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    Printed Surface Is Scratched/Paper Is Smudged

    11-Sep-2008
    8200348000

    Issue


    Cause and Solution

    Printing on inappropriate type of paper
    • Check to see if the paper you are printing on is not too thick or curled. See [ Compatible Media Types ] to make sure that the paper you are using is suitable. If the paper is curled, see "Paper is curled." to correct paper curl.
    • When performing Borderless Printing, print quality may be reduced at the top and bottom edges of the paper. Make sure that the paper you are using is suitable for Borderless Printing. For details, see [ Printing Area ]

    Paper is curled
    If you are using paper with either any of the corners or the whole printing surface curled, the paper may become dirty, not feed properly, or both. Use such paper after correcting paper curl as follows.
    (1) With the printing side (A) facing up, cover the paper with a fresh sheet of plain paper to avoid staining or scratching the surface.
    (2) Roll up the paper in a direction opposite to paper curl as seen below.
    (3) Check to see that the paper curl is within approximately 0.08 to 0.2 inches / 2 to 5 mm (B) in height.
    We recommend printing curl-corrected paper one sheet at a time.
    NOTE
    Depending on the media type, the paper may be smudged or may not be fed properly even if it is not curled. In such case, follow the procedure described above to curl the paper before printing. This may improve the print result.

    Printing on thick paper
    Selecting the Prevent paper abrasion setting will widen the clearance between the Print Head and the loaded paper. If you notice abrasion even with the media type set correctly to match the loaded paper, set the machine to prevent paper abrasion by using the Operation Panel on the machine or the printer driver.*
    * Deactivate the Prevent paper abrasion setting once printing is complete. If not, this setting remains enabled for all subsequent print jobs.
    • Setting with the Operation Panel on the machine
    Press the Menu button, select Maintenance/settings, Device settings, and Print settings in this order, and then set Prevent paper abrasion to ON.
    • Setting with the printer driver
    ( Windows )
    Open the printer properties dialog box, and in Custom Settings in the Maintenance sheet, select the Prevent paper abrasion check box, and then click Send.
    ( Macintosh )
    In the Canon IJ Printer Utility, select Custom Settings in the pop-up menu, select the Prevent paper abrasion check box, and then click Send.

    Printing beyond the recommended printing area
    If you are printing beyond the recommended printing area of your printing paper, the lower edge of the paper may become stained with ink.
    Resize your original document in your application software.
    For details on recommended printing area, see [ Printing Area ]

    Paper Feed Roller is dirty
    Clean the Paper Feed Roller. Cleaning the Paper Feed Roller will wear the roller, so perform this procedure only when necessary.
    Cleaning the Paper Feed Roller (Roller Cleaning)
    Clean the paper feed roller if paper is not fed properly. Cleaning the paper feed roller will wear the roller, so perform this only when necessary.

    Inside of the machine is dirty
    Performing duplex printing may leave some ink inside the machine, causing
    printouts to be smudged. In this case, perform Bottom Plate Cleaning to clean the inside of the machine.
    REFERENCE
    To prevent the inside of the machine from getting stained, set the page size correctly.

    Printed paper is taking long to dry
    Set the Ink Drying Wait Time longer.
    Doing so gives the time enough to dry the printed surface so that paper curling and ink blots are prevented.
    • Windows
    (1) Make sure that the machine is turned on.
    (2) Open the printer properties dialog box.
    (3) Click the Maintenance tab and then Custom Settings.
    (4) Drag the Ink Drying Wait Time slide bar to set the wait time, and then click Send.
    (5) Confirm the message and click OK.
    • Macintosh
    (1) Make sure that the machine is turned on.
    (2) Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility.
    (3) Select Custom Settings in the pop-up menu.
    (4) Drag the Ink Drying Wait Time slide bar to set the wait time, and then click Send.
    (5) Confirm the message and click OK.

    Printing graphics with the Intensity setting in the printer driver set too high
    Especially if you are using plain paper to print images with high intensity, the paper may absorb too much ink and become wavy, causing paper abrasion.
    • When printing from your computer
    Reduce the Intensity setting in the printer driver and try printing again.
    (Windows)
    (1) Open the printer properties dialog box.
    (2) On the Main sheet, select Manual for Color/Intensity, and then click Set.
    (3) Drag the Intensity slide bar on the Color Adjustment sheet to adjust the intensity.
    (Macintosh)
    (1) Open the Print dialog box.
    (2) Select Color Options in the pop-up menu.
    (3) Drag the Intensity slide bar to set the intensity.
    • When copying
    See [ Copying ] and reduce the intensity setting. Then try printing again.