not printing

If a problem exists within your printer i.e. the printer driver or the application you are trying to print from try the following suggestions to identify and hopefully solve the issue.

Firstly, make sure your printer is switched on and ready to use and that the correct printer is set to default. This is accessible in printers and devices from your Start menu. If the printer is correctly set as the default printer or you need to select it as the one you are about to use then try to print a test page.

Try printing from Notepad or from a Word document. This verifies that the printer driver is correct, and confirms that the problem lies with the application. If you cannot print from Notepad or a Word file, the problem lies with the printer driver.

It may be necessary to uninstall the printer driver and install a newer version which you can download form your printer brand website. If the printer will print a test sheet but the print quality is poor then you may need to perform a head cleaning procedure. If the ink cartridges have not been used for a while it's possible that the print heads have become blocked. To perform a head cleaning procedure – depending on your printer – you can either complete this directly on the printer or through your PC and a Notepad or Word document.

Blocked print heads do not mean there is a problem with the ink cartridge as such, the ink has become hard and congealed around the print head and can be cleaned using one of the following methods.

For those printers that come with an interface, (this is basically a control panel normally located in a window on the front of the printer), this allows you to perform certain functions within the printer independent to the PC. With the printer switched on, move the arrow until you find maintenance then move the arrow until you locate head cleaning. Follow the operating instructions it gives making sure you have plenty of paper in the printer. It may take several attempts to clear a blocked printer head and even result in having to replace an ink cartridge as this procedure does use a lot of ink. The second option is from your PC – go to file > properties > maintenance > head cleaning. If there is no printer interface then you will have no choice but to perform this procedure. Remember it may take several attempts to clear a stubborn blockage.

It is more likely that this will happen when using compatible inkjet cartridges, as they do not contain the chemical found in original brand cartridges that prevents hardening of the ink.

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My Compatible Black Ink Cartridge Will Not Print for Me

If you have installed your compatible ink cartridge and it will not print there are a few things we need to check first of all. Is there an error message displayed? For example is the error message displaying 'ink cartridge not recognised'? First of all check that the ink cartridges that you received were the correct cartridges for your printer. In some cases the printers are listed on the packaging of the cartridge – however in some cases not all the printers that work with that particular ink cartridge will be listed on the box. The reason for is because some inkjet cartridges will work with over 50 printers of the same brand and it's impossible to fit all the printer models on the packaging.

If you are certain the cartridge is the correct type for your printer, make sure all packaging and plastic wrappers are removed. Next remove any seals that are on the cartridge, there will generally be instructions with the cartridge that will confirm this. There may also be a plastic clip on the cartridge (only in some cases will this be present), remove this also and insert the cartridge gently but firmly until a 'click' is heard. Once the cartridge is inserted correctly the printer will begin ‘charging’ and resetting itself preparing to print. If, when you install the cartridge an error message appears 'ink cartridge not recognised' remove the cartridge, gently wipe the 'chip' area (copper microchip plate) with a soft cloth to remove any static that may be causing any issues. Re-insert the cartridge and see if this will work successfully. You may have to try this 4 or 5 times. If this does not get the cartridge recognized then with the power on remove the power lead from the back of the printer and leave for 5 minutes. This will cause the printer to reset and may clear the memory of the non-recognition of the ‘chip’. If this fails too then the problem is most likely a faulty cartridge so you will need to replace with a fresh cartridge.

If the cartridge is accepted then it is best to perform a head cleaning cycle. This can be accessed via the maintenance section of the utilities - this can be found by going to file print > properties > maintenance. Be sure to print a test page to show the performance of each individual ink cartridge. Performing the head cleaning operation will use ink but will help push the new ink through the print head and maintain print quality.

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My print quality is poor and the colours are missing or very faint

First of all it is worth checking that you have installed the ink cartridges in the correct slots — obvious as it sounds it's a fairly common mistake. From time to time users accidentally switch the cartridges while installing them. If this is the case, then re-install the cartridges in the colour coded slots and you should receive good quality prints. It is also worth checking this as some printer slots have colour coding for cartridges and some remanufactured cartridges may have different colour tops.

