COLOR PRINTER ANNOYANCES

FIXING NOZZLE MISFIRES

The Annoyance:

Why do I see white lines in my printed photos?

The Fix:

Over time, nozzles may fail or clog and cause fine white (missing) lines in your photos. To correct this problem, clean the ink cartridge(s). Ink-jet printers typically include a “cleaning” feature designed to loosen any clogged nozzles (see the sidebar “Cleaning Ink-jet Cartridges” earlier in this chapter). If you still can’t get the cartridge to fire on all cylinders, try another ink cartridge. You need not discard the old cartridge-just relegate it to secondary tasks, such as draft or text printing. Of course, if your printer uses a separate print head and ink tank, return it to the manufacturer for service.

Tip

Many ink-jet printers include a pattern check as part of the test page. It often appears as a grid, solid block, or other pattern that can clearly illustrate the presence of missing nozzles.

OPTING FOR DEEP CLEANING

The Annoyance:

My printer offers a print head cleaning cycle and a "deep cleaning” cycle. What’s the difference?

The Fix:

Almost every ink-jet printer provides some type of automatic cleaning cycle to clear clogged nozzles. However, some printers, such as the Canon S9000, offer a “deep cleaning” feature to clear out any stubborn clogs. Of course, this drives the ink nozzles harder and longer, and wastes additional (expensive) ink. When you clean the nozzles, always start with a basic (or light) cleaning cycle. This will clear most clogs and waste the ...

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