Colors in printed images are uneven

1. Check 1 Does the paper loaded on the printer match the media type selected in the printer driver?

   When printing with the media type specified in the printer driver, load the specified media type in the printer.

   • Loading Rolls in the Printer
   • Loading Sheets in the Printer

   When printing with the media type loaded in the printer, specify the media type in the printer driver.

   • Printing with Easy Setup (Windows)
   • Printing with Easy Setup (macOS)

   Note

   • When Auto (Use Printer Settings) is selected for the media type, printing is performed with the media type loaded in the printer.

   • Click Get Information to reflect the paper information set in the printer to the printer driver.

2. Check 2 When loading paper in the printer, is the media loaded the same as the media type selected on the touch screen?

   Set the correct media type on the touch screen.

   • Changing the Type of Paper

3. Check 3 Is the Print head position adjusted correctly?

   Adjust the Print head position.

   • Automatic Adjustment to Straighten Lines and Colors

4. Check 4 Is the feed amount adjusted correctly?

   Adjust feed amount.

   • Automatically Adjusting Different Colored Horizontal Streaks
   • Adjusting Line Length

5. Check 5 When printing photos and posters, are the Print Target settings set correctly?

   Do one of the following.

   • In the printer driver, change the setting to Photo (Color) or Poster in Print Target.

     • Printing By Setting Print Purpose

   • In the touch screen menu, select Printer settings > Print settings > Default print settings > Print quality settings > Print target, and change the setting to Photo. (This is only available when the printer driver's Media Type is set to Auto (Use Printer Settings)).

     • Print settings

6. Check 6 Colors in printed images may be uneven if the Print Quality setting is too low

   If using Windows, select Advanced Settings from the Main tab of the printer driver, and then select a higher Print Quality setting.

   If using macOS, select Quality & Media in the printer driver, and then select a higher Print Quality setting.

   • Changing the Print Quality and Correcting Image Data (Windows)
   • Changing the Print Quality and Correcting Image Data (macOS)

7. Check 7 Are the Print Head nozzles clogged?

   Check for nozzle clogging.

   • Checking for Nozzle Clogging

8. Check 8 Colors in printed images may be uneven on the boundary between shades if there are dark and light areas in an image

   Prints on the same page while switching between Bidirectional printing and Unidirectional printing. Therefore, color unevenness may occur when switching. Using the unidirectional printing function may reduce color unevenness in this situation.

   Follow the steps below for unidirectional printing.

   • Windows

     Open Paper Detailed Settings from the Main tab of the printer driver, and then select Unidirectional Printing.

     • Main Tab Description

   • macOS

     Open Advanced Paper Settings in the printer driver, and then select Unidirectional Printing.

     • Advanced Paper Settings

9. Check 9 If printing borderless, colors in printed images may be a little uneven at the leading edge of the paper because printing is interrupted to cut the paper

   Set the printer driver Automatic Cutting settings to No, and then print. Doing this prints only the left and right sides borderless. Cut the top and bottom borders with a cutting implement such as scissors after the printed materials are output and cut.

   Note

   • Selecting a higher Print Quality in the printer driver Advanced Settings may resolve the problem.

     • Changing the Print Quality and Correcting Image Data (Windows)
     • Changing the Print Quality and Correcting Image Data (macOS)

10. Check 10 Does this paper curl easily?

    Colors in printed images may be uneven at the leading edge of paper that curls easily. Change the Transport unit vacuum strength in the touch screen to increase the grip on the paper, or set a margin of at least 0.8 inches (20 mm) at the front edge of the paper.

    • Adjusting Vacuum Strength

11. Check 11 Color may be uneven if printing materials were stacked while drying

    To avoid uneven colors, we recommend drying each sheet separately.

12. Check 12 Is Ink drying target area for Pause between scans in the touch screen menu set to Leading edge?

    If the Ink drying target area for Pause between scans is set to Leading edge, color may be uneven approximately 5.5 inches (140 mm) from the front edge of the paper. (The position depends on the Print Quality settings)

    On the HOME screen of the touch screen, select (Setup) > Printer settings > Paper-related settings > Advanced paper settings > Pause between scans > Ink drying target area and set to Overall.

    However, note that printing will now take longer.

    • Specifying the Ink Drying Time

13. Check 13 Make sure you are not printing cut sheet with AirPrint (macOS)

    When you print cut sheets with AirPrint, uneven or streaked colors may occur at the trailing edge of the sheet. To print cut sheets with AirPrint. From the touch screen menu, tap Printer settings > Paper-related settings > Keep margin at cut sheet end.

    • Paper-related settings

    Note

    • Set Keep margin at cut sheet end to Enable to increase the margin at the trailing edge of the sheet.