It's also possible that, in the course of delivery, the ink cartridge may have been laying on its side causing the colours to run into each other, or for the print head to dry out. This can happen with both original and compatible or remanufactured inks. It's best to allow the newly installed ink cartridge to rest for an hour following installation in the printer. You can then run the head cleaning option and print an alignment page if required (some printers offer alignment pages but all printers will have a head cleaning option accessible in the maintenance section of the software, refer to printer manual if you cannot find it). Also, set the printer to print in "BEST" mode using all the colours. This should fix the problem.

In the unlikely event that your ink cartridge will not fit in your printer, it's possible that a removable clip or the seal is still in place. A remanufactured inkjet cartridge is in fact an original empty cartridge made by the printer manufacturer to so the only way it won’t fit is if the cartridge clip/blue tape has not been removed. The compatible ink cartridge is a 'clone' of the original brand cartridge and may vary very slightly in size or shape but will still fit into the cartridge slot of the printer. Of course it could also be that the wrong cartridge has been ordered or the wrong cartridge has been sent to you. If you are sure the label on the cartridge matches up with the model your printer takes refer to your printer manual to find out how install the cartridges correctly. The same principal applies to the laser toner cartridges used in laser printers. Always check that plastic clips or seals have been removed. In the even rarer event that the cartridge has been leaking ink or toner, do not attempt to put the cartridge in the printer, contact your supplier immediately for a replacement.

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My ink cartridges in my printer will not work when I try to print

The following information is provided as a possible solution to issues you may have with your ink cartridges. These are some of the most common problems people will come across and preventive measures can reduce the chances of them actually happening.

1. My ink cartridge has dried out

   
   One of the main reasons that an ink cartridge will give problems when printing is that the inkjet cartridge has dried out. This is especially noticeable when the printer has been idle for some time and the ink in the cartridge has dried out. Using the printer on a regular basis will help the flow of ink through the print heads. For those printers such as some Canon, HP and Lexmark, the print head is actually in the cartridge as opposed to the printer and this can get blocked through not enough use or if it has become empty. The solution here is to replace the ink cartridges as you are in effect replacing the print heads. The head cleaning cycle is the only way you will be able to clear a cartridge that has dried out. If you are using an ink cartridge with the print head in the cartridge, you know there is ink in it but it hasn’t been used for months and no amount of head cleaning will clear it, you can put a warm damp cloth gently against the ink nozzle where the ink comes out and gently wipe it until flow of ink starts. It’s worth trying this because at this stage if you are going to replace the ink cartridge it’s really a bonus if this works.



2. Keeping your print head clean

   
   It’s important that you keep the print head clean to prevent clogging rather than having to deal with after it becomes a problem. Some printers will automatically clean the print heads as part of a normal cycle every now and again but some such as HP will not carry out this operation unless you instruct it to. In printers where the print head is located in the printer, names some Canon, almost all Epson and Brother, then run a head cleaning operation if the printer has been lying dormant for more than 4 – 6 weeks to try and clear any blockage caused by hardened ink. The ink cartridge with the print head located in it HP and Lexmark mostly, can be wiped gently with a damp cotton bud dipped in warm water to clear away any build up of residue on the inkjet cartridge.



3. Running a head cleaning cycle

   
   A tip we have learned may help you when using the head cleaning cycle as you try to remove a stubborn blockage from your ink cartridge is not to run too many back-to-back cleaning cycles. If you have tried 3 or 4 cleaning cycles and it still will not produce the result you want, try printing a couple of colour images in the ‘best photo’ mode that can be found in your printer properties. This may give the print head a chance to flow the ink more freely and produce a better print.

Carrying out a head cleaning process to improve the performance of your ink cartridge is a simple process, here are easy to follow instructions.


1. (Windows) Click the Start button at the lower left of your screen.
2. Click Control panel and choose Printer and Devices and view the printer on your system.
3. Right click on the printer and choose Printing Preferences.
4. The Printing Preferences will have 5 tabs, select Maintenance tab.
5. Ensure your printer is turned on and loaded with paper.
6. Select nozzle check and print out a test print which you will be able to compare to the correct version on screen.
7. If the nozzle pattern is broken in any way or missing completely, then you must perform a head cleaning cycle.
8. Select head cleaning and make sure there are several sheets of A4 paper loaded and the printer will begin to clean the heads.
9. If after 2 – 3 head cleaning procedure have been carried out with the subsequent nozzle check no or very little difference is noticeable, try using the deep cleaning option if it is available in your Maintenance tab.


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