Incorrect Colors

Symptom
  • Expected color and printed result differs.
  • Printed colors differ when compared with each other.

Example

A: Colors are completely different.

B: Another color is mixed creating a gradation.

C: Color is slightly different.

Suspected cause
  • Different comparison conditions
  • ADF/SCN Unit reading abnormal condition
  • Paper type
  • Print Settings
  • FW failure
  • Print Head failure
  • Ink system assy failure
  • Air bubbles in the Ink tube
Troubleshooting
Step Confirmation and action YES NO
1

Check the conditions

Check that any conditions below the lowest limits are the same when comparing colors in two or more different printouts.

  • Light source of comparison location, printer, paper, print settings, and print date and time
  • Paper type: [Basic Settings] > [Paper Type]
  • Ink density: [Utilities] > [Extended Settings] > [Print Density]

When conditions are the same
Go to step 2

When the conditions differ
The cause is highly likely to be not a failure but one of the following.
(Different light source, color gamut unique to device, paper, ink density, aging variation)

Print a document or image from the printer in question and from another printer that has no problems under the same conditions. Then check if the two printouts differ in color.
2

Check whether printing or copying

Check whether the symptom occurs with printing or with copying.

Occurs with printing and copying.

Go to step 3

Occurs with copying only

ADF/scanner trouble

3

Check implementation of printing troubleshooting (answer and handing an incoming call)

Check implementation of printing troubleshooting at an incoming call.

Has printing troubleshooting been performed?

Go to step 4

Get a service engineer to perform printing troubleshooting.

If the symptom is not resolved even after performing printing troubleshooting, judge that this needs to be dealt with by a service engineer, and go to step 4.
4

Check the paper

Check the paper

  1. Check whether or not the front and back sides of the paper match.
  2. Check whether or not the result is the same even when printing on plain paper.
 Go to step 5

Change to suitable paper.

If the symptom continues to occur after performing the above, go to step 5.
5

Check the settings

Check the settings of the main unit/printer driver listed below.

  • Check whether or not the firmware is the latest version.
  • Main unit settings: Check that the paper settings and automatic size detection settings of the main unit are appropriate.

Are the printer/driver settings appropriate?

Go to step 6
  • Update the firmware.
  • Change the settings
6

Check the nozzle check pattern

Print nozzle check patterns and check whether there are nozzles missing or deflection.

Nozzle check pattern print method is below.

 Go to step 7

Obtain the information as follows from the service status sheet and execute head cleaning according to the nozzle missing state check matrix table.

*If nozzle missing is not improved, refer to Nozzles missing  .

If nozzle missing is not improved after performing the above, go to step 7.
7

Check the Ink system Assy

Check the following point about the Inksystem Assy.

Caution / 注意

Execute “CR Unlock Power Off” from the Service Support Mode in advance to release the CR lock before checking the Ink system assy.

Inksystem Assy is correct condition?

[Confirmation details]

  1. Check the cap parts
    • Check that the cap surfaces are not dirty.
    • Hold the CR belt with a hand and move the CR to the home position and visually check that the nozzle surfaces are capped properly.
  2. Check the wiper parts
    • Check that there is not soiling or damage to the wiper parts
    • With the cap sliders drawn to the right side, rotate the PF gears by hand and check that the wipers move up and down.
 Go to step 8
  • When cap/wiper is dirty
    • Cleaning the cap surface / wiper part
  • When capping failure of the nozzle surface is confirmed
  • When the wiper part breakage / wiper operation failure is confirmed

If nozzle missing is not improved after performing the above, go to step 8.
8

Check the ink tubes

Visually check that air bubbles have not collected in the ink tubes.

(If there are parts where the color is unmistakably pale in the supply system ink tubes, air bubbles may have collected.)

Ink tube is correct condition?

 Go to step 9

Execute strong head cleaning and then check that the bubbles have been removed from inside the tubes
9

Replace the Printhead

Replace the Printhead.

Replace the Printhead. (Refