Aligning the Print Head

FAQ ID: 8201079500

Release date: 27 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.

You need to prepare: a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper

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.
-> [ Replacing an Ink Tank ]

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

Aligning the Print Head without a computer

You can also align the Print Head from the printer itself using the RESUME/CANCEL button.

(1) Make sure that the power is turned on, and load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper.
(2) Open the Front Cover gently, and pull out the Paper Output Tray.
(3) Hold down the RESUME/CANCEL button until the POWER lamp flashes blue four times, then release it immediately.
The print head alignment sheet will be printed and the printer will adjust the print head position automatically.
Do not perform any other operations until the printer completes the printing of the print head alignment pattern.

1. Make sure that the power is turned on.

2. Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper.

3. Open the Front Cover gently, and pull out the Paper Output Tray.

4. Open the printer driver setup window.

5. Adjust the print head position.
(1) Click the Maintenance tab.
(2) Click Print Head Alignment.

(3) Confirm the message and click Align Print Head.

The print head alignment sheet will be printed and the print head position will be adjusted automatically.
Do not perform any other operations until the printer completes the printing of the print head alignment pattern. This takes about 3 minutes.

REFERENCE

If the automatic adjustment of the print head position has failed, the Alarm lamp flashes. Refer to "Eleven flashes:" of [ Alarm Lamp Flashes Orange ].
If the print results are still not satisfactory after adjusting the print head position as described above, adjust the print head position manually.

-> [ Manual Print Head Alignment ]

1. Make sure that the power is turned on.

2. Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper.

3. Open the Front Cover gently, and pull out the Paper Output Tray.

4. Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility.

5. Adjust the print head position.
(1) Select Test Print in the pop-up menu.
(2) Click Print Head Alignment.

(3) Confirm the message and click Align Print Head.

The print head alignment sheet will be printed and the print head position will be adjusted automatically.
Do not perform any other operations until the printer completes the printing of the print head alignment pattern. This takes about 3 minutes

REFERENCE

If the automatic adjustment of the print head position has failed, the Alarm lamp flashes. Refer to "Eleven flashes:" of [ Alarm Lamp Flashes Orange ] .
If the print results are still not satisfactory after adjusting the print head position as described above, adjust the print head position manually.

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 printer is turned on.

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

3. Open the Front Cover and extend the Paper Output Tray.

4. Print the pattern.
(1) Open the printer driver setup window.
(2) Click the Maintenance tab, then Custom Settings.
(3) Select the Align heads manually check box, then click OK.
(4) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
(5) In the Maintenance sheet click Print Head Alignment.
(6) Confirm the displayed message and click Align Print Head.

IMPORTANT
Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.

REFERENCE
To confirm the current setting, click Print Alignment Value and print the pattern.

(7) After the pattern is printed, click Yes.
The dialog for entering a print head alignment value is displayed.

5. Look at the first printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select 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

(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column G, then click OK.
For column F and G, pick the setting 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.

(3) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
The second pattern is printed.

IMPORTANT
Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.

6. Look at the second printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select 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

(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column P, then click OK.
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
The third pattern is printed.

IMPORTANT
Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.

7. Look at the third printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select 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

(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column i, then click OK.
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
Manual Print Head Alignment is complete.

1. Make sure that the printer is turned on.

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

3. Open the Front Cover and extend the Paper Output Tray.

4. Print the pattern.
(1) Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility dialog.
(2) Select Custom Settings in the pop-up menu.
(3) Select the Align heads manually check box, then click Apply.
(4) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
(5) Select Test Print in the pop-up menu.
(6) Click Print Head Alignment.
(7) Confirm the displayed message and click Align Print Head.
The dialog for entering a print head alignment value is displayed.

IMPORTANT

Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.

REFERENCE

To confirm the current setting, click Print Alignment Value and print the pattern.

5. Look at the first printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select 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

(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column G, then click Send.
For column F and G, pick the setting 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.

(3) Confirm the displayed message and click OK. The second pattern is printed.

IMPORTANT

Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.

6. Look at the second printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select 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

(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column P, then click Send.
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
The third pattern is printed.

IMPORTANT

Do not open the Top Cover while printing is in progress.

7. Look at the third printout and adjust the print head position.
(1) Check the printed patterns and select 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

(2) Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column i, then click Send.
Manual Print Head Alignment is complete.

Applicable Models

PIXMA iX6540
PIXMA iX6550