Are you getting missing text or lines showing in photos when you print?
If so we can help with that, and there is a reason why you are getting print issues.
If you don't use your printer very often, you are more at risk of getting blocked print heads due to ink becoming dried on the print head. Following the steps below can help rectify the issues. In some more severe cases, you will need to use print head cleaning fluid to dissolve the ink over night.
If you need to clean your print head due to poor printing performance, you can initially try the print head cleaning function on your printer this may clear the issue up in some cases. Please consult your printer manual and settings to access this option on your printer.
To clean the print head with the cleaning fluid, follow the below steps:
Below instructions are for print heads attached to the ink cartridge (Typically Canon & HP).
1: Remove the ink cartridge from the printer
2: Use protective gloves on your hands whilst using the cleaning fluid
3: Poor a small amount of print head cleaner onto a soft tissue or lint free cloth
4: Wipe the print head back and forth with the tissue putting light pressure on to the print head to help push the fluid into the tiny print head holes.
5: Wipe the print head with a dry tissue
6: Reinstall the cartridge into the printer and perform cleaning cycle using the printer cleaning option (usually found in the maintenance menu on your printer)
7: Perform a test print of all colours
If the printing is still poor quality, you will have a more severe blockage on the print head. In which case you will need to remove the cartridge and perform the below steps:
1: Poor a small amount of cleaner into a saucer (or similar) just enough to cover the print head only, please ensure it only just covers the print head to avoid and ink contamination inside the cartridge.
2: Leave the cartridge in the saucer over night or at least 8 hours so that the cleaner has time to fully dissolve any dried ink in the print heads.
3: After the time has elapsed, remove the cartridge from the cleaner and wipe the print head so it is dry.
4: At this stage you may either re-insert into your printer, perform the printer cleaning option in the maintenance area on your printer (if the cartridge has been refilled or you know has ink in it). Or you can then refill the ink cartridge with ink in the normal way using the refill instructions for your ink cartridge.
5: Perform test prints to check that the cartridge is fully cleared.
Please note manufacturers intend that their cartridges are used once from new although refilling can be performed sometimes 1-5 times sometimes more dependent on the reliability of the print head. If you have tried several options to clean the print head and still getting poor performance, this will be due to the print head coming to the end of its life.
Below instructions are for print heads attached to the printer (Epson).
1: Open the cartridge hatch; wait for the cartridges to move to the ready to replace position.
2: Turn the printer power off
3: Make sure you can access the cartridge holder. Slide across gently if not into a position where you are able to slide a piece of absorbent material under the cartridge holder (print head).
4: Insert absorbent material (such as kitchen roll) so it covers the full underside of the print head to capture and cleaning fluid and dried ink.
5: Attach tube to the syringe and pull the cleaning fluid from the bottle so the fluid is approx 2cm from the end of the tube.
6: Attach tube to one of the cartridge inlets you need to clean
7: Gently push the syringe plunger to force the ink through the print head, making sure you are always stopping to replace the absorbent material.
8: Try several times for a good clean then push air through using the syringe and tube without the cleaning fluid.
9: Remove tube & absorbent material
10: Insert ink cartridge(s)
11: Close the lid and turn the power back on.
12: Wait for the printer to stabilise and print a few test prints to check all print heads are clear. If not retry above steps.