My printout is blurry or smeared. What should I do?

• Check the following:
  • Make sure your paper isn't damp or curled, or loaded face-up (the printable side should be face-down). It's usually brighter or whiter.
  • Make sure your paper meets the specifications.
  • Make sure the paper Type or Media Type setting matches the paper you loaded.
  • Use Epson papers to ensure proper saturation and absorption of genuine Epson inks.
  • Print a nozzle check pattern. If there are gaps in the nozzle check pattern, align the print head.
  • Remove each sheet from the output tray as it is printed.
  • Avoid handling printouts on glossy paper for a few hours to allow the ink to set.
  • Turn off High Speed mode in the Windows, Macintosh OS X 10.5, or Macintosh OS X 10.3 to 10.4 printer software.
  • If you are using double-sided paper and printing heavily saturated or dark images on the front side of the paper, you may notice that smudges or marks appear on the front when you print the second side. If one side of the paper will contain a lighter image or text, print that side first to eliminate marks or smudging. If you're copying a document or photo, increase the Dry Time in the printer's Paper and Copy Settings.
  • If ink smears when you print on envelopes or other thick paper, do the following:
    • Windows: Right-click the  printer icon in the bottom right corner of your screen (the taskbar) and select Printer Settings. Click the Maintenance tab, click Printer and Option Information, and select Thick paper and envelopes.
    • Macintosh: Open the File menu and select Print. Select Extension Settings from the popup menu, then select Thick paper and envelopes.
  • To clean the rollers inside the all-in-one, try making several copies without placing a document on the scanner glass. Adjust the Density setting to one level darker before you copy.
  • If you are having this problem while printing on a CD or DVD, make sure you're using an ink jet-printable CD or DVD, and handle the disc carefully. Allow the ink to dry for at least 24 hours before inserting the disc in a drive.