Aligning the Print Head
26-May-2009
8200542700
Solution
If printed ruled lines are misaligned or print results are otherwise unsatisfactory, adjust the print head position.
You need to prepare: a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized supplied paper or Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101
NOTE
- If the remaining ink level is low, the print head alignment pattern will not be printed correctly.
Replace the ink tank whose ink is low.
See [ Replacing an Ink Tank ]
- The print head alignment pattern is printed in black and blue.
- If you run out of supplied paper (Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101) or Canon genuine paper is not immediately available or obtainable, you can use plain paper and align the Print Head manually.
- 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 a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized supplied paper or Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 in the Rear Tray. Load it with the printing side (whiter side) facing you in the Rear Tray.
(2) Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and extend the Output Tray Extension to open.
If the Inner Cover is open, close it.
(3) Hold down the RESUME/CANCEL button until the Power lamp flashes green four times, then release it immediately.
The print head alignment pattern 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 pattern.
1. Make sure that the power is turned on.
2. Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized supplied paper or Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 in the Rear Tray.
Load it with the printing side (whiter side) facing you in the Rear Tray.
IMPORTANT
- You cannot use the Cassette to align the Print Head automatically. Be sure to load paper in the Rear Tray.
3. Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and extend the Output Tray Extension to open.
IMPORTANT
- If the Inner Cover is open, close it.
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 displayed message, and click Align Print Head.
The print head alignment pattern 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 pattern. This takes about 5 minutes to complete.
NOTE
- If the automatic adjustment of the print head position has failed, the Alarm lamp flashes. Refer to [ Alarm Lamp Flashes Orange ].
- If the print results are still not satisfactory after adjusting the print head position as described above, align the Print Head manually.
1. Make sure that the power is turned on.
2. Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized supplied paper or Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 in the Rear Tray.
Load it with the printing side (whiter side) facing you in the Rear Tray.
IMPORTANT
- You cannot use the Cassette to align the Print Head automatically. Be sure to load paper in the Rear Tray.
3. Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and extend the Output Tray Extension to open.
IMPORTANT
- If the Inner Cover is open, close it.
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 displayed message, and click Align Print Head.
The print head alignment pattern 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 pattern. This takes about 5 minutes to complete.
NOTE
- If the automatic adjustment of the print head position has failed, the Alarm lamp flashes. Refer to [ Alarm Lamp Flashes Orange ].
- If the print results are still not satisfactory after adjusting the print head position as described above, align the Print Head manually.
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.
NOTE
- Close the Inner Cover if it is open.
- The print head alignment pattern is printed in black and blue only.
1. Make sure that the printer is turned on.
2. Load three sheets of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Cassette.
3. Open the Paper Output Tray and extend the Output Tray Extension.
4. Print the pattern.
(1) Open the printer properties dialog box.
(2) Click the Maintenance tab, then Custom Settings.
(3) Select the Align heads manually check box, then click Send.
(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.
NOTE
- 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.
NOTE
- 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 G, then click OK.
For column F and G, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal streaks.
NOTE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white streaks.
(C) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(D) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
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 H that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
NOTE
- 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 Q, 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 a that has the least noticeable horizontal streaks.
NOTE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white streaks.
(G) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(H) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column j, then click OK.
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
1. Make sure that the printer is turned on.
2. Load three sheets of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Cassette.
3. Open the Paper Output Tray and extend the Output Tray Extension.
4. Print the pattern.
(1) Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility dialog box.
(2) Select Custom Settings in the pop-up menu.
(3) Select the Align heads manually check box, then click Send.
(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.
NOTE
- 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.
NOTE
- 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 G, then click Send.
For column F and G, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal streaks.
NOTE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white streaks.
(C) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(D) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
(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 H that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
NOTE
- 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 Q, 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 a that has the least noticeable horizontal streaks.
NOTE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white streaks.
(G) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(H) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column j, then click Send.