Aligning the Print Head
07-Oct-2011
8201087900
Solution
If printed ruled lines are misaligned or print results are otherwise unsatisfactory, adjust the print head position.
You need to prepare: two sheets of A4 or Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101
REFERENCE
- If the remaining ink level is low, the print head alignment sheets will not be printed correctly. Replace the ink tank whose ink is low.
-> [ Replacing an Ink Tank ]
- Aligning the Print Head without a computer
- You can also align the Print Head from the printer itself using the RESUME/CANCEL button.
(1) Make sure that the power is turned on, and load two sheets of supplied paper or A4 or Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 in the Rear Tray.
Load the paper with the print side (whiter side) facing you in the Rear Tray.
(2) Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and pull out the Output Tray Extension.
If the Inner Cover is open, close it.
* The Inner Cover is not present depending on the country or region of purchase.
(3) Hold down the RESUME/CANCEL button until the POWER lamp flashes white four times, then release it immediately.
The print head alignment sheets will be printed and the printer will adjust the print head position automatically.
Do not perform any other operations until the printer completes the printing of the print head alignment sheets.
1. Make sure that the power is turned on.
2. Load two sheets of supplied paper or A4 or Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 in the Rear Tray.
Load the paper with the print side (whiter side) facing you in the Rear Tray.
IMPORTANT
- You cannot use the Manual Feed Tray to align the Print Head automatically. Be sure to load paper in the Rear Tray.
3. Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and pull out the Output Tray Extension.
IMPORTANT
- If the Inner Cover is open, close it.
* The Inner Cover is not present depending on the country or region of purchase.
4. Open the printer driver setup window.
5. Adjust the print head position.
(1) Click the Maintenance tab.
(2) Click Print Head Alignment.
(3) Confirm the message and click Align Print Head.
The print head alignment sheets will be printed and the print head position will be adjusted automatically.
Do not perform any other operations until the printer completes the printing of the print head alignment sheets. This takes about 9 to 10 minutes.
REFERENCE
- If the automatic adjustment of the print head position has failed, the Alarm lamp flashes. Refer to "Eleven flashes:" of [ Alarm Lamp Flashes Orange ].
- If the print results are still not satisfactory after adjusting the print head position as described above, adjust the print head position manually. Refer to [ Manual Print Head Alignment ] within this webpage.
1. Make sure that the power is turned on.
2. Load two sheets of supplied paper or A4 or Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 in the Rear Tray.
Load the paper with the print side (whiter side) facing you in the Rear Tray.
IMPORTANT
- You cannot use the Manual Feed Tray to align the Print Head automatically. Be sure to load paper in the Rear Tray.
3. Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and pull out the Output Tray Extension.
IMPORTANT
- If the Inner Cover is open, close it.
* The Inner Cover is not present depending on the country or region of purchase.
4. Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility.
5. Adjust the print head position.
(1) Select Test Print in the pop-up menu.
(2) Click Print Head Alignment.
(3) Confirm the message and click Align Print Head.
The print head alignment sheets will be printed and the print head position will be adjusted automatically.
Do not perform any other operations until the printer completes the printing of the print head alignment sheets. This takes about 9 to 10 minutes.
REFERENCE
- If the automatic adjustment of the print head position has failed, the Alarm lamp flashes. Refer to "Eleven flashes:" of [ Alarm Lamp Flashes Orange ].
- If the print results are still not satisfactory after adjusting the print head position as described above, adjust the print head position manually. Refer to [ Manual Print Head Alignment ] within this webpage.
This section describes how to align the Print Head manually.
If the results of Automatic Print Head Alignment are not satisfactory, follow the procedure below to perform Manual Print Head Alignment to precisely align the Print Head.
For details on performing Automatic Print Head Alignment, Refer to [ Automatic Print Head Alignmen ] within this webpage.
REFERENCE
- Close the Inner Cover if it is open.
* The Inner Cover is not present depending on the country or region of purchase.
1. Make sure that the printer is turned on.
2. Load three sheets of A4 or Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 with the printing side (whiter side) facing UP in the Rear Tray.
IMPORTANT
- For Manual Print Head Alignment, always load the sheets of Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101.
REFERENCE
- Make sure to load paper in the Rear Tray. The Manual Feed Tray cannot be used when performing the print head alignment.
3. Open the Paper Output Tray and extend the Output Tray Extension.
4. Print the pattern.
(1) Open the printer driver setup window.
(2) Click the Maintenance tab, then Custom Settings.
(3) Select the Align heads manually check box, then click OK.
(4) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
(5) In the Maintenance sheet click Print Head Alignment.
(6) Confirm the displayed message and click Align Print Head.
IMPORTANT
- Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.
REFERENCE
- To confirm the current setting, click Print Alignment Value and print the pattern.
(7) After the pattern is printed, click Yes.
The dialog for entering a print head alignment value is displayed.
5. Look at the first printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select the number of the pattern in column A that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
(A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(B) More noticeable vertical white streaks
(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column L, then click OK.
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
The second pattern is printed.
IMPORTANT
- Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.
6. Look at the second printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select the number of the pattern in column M that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
(C) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(D) More noticeable vertical white streaks
(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column V, then click OK.
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
The third pattern is printed.
IMPORTANT
- Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.
7. Look at the third printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select the number of the pattern in column W that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
(E) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(F) More noticeable vertical white streaks
(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column f, then click OK.
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
Manual Print Head Alignment is complete.
REFERENCE
- After following the procedure above, a message to perform the rest of the alignment may appear. In this case, load a sheet of Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101, then click OK. A pattern* is printed, and Manual Print Head Alignment is complete.
* Some parts of this pattern are faint.
1. Make sure that the printer is turned on.
2. Load three sheets of A4 or Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 with the printing side (whiter side) facing UP in the Rear Tray.
IMPORTANT
- For Manual Print Head Alignment, always load the sheets of Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101.
REFERENCE
- Make sure to load paper in the Rear Tray. The Manual Feed Tray cannot be used when performing the print head alignment.
3. Open the Paper Output Tray and extend the Output Tray Extension.
4.Print the pattern.
(1) Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility dialog.
(2) Select Custom Settings in the pop-up menu.
(3) Select the Align heads manually check box, then click Apply.
(4) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
(5) Select Test Print in the pop-up menu.
(6) Click Print Head Alignment.
(7) Confirm the displayed message and click Align Print Head.
The dialog for entering a print head alignment value is displayed.
IMPORTANT
- Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.
REFERENCE
- To confirm the current setting, click Print Alignment Value and print the pattern.
5. Look at the first printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select the number of the pattern in column A that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
(A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(B) More noticeable vertical white streaks
(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column L, then click Send.
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
The second pattern is printed.
IMPORTANT
- Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.
6. Look at the second printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select the number of the pattern in column M that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
(C) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(D) More noticeable vertical white streaks
(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column V, then click Send.
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
The third pattern is printed.
IMPORTANT
- Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.
7. Look at the third printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select the number of the pattern in column W that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
(E) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(F) More noticeable vertical white streaks
(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column f, then click Send.
Manual Print Head Alignment is complete.
REFERENCE
- After following the procedure above, a message to perform the rest of the alignment may appear. In this case, load a sheet of Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101, then click OK. A pattern* is printed, and Manual Print Head Alignment is complete.
* Some parts of this pattern are faint.