Do your printed documents, pictures, or graphics look bad? Table 1 and Table 2 list a number of common output appearance problems for laser and inkjet printers. Specks, lines, blurry text, and many other print problems can often be fixed with a few adjustments. Here's what to do:
Table 1: Common Inkjet Printer Problems
| PROBLEM |
CAUSE |
SOLUTION |
| Banding, rough looking, or grainy images |
Misaligned print head |
Run the print head alignment utility. |
| Broken text or white streaks running through text or graphics |
Worn-out ink cartridge |
Replace the cartridge. |
| Wavy or slanted print |
Clogged nozzles |
Run the nozzle cleaning program. |
Table 2: Common Laser Printer Problems
| PROBLEM |
CAUSE |
SOLUTION |
| Light print or uneven print density across the page |
Low toner. |
Take out cartridge and gently rock to redistribute toner. |
| Small white spots |
Toner isn't sticking to the paper—paper may be too thick or moist from humidity. |
Try a different paper. |
| Vertical black line on edge of page |
Empty or faulty toner cartridge or some spilled toner inside the printer. |
Replace toner cartridge. |
| All-black page |
The charger corona wire is faulty or broken. |
Remove and replace the toner cartridge to clear the electrical contacts. If that doesn't work, replace the cartridge. |
| All-white page |
Low toner/ faulty transfer corona wire. |
Check toner/needs repair servicing. |
| Offset margins, strange spacing, or unusual text alignment |
Trying to print image or document that exceeds the printer's limits. |
Check the Unprintable Area settings on your printer driver's Paper tab. |
| Only part of an image prints |
Insufficient memory. |
Add memory or lower the print resolution. |
- Get to know your printer's Properties menu. Today's printers come with a plethora of controls that allow you to adjust how a printed image looks.
- Check the basics. Confirm you have the proper printer driver installed and make sure it's set to the proper paper size, orientation, and print quality. If your printer prints but only gives you a blank page, check your ink/toner and reinstall your printer driver.
- Use the right ink or toner. Some third-party ink or toner cartridges can save you money, but they can also result in poor print quality. Experiment with different brands to find one that works well with your printer.
- Most printers work best with certain kinds of paper, especially inkjet printers. Check your printer's user manual for recommendations.
- If your printer only partially prints graphics, your printer or computer doesn't have enough memory to hold the entire image. Add more memory, or check your printer's Properties screen for a low memory printing option (see Figure 1).
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