Lexmark 6500 Series manual Print is too dark or smudged

Print is too dark or smudged

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Make sure the ink dry before handling the paper

Remove the paper as it exits, and let the ink dry before handling.

Make sure the Quality/Speed setting is appropriate for the paper type loaded in the printer

The Photo Quality/Speed setting may cause smearing if used with plain paper. If you are using plain paper, try using the Normal setting.

Make sure the print cartridge nozzles are clean

You may need to clean the print cartridge nozzles.

Printed characters are improperly formed or are not aligned correctly

Have you added spaces at the left margin?

If the print is not aligned correctly, make sure you have not added spaces by pressing Enter or the spacebar (hard- coded spaces).

Do you need to align the print cartridges?

The cartridges may be out of alignment.

1Do one of the following:

•In Windows Vista, click Œ Control Panel.

•In Windows XP or 2000, click Start.

2Click Start ΠPrograms or All Programs ΠLexmark 6500 Series.

3Click Solution Center.

4Click the Maintenance tab.

5Click Align to fix blurry edges.

Are the print cartridges clean?

You may need to clean the print cartridge nozzles.

Printouts have alternating bands of light and dark print

If the printer pauses frequently during a print job and prints pages with alternating bands of light and dark print, it is printing data faster than the computer can send it. Banded printing occurs when the printer pauses frequently. You may need to change the printer software settings, or the problem may be that the printer and the computer are not able to communicate properly.

Are the printer and the computer able to communicate data?

Check the printer status:

1Do one of the following:

•In Windows Vista, click Œ Control Panel.

•In Windows XP or 2000, click Start.

2Click Start ΠPrograms or All Programs ΠLexmark 6500 Series.

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