Aligning the Print Head

FAQ ID: 8201033900

Release date: 14 January 2011

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Solution

Automatic Print Head Alignment

If printed ruled lines are misaligned or print results are otherwise unsatisfactory, adjust the print head position.

REFERENCE
  • If the remaining ink level is low, the print head alignment sheet will not be printed correctly. Replace the ink tank whose ink is low.

See [ Replacing an Ink Tank ].
  • If you run out of the supplied paper (Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101) or the specified Canon genuine paper is not immediately available or obtainable, you can use plain paper and align the Print Head manually.
  • The print head alignment pattern is printed in black and blue.


You need to prepare: a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101

1. Make sure that the power is turned on.

2. Load a sheet of supplied paper or A4 or Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 in the Rear Tray.
Load the paper with the print side (whiter side) facing you in the Rear Tray.


IMPORTANT
  • You cannot use the Cassette to align the Print Head automatically. Be sure to load paper in the Rear Tray.


3. Open the Paper Output Tray gently.

4. Adjust the print head position automatically.
(1) Press the Setup button.
The setup menu screen will appear.
(2) Select Maintenance , and press the OK button.
The Maintenance screen will appear.
(3) Select Auto head alignment, and press the OK button.

The confirmation screen will appear.
(4) Select Yes, and press the OK button.
The print head alignment sheet will be printed and the print head position will be adjusted automatically.
This takes about 5 minutes.


REFERENCE
  • To use other available functions, press the corresponding mode button.
  • If the automatic adjustment of the print head position has failed, the error message "Auto head align has failed." appears on the LCD. For details, refer to [ An Error Message Is Displayed on the LCD ].
  • If the print results are still not satisfactory after adjusting the print head position as described above, adjust the print head position manually.

(5) When the completion message appears, press the OK button.
The screen will return to the Maintenance screen.

Manual Print Head Alignment

This section describes how to align the Print Head manually.
If the results of Automatic Print Head Alignment are not satisfactory, follow the procedure below to perform Manual Print Head Alignment to precisely align the Print Head.

REFERENCE
  • The print head alignment pattern is printed in black and blue only.

1. Make sure that the machine is turned on.

2. Load three sheets of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Cassette.

3. Open the Paper Output Tray gently.

4. Press the Setup button.

5. Select Maintenance, then press the OK button.

6. Use the button to select Manual head alignment, then press the OK button.
The confirmation screen is displayed.


REFERENCE
  • To confirm the current setting, select Print the head alignment value and print the pattern.

7. Use the button to select Yes, then press the OK button.
The print head alignment pattern is printed.


IMPORTANT
  • Do not open the Scanning Unit (Cover) while printing is in progress.

8. When Did the patterns print correctly ? is displayed, confirm that the pattern is printed correctly, use the button to select Yes, then press the OK button.
The input screen for the head position adjustment values is displayed.

9. Check the printed patterns, and use the button to input the number of the pattern in column A that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.


REFERENCE
  • If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.


(A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(B) More noticeable vertical white streaks

10. Repeat the same procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for columns B to G, then press the OK button.
For the column F and G, pick the setting pointed by an arrow that produces the least noticeable horizontal streaks.


REFERENCE
  • If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white streaks.


(C) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(D) More noticeable horizontal white streaks

11. Confirm the displayed message and press the OK button.
The second pattern is printed.


IMPORTANT
  • Do not open the Scanning Unit (Cover) while printing is in progress.

12. Check the printed patterns, and use the button to input the number of the pattern in column H that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.


REFERENCE
  • If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.


(E) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(F) More noticeable vertical white streaks

13. Repeat the same procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for columns I to Q, then press the OK button.

14. Confirm the displayed message and press the OK button.
The third pattern is printed.


IMPORTANT
  • Do not open the Scanning Unit (Cover) while printing is in progress.

15. Check the printed patterns, and use the button to input the number of the pattern in column a that has the least noticeable horizontal streaks.


REFERENCE
  • If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white streaks.


(G) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(H) More noticeable horizontal white streaks

16. Repeat the same procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for columns b to j, then press the OK button.
Manual Print Head Alignment is complete.

Applicable Models

  • PIXMA MX884
  • PIXMA MX885

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