I am getting thin dotted lines on my prints. These show up both inside and outside of the print area. The nozzle check is clean. Is the a print head problem?
Thanks for providing the image and the description of the lines you’re seeing in your prints. Based on what you’ve described, these appear to be single jet dot patterns and you’ve noted that they are oriented vertically on the page. Let’s break down the potential causes:
Understanding Jet Patterns:
It’s important to understand that if these single jet patterns were related to a fault in the print head’s electronics itself, we would typically expect to see them running horizontally, in the direction the print head moves back and forth across the paper. This is because the electronics control the firing of the individual jets as the head travels.
Potential Horizontal Line Issues (If Misidentified):
If the lines are actually horizontal (running across the page), this could indicate:
- Mechanical/Superficial Issue: It’s possible that paper fibers or debris have become lodged underneath the print head, potentially interfering with the firing of specific jets. Carefully cleaning the area beneath the print head might resolve this.
- Internal Printer Electronics: If cleaning doesn’t help with horizontal lines, it could point to a more complex electronic issue within the printer that’s causing specific jets to misfire consistently. This type of problem usually requires specialized technical expertise and may involve replacing internal components like ribbon cables. Unfortunately, this isn’t something typically user-serviceable.
Vertical Line Issues (As You Described):
Since you’re indicating vertical lines (running in the direction the paper feeds through the printer), the cause is more likely related to the data being sent to the printer:
- Data Issue (Image, Software, or Transmission): Vertical lines in the direction of paper feed often indicate a problem with the digital information the printer is receiving. This could stem from:
- The Image File Itself: There might be single pixel-wide vertical lines embedded in the image data. To check this, you’ll need to zoom in significantly on your image (200%-400% magnification or more, depending on your image resolution) to see if you can identify these lines at the pixel level.
- Software Issue: The software you’re using to print might be introducing these artifacts during the rendering or output process.
- Transmission Issue: There could be an issue with the data transfer from your computer to the printer (e.g., a faulty cable or driver).
Past Support Log Insights:
Interestingly, our past support logs show that some customers have experienced similar artifacts due to subtle image file corruptions that weren’t visible even when examining individual pixels. In some cases, simply copying the pixels to a new file didn’t resolve the issue, suggesting the corruption was deeper. The successful solutions often involved reverting to the original, unedited images and re-editing them from scratch.
Troubleshooting Steps for Vertical Lines:
- Examine the Image: Zoom in significantly on your image file to check for single-pixel vertical lines.
- Try a Different Image: Print a different image to see if the vertical lines persist. This will help determine if the issue is specific to the original file.
- Try a Different Printing Method/Software: If possible, try printing from a different application or using a different printing method to see if the problem remains.
- Check Cables and Connections: Ensure the cable connecting your computer to the printer is securely connected.
- Update Drivers: Make sure you have the latest QTR/printer drivers installed on your computer.
Please try these steps and let me know what you find. This will help us narrow down the cause of the vertical lines.
Rachel - IJM Tech Support