My printout has lines running through it. What should I do?

  • Try the following:
    • Print a nozzle check pattern. If there are gaps, clean the print head.
    • Try aligning the print head.
    • If the paper you're using has a printable side (check your paper packaging for details), make sure the printable side is loaded face-down. The printable side is usually brighter or whiter.
    • Epson inks, specialty papers, and printers are designed to work together. For the best results, use genuine Epson ink and paper.
    • Make sure the product is on a flat, stable surface that extends beyond the base in all directions. If the printer is not on a level surface, the print head may not move back and forth properly which could cause banding in your printouts.
    • If you're printing from a computer, make sure the following settings are set correctly in the Windows, Mac OS X 10.5/10.6, or Mac OS X 10.4 printer driver:
      • Quality Option or Print Quality: Try selecting a higher Quality Option or Print Quality setting (do not select Draft, Economy, or Fast Economy when printing photos).
      • Type or Media Type: Select a Type or Media Type setting that matches the paper you loaded.
      • High Speed (Windows only): Try turning this setting off if you see vertical misalignment or banding (lines) in your printouts.

        Note:
        This setting controls whether the print head prints in both directions (bi-directional) or in one direction (uni-directional)—from right to left. Turning this setting off to print in one direction decreases print speed but may improve print quality.
    • If you're using the product as a stand-alone machine to print (for example, to print from a memory card or a device connected to the product's front USB port), make sure the print settings are correct.
Published:  Aug 19, 2010 Was this helpful?​ Thank you for the feedback!
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