Has your printer ever printed out something that is faded, smudged, or streaky, making it absolutely useless? You’d probably be wondering how that happened and what caused it. Well, this post is for all of you out there who are wondering the same thing. I’ll explain what can cause bad print quality, as well as what you can do about it.

First things first, let's see if we can eliminate some of the more common problems that can be causing the print-quality issue.

Your printer may have a troubleshooting print-quality page you can print out to help identify, troubleshoot, and solve specific issues. If so, print it out and see if any of the issues described match the problem you're encountering. If your unit doesn't have one, no worries! Let's continue to narrow down some possibilities.

Your paper may be the problem.

Unsupported or damaged paper can cause print-quality problems even when the printer, application, and print driver are working perfectly. To eliminate paper as the source of your issue, try the following:

• Make sure your printer supports the paper or media you're trying to use.
• Make sure the printer is loaded with undamaged, dry paper.
• If you're unsure about the condition of your paper, replace it anyways.
• Make sure that the proper tray is selected in both the print driver and from the control panel.
• Make sure that the correct paper type is selected in both the print driver and from the control panel.

Is the printer the problem or the application?

If your printer has it, try printing out the troubleshooting print-quality page or a similar test page.

• If the pages printed properly, the printer is working properly. This means the problem is an application, print driver, or print server problem.
• If the pages have print-quality issues, then the printer is the problem.

So, the issue is with the application, print driver, or print server.

If the printer is printing properly from the control panel, but when you try to print there are still print-quality issues, the application, print driver, or print server may be the root cause. To figure out the issue:

• Try printing a similar document from another application and see if the same print-quality problems repeat.
  

If the document has the same print-quality issues, it is likely a print driver or print server problem. Check the print driver used for your print job.

• Navigate to the list of printers on your computer.
• Right-click on the name of the printer.
• From the drop-down list, select Properties.
• Ensure that the model name in the driver matches the model name of the printer you are using.
• If the names do not match, install the proper printer driver for your printer's model number.

If the print driver is correct, try to reset your printer's print quality mode, as well as the color correction.

If the problem persists, delete then reinstall the print driver.

If the document printed without a print-quality problem, the application is likely the cause.

Restart your printer, restart the application, then try printing the document again.

So, the printer is the issue.

If you have print-quality problems when printing a demo page or configuration report from your control panel, the problem is the printer. 

The next step is to identify the type of problem you are encountering. Included below are common print-quality issues with their solutions.

Black and White Print-Quality Troubleshooting

Color Printer Print-Quality Troubleshooting

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Black and White Printer Print-Quality Troubleshooting

The output is too light.

• Check the toner levels, if the toner cartridge is near empty, replace it.
• Verify that the toner cartridge is the correct type for your printer. For best results, you should always use genuine toner cartridges from the brand of your printer.
• Replace the paper with a recommended size and type, and confirm that your printer and print driver settings are correct.
• Verify that the paper is dry and not damaged. Also, that supported paper is used. If not, change the paper.
• Ensure that the print quality setting is not set to a low usage mode, like eco or toner saver.

Toner smears or the print rubs off and/or the output has stains on the backside.

• Verify that the paper in use is the correct size, type, and weight. If not, change the paper settings.
• Verify that the printer is plugged into an outlet that is providing the correct voltage and power.
• If your unit has a drum cartridge, check the percentage of remaining life for the drum cartridge. When the remaining life is less than 20 percent, replace the drum cartridge.

Random spots appear on the output, or the image is blurry.

• Ensure that the toner cartridge is installed correctly.
• If you used a non-genuine brand toner cartridge, install a genuine toner cartridge.
• Try a paper with a smoother surface.
• Ensure the humidity in the room of printer operation is within normal ranges.
• Replace the toner cartridge.

The output is blank.

• Power off the printer, then power on again.
• Remove, then reinstall the toner cartridge.
• Replace the toner cartridge.
• If your unit has an LED printhead, clean it.

Black or white streaks appear on the output.

• If your unit has an LED printhead, clean it.
• Replace the toner cartridge.

The output has a mottled appearance.

• Verify that the paper is the correct size, type, and weight. If not, change the paper settings.
• Ensure the humidity in the room of printer operation is within normal ranges.
• Choose a different paper type at the control panel, in the application, and in the print driver.
• Replace the paper.

Ghosting appears on the printed output.

• Verify that the paper in use is the correct size, type, and weight. If not, change the paper settings.
• If your unit has a transfer belt, check the percentage of remaining life for the transfer belt. When the remaining life is less than 20 percent, replace the transfer belt.
• Replace the toner cartridge.

Auger marks appear on the printed output.

• Check the toner levels, if the toner cartridge is near empty, replace it.
• Verify that the toner cartridge is the correct type for your printer. For best results, you should always use genuine toner cartridges from the brand of your printer.
• Replace the toner cartridge.

The output print is wrinkled or stained.

• Verify that the paper in use is the correct size, type, and weight. If not, change the paper settings.
• Try a new ream of paper.

The top margin is incorrect.

• Ensure that the paper is loaded properly.
• Ensure that the margins are set correctly in the application that you are using.

The printed surface of the paper is bumpy.

• If your printer has fuser rollers, clean them.

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Color Printer Print-Quality Troubleshooting

Dark or light marks appear on your output.

• Run a print job consisting of several blank pages through the printer to remove toner accumulated on the fuser.
• If your printer has test pages, print them out to determine which component may be causing the image-quality problem.
• If the defect occurs in one color only, replace the corresponding imaging unit.
• If the defect occurs in all colors and is visible on all the test pages, replace the fuser.

Repeating spots or lines.

• If your printer has a troubleshooting repeating defects page, print it out and follow the instructions to identify the part responsible for the print-quality issue.

Colors look wrong.

• Verify that your printer is on a solid, level, and flat surface.
• If your printer has a printing calibration procedure, run it and follow the instructions.

Colors too light or too dark.

• Verify that the paper in use is the correct size, type, and weight. If not, change the paper settings.
• Ensure that the paper is loaded properly.
• Verify that the paper loaded in the tray matches the paper type selected at the control panel and in the print driver.

Vertical white lines or streaks appear in one color of your output.

• Print test pages to identify the affected color.
• Clean the printhead lenses of your printer for the affected color.

Toner missing or easy to rub off.

• Verify that the paper in use is the correct size, type, and weight. If not, change the paper settings.
• Ensure that the paper is loaded properly.
• If your printer has a printing calibration procedure, run it and follow the instructions.
• At the control panel of your printer, select a heavier paper.

Still having issues? 

‍Looks like you need some support. CDS, your local office equipment service provider, would love to help solve your print-quality issue and get you back up and running fast. Fill out this short form here with some details of what you tried above and we'll be in contact with you as soon as possible to get your issue resolved, over the phone or on-site.

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