The print quality is uneven, too light, or too dark, or lines appear in the printout. What should I do?

• If you notice that your print quality is uneven, too light, too dark, or there are lines in the print (banding), try these solutions:

  • Run a nozzle check to see if any of the print head nozzles are clogged. Then clean the print head, if necessary.
  • If clogs are not cleared after cleaning the print head three times, run a Power Cleaning. If the situation does not improve after running a Power Cleaning, clean the capping station and wiper, and then clean the print head again. If you cleaned the print head another three times and the situation has not improved, turn off the product and leave it off overnight or longer. When turned off for some time, the clogged ink may dissolve. Turn on the printer and check the results. If the print quality still has not improved, contact Epson Support.
  • Align the print head.
  • Adjust the paper feed.
  • Make sure you are using genuine Epson ink cartridges. If you use non-Epson ink cartridges, printouts may be faint, or the color of the printed image may be uneven because the remaining ink level is not correctly detected.
  • Make sure your ink cartridges have not expired. For best results, use ink cartridges before the expiration date printed on the package (within six months of installation in the printer). Replace expired cartridges with new ones.
  • Shake the cartridges before installing them in the printer.
  • Make sure you selected the correct Media Type setting in the printer driver that matches the paper loaded in the printer.
  • Compare the print result with the image on your computer screen. Since monitors and printers produce colors differently, printed colors and screen colors do not always look the same.
  • Make sure that the printer cover is closed during printing.
  • Check the ink levels on the LCD screen. Replace any cartridges that are low on ink. If there is a difference in color after replacing the ink cartridge, try cleaning the print head a few times.
  • Enable color management in the software application or in the printer driver.
  • If you are using non-Epson media, make sure you create a custom paper configuration for the media.
  • If you have registered settings for non-Epson media, perform uni-directional printing. Follow the steps below to clear the checkbox for High Speed in the printer driver.
    • Windows: On the Main tab, select Quality from Level.
    • Mac: Select Print Settings from the list, and then select the Advanced Color Settings tab.
  • Check the quality setting that you selected in the printer driver. Using a faster printing method may decrease the overall print quality. Select Level options that prioritize quality over speed.
  Related concepts
  Print Head Maintenance
  Check Cartridge and Maintenance Box Status
  Related tasks
  Creating Custom Paper Settings Using the Control Panel
  Cleaning the Print Head Cap Area
  Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges
  Related references
  Where to Get Help (U.S. and Canada)
  Where to Get Help (Latin America)
  Related information
  Using Epson Media Installer