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Adjusting Print Head Position Manually

Print Head Alignment corrects the installation positions of the print head and improves misalignment of colors and lines.

This printer supports two head alignment methods: automatic head alignment and manual head alignment. Normally, the printer is set for automatic head alignment.
If the printing results of automatic Print Head Alignment are not satisfactory, perform manual head alignment.

The procedure for performing manual Print Head Alignment is as follows:

Note

  • If the multi-purpose tray guide is open, close it.
  • The pattern is printed only in black and blue.

Print Head Alignment

  1. Open Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool

  2. Check that the printer power is on, and then click Custom Settings

    The Custom Settings dialog box opens.

    Note

    • If the printer is off or if communication between the printer and the computer is disabled, an error message may appear because the computer cannot collect the printer status.
      If this happens, click OK to display the most recent settings specified on your computer.

  3. Switch head alignment to manual

    Check the Align heads manually check box.

  4. Apply the settings

    Click OK and when the confirmation message appears, click OK.

  5. Click Print Head Alignment

    The Print Head Alignment dialog box opens.

  6. Load paper in printer

    In the cassette, load three sheets of plain A4-sized or Letter-sized paper.

  7. Perform head alignment

    Click Start.
    Follow the instruction in the message.

    Important

    • Do not open the scanning unit / cover while printing is in progress; otherwise, printing will stop.

  8. Check printed pattern

    In each entry field, enter the number of the pattern with the least prominent streaks from among the printed patterns.
    You can also enter numbers into the entry fields automatically by clicking relevant pattern in the preview.

    After completing the entries, click OK.

    Note

    • If the patterns are not uniform, select the pattern with the least prominent vertical streaks.
      (A) Less prominent vertical streaks
      (B) More prominent vertical streaks
    • If the patterns are not uniform, select the pattern with the least prominent horizontal streaks.
      (A) Less prominent horizontal streaks
      (B) More prominent horizontal streaks

  9. Check the displayed message and click OK

    The second pattern is printed.

    Important

    • Do not open the scanning unit / cover while printing is in progress; otherwise, printing will stop.

  10. Check printed patterns

    In each entry field, enter the number of the pattern with the least prominent streaks from among the printed patterns.
    You can also enter numbers into the entry fields automatically by clicking relevant pattern in the preview.

    After completing the entries, click OK.

    Note

    • If the patterns are not uniform, select the pattern with the least prominent vertical streaks.
      (A) Less prominent vertical streaks
      (B) More prominent vertical streaks

  11. Check message content, and click OK

    The print head adjustment patterns on the third sheet are printed.

    Important

    • Do not open the scanning unit / cover while printing is in progress; otherwise, printing will stop.

  12. Check printed patterns

    In each entry field, enter the number of the pattern with the least prominent stripes from among the printed patterns.
    You can also enter numbers into the entry fields automatically by clicking relevant pattern in the preview.

    After completing the entries, click OK.

    Note

    • If the patterns are not uniform, select the pattern with the least prominent horizontal stripes.
      (A) Less prominent horizontal stripes
      (B) More prominent horizontal stripes

  13. Complete head position adjustment

    Click OK.
    The adjustment of the head position is complete.

Note

  • To print and check the current setting, open the Print Head Alignment dialog box, and click Print Alignment Value.