Lexmark 4500 Achieving better print quality, Improving print quality, Aligning print cartridges

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Achieving better print quality

Improving print quality

If you are not satisfied with the print quality of a document, make sure you:

Use the appropriate paper for the document. If you are printing photos or other high quality images, for best results use Lexmark Premium Photo Paper or Lexmark Photo Paper.

Use a paper that is a heavier weight or bright white.

Select a higher print quality.

If the document still does not have the print quality you want, follow these steps:

1Align the print cartridges. For more information, see “Aligning print cartridges” on page 72. If print quality has not improved, continue to step 2.

2Clean the print cartridge nozzles. For more information, see “Cleaning the print cartridge nozzles” on page 72.

If print quality has not improved, continue to step 3.

3Remove and reinsert the cartridges. For more information, see “Removing a used print cartridge” on page 70 and “Installing print cartridges” on page 70.

If print quality has not improved, continue to step 4.

4Wipe the print cartridge nozzles and contacts. For more information, see “Wiping the print cartridge nozzles and contacts” on page 73.

If print quality is still not satisfactory, replace the cartridge. For more information, see “Ordering supplies” on page 74.

Aligning print cartridges

1Load plain paper.

2From the control panel, press Settings.

3Press or repeatedly until Maintenance appears.

4Press .

5Press or repeatedly until Align Cartridges appears.

6Press .

An alignment page prints.

If you aligned the cartridges to improve print quality, print your document again. If print quality has not improved, clean the print cartridge nozzles.

Cleaning the print cartridge nozzles

1Load plain paper.

2Press Settings.

3Press or repeatedly until Maintenance appears.

4Press .

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Contents Series Users GuideOperating system notice Contents Printing Working with photosCopying Scanning FaxingMaintaining the printer Troubleshooting Setup troubleshootingIndex Page Where to find Description Where to findFinding information about the printer DescriptionSelect Lexmark Solution Center Click Start Œ Programs or All Programs ŒLexmark 3500-4500 Series Telephone supportDescription Where to find US Where to find rest of world Click Warranty InformationClick Customer Support All-In-One PrintersSetting up the printer Checking the box contentsInstalling another language control panel Installing the printer on a network Installing an internal wireless print serverNetworking the printer Finding your MAC address Learning about the printer Understanding the parts of the printerUse Using the control panel buttons and menus Using the control panelPress Press To Using the Copy menu Press Start Color or Start BlackUsing the Scan menu Use thisUsing the Photo Card menu Menu itemAction Using the PictBridge menu Saving Paper Size, Paper Type, and Photo Size settingsUsing the Settings menu From here You canSaving settings Press SettingsPage Using the printer software Using the Lexmark Imaging StudioLearning about the software Using the Solution Center ClickFrom here You can Using Printing Preferences Using the Printing Preferences tabsOpening Printing Preferences Tab ChoicesUsing the Toolbar Using the Save Settings menuUsing the I Want To menu Using the Options menuResetting printer software settings to defaults Windows 2000 or Windows XP users onlyWindows Vista users only Page Loading paper and original documents Loading paperLoading various paper types Load up to Make sureLoad up to Load up to Make sure Loading original documents on the scanner glass Page Click Properties, Preferences, Options, or Setup PrintingPrinting a document Printing high-quality graphicsPrinting photos or images from a Web Print orNormal Quick Black and White Text Only Click Print NowPrinting collated copies Printing the last page first reverse page orderPrinting transparencies Printing envelopesPrinting cards Printing multiple pages on one sheetPrinting files from a memory card or flash drive Working with photos Retrieving and managing photosInserting a memory card Slots Memory cardInserting a flash drive Click Automatically save all photos to My Pictures Click Select photos to save Click Deselect All Transferring photos from a memory card to a flash drive Which device is to be displayed? appears on the displayPrinting photos using the control panel Date RangePrinting all photos Printing photos by numberPress Start Color or Start Black again Printing photos using color effects Printing photos by date rangePrinting photos from a digital camera using Dpof Printing photos using the computer Viewing / Printing photos from the Photo LibraryClick View / Print Photo Library Printing photos from a media device using the computer Creating photo projectsPrinting Photo Packages Creating Photo Greeting CardsPaper sizes supported Dimensions Creating a Photo SlideshowClick Slideshow Click File Œ Add Photo from ScannerPrinting an image as a multiple-page poster Adjusting copy quality CopyingMaking a copy Making borderless copies using the control panel Copying photosCollating copies using the control panel Making a copy lighter or darkerPress Lighter/Darker Repeating an image on one Enlarging or reducing an imageCopying a document using the computer Copying a photo using the computer Scanning Scanning a documentScanning to a computer over a network Scanning a document using the computer Scanning text for editingScanning multiple photos at one time using the computer Scanning images for editingScanning a photo to the Photo Library Scanning documents or images for e-mailing Click Image PatternsCustomizing scan settings using the computer Click Custom SettingsSetting Options Sending a fax using the software FaxingReceiving a fax automatically Installing print cartridges Maintaining the printerChanging print cartridges Removing a used print cartridgePage Cleaning the print cartridge nozzles Achieving better print qualityImproving print quality Aligning print cartridgesWiping the print cartridge nozzles and contacts Cleaning the scanner glass Preserving the print cartridgesOrdering supplies Ordering print cartridgesUsing genuine Lexmark print cartridges Ordering paper and other suppliesPart number PaperRefilling a print cartridge Recycling Lexmark productsClick Report a non-Lexmark print cartridge Troubleshooting Setup troubleshootingChange the language selection during initial setup Select a different language after initial setupPower button is not lit Software does not installDoes not print Cannot print from digital camera using PictBridge Check printer default and pause settingsRemoving and reinstalling the software Enable PictBridge printing from cameraPrint troubleshooting Make sure the camera is a PictBridge-enabled digital cameraCheck USB cable Remove memory cardsCheck paper Select a higher print qualityCheck print cartridges Poor text and graphic quality Review steps to improve print qualityRemove sheets as they are printed Use a different brand of paperPoor quality at the edges Print speed is slow Partial document or photo printsPhoto smudges Ink levels seem incorrectCopy troubleshooting Ink levels seem to go down too quicklyCopier does not respond Scanner unit does not closeClean the scanner glass Adjust the brightness of the copyPoor copy quality Check quality of original documentScan troubleshooting Check Original Size settingPartial document or photo copies Scanner does not respondScan was not successful Scanning takes too long or freezes the computerPoor scanned image quality Jams and misfeeds troubleshooting Partial document or photo scansCannot scan to a computer over a network Paper jam in the printerPaper jam in the paper support Paper or specialty media misfeedsPrinter does not feed paper, envelopes, or specialty media Memory card troubleshooting Review banner printing checklistBanner paper jams Check media loadingNothing happens when memory card is inserted Memory card cannot be insertedError messages Remove tape from print cartridgeUse new paper Remove any obstructions Remove print cartridgesCheck computer connection Check external print serverLeft Cartridge Error / Right Cartridge Error Reduce memory useSelect the After Dial setting No images have been selectedSettings are not saved Resetting to factory default settingsChange time-out settings Save settings for future jobsRemoving and reinstalling the software 100Edition notice 101Noise emission levels 102Power consumption 103End-user license agreement 104Index 105106 107 108 109