Improve Print Quality
Whether your prints are streaky, faded or the colours look off, a few simple maintenance steps can often restore sharp, vibrant output. Follow this guide to improve print quality on your home or office printer.
Step 1 – Check your consumables
- Verify that ink or toner levels are sufficient; replace low or empty cartridges.
- Always use genuine or high‑quality compatible cartridges to prevent clogging.
- Store cartridges upright and within their expiration dates.
Step 2 – Clean and align print heads
- Use the printer’s maintenance menu to run the print head cleaning function.
- After cleaning, run a print head alignment to calibrate nozzles.
- If streaks persist, remove cartridges and gently wipe the nozzles with a lint‑free cloth.
Step 3 – Adjust driver settings
- In your print dialog, choose the correct paper type and print quality setting.
- For photos, select high‑quality or best mode; for drafts, choose a lower quality to save ink.
- Disable any economy or toner‑save mode if present.
Step 4 – Use the right paper
- Load paper that matches your project: plain paper for everyday prints, photo paper for images.
- Ensure paper is stored in a dry, flat place to avoid warping or moisture.
- Fan the stack before loading to prevent sheets sticking together and causing streaks.
Additional tips
- Keep your printer firmware up to date to benefit from print quality improvements.
- Print a test page weekly to keep ink flowing and prevent dried nozzles.
- Consider calibrating your monitor and using colour profiles for accurate colour reproduction.
If you’ve tried these steps and still have print quality issues, our support specialists can help diagnose hardware problems. Feel free to reach out by phone.