Introduction
We have all, at one point or another, found ourselves in this position: you’re printing some very important document, and all of a sudden, the output comes out looking faded and blurry. It’s just so frustrating when you need your printouts to look professional. Don’t worry, though most of these issues can be sorted out with minimal effort. This is a step-by-step guide explaining to you several extremely common causes, that produce a very low-quality image and illustrate just exactly what you’d be looking at while you troubleshoot this exact type of problem yourself. Printing a bad-quality printing– First steps
1. Out of ink or toner
Most are obviously apparent as a fact since when they just happen and nothing prints but blanks that means ink and/or toner is running low, not out of it; printing is faint and/or incomplete. Most printers have some mechanism, either on the printer itself-a small display screen-or on your computer-software that will alert you to this. You would replace the cartridge and see if this solves your problem when you run out of ink or toner.
2. Clean the Printer Nozzles
If the above didn’t help you eliminate your streaky prints, it may be because clogged print heads are causing the problem. This happens because the printer has not been used for a long time or the ink has dried out in the nozzles. Most of the printers contain a nozzle check and cleaning cycle that can be run with an inbuilt function. When this does not improve your quality of print, you can try to clean nozzles one by one. This can be done by using a soft moist cloth for water to gently rub the nozzles. Don’t forget to use the guidebook to guide yourself on how to clean your printer so that it will not be damaged.
3. Proper Paper
Believe it or not, paper too affects print quality. If the paper used is less expensive or wrong, the effect may be ink bleeding or uneven absorption, resulting in blotchy prints or faded prints. Always use what your printer recommends for you. For an inkjet printer, choose paper that is recommended for inkjet use. For a laser printer, use laser paper. The difference in print quality will surely differ.
4. Restore Print Quality Preference
Sometimes, however, it’s not the printer. It’s just your settings. Most printers have a variety of print quality options ranging from draft mode to the best quality ever. Printing in draft mode may make all your text or pictures fuzzy and weak. If printing a very important document or picture, select a better quality option, such as “Best” or “High.”. Just remember, though, that the higher-quality settings will be more ink or toner heavy, so print cautiously if printing large quantities.
5. Clean the Printer Rollers
It could be due to dirty rollers inside the printer if your prints still are poor quality. Such rollers assist in pushing paper throughout the machine. However, upon extended use, they collect dust, or ink forming debris that causes either paper jamming or uneven prints. This is the simplest roller cleaning procedure: just get some lint-free cloth, gently rub it down on the rollers without them being too tight. This may take less than five minutes to do this but should be done frequently in order to keep your printers well maintained.
6. Update Printer Drivers and Software
The printer drivers are largely outdated. They introduce numerous problems while printing. They even lower the print quality. Your printer drivers and software need up-gradation. Mostly, manufacturing companies bring about new updates that fix the problems and eliminate bugs causing the slow function. In case of automatic up-gradations, browse through the websites of the original manufacturing company for your printer, or run the original software accompanied with your printer.
7. Align the printer
Misaligned print heads are another common cause of poor quality prints. Most of the printers are fitted with automatic calibration, which will always result in the correct alignment of the print heads and thus give you sharp clear prints. In case your printer lacks automatic calibration, you will have to do so manually. Look up the manual that came with your printer to find specific guidance on how to calibrate your printer.
8. A printer needs service.
The best way to avoid poor print quality is by maintaining a clean printer. Cleaning your printer, replacing ink or toner when it is running low, and making sure that all parts of the printer work well can keep problems from occurring. Try reminding yourself to check through your printer every few months or so. A little care goes a long way in keeping your printer in good working order.
9. Network or Software Issue
This issue may be due to network or software issues in a wireless printer. Begin by verifying if the printer is well connected to the network and not interrupted. See to it that the correct printer is selected on print settings. Sometimes, your print jobs may get messed up due to a network disruption or a glitch in the software.
Conclusion
No one likes printing bad quality, but first and foremost, not much is done. Whether it is refilling of ink, nozzle cleaning, or even doing an update on the software, usually, there will be a soft solution that would make your prints bounce back to the best times.
For more tips and the expert guide about printer service and repair problems, check our other articles here at Printer Not Working. Regular printer maintenance always keeps your printer in good condition, gets rid of bad print quality, and your printer will last new for many long years!
The good news is that simple steps together with periodic maintenance will keep bad print quality out and ensure the next print job is as clear and sharp as it should be. Happy printing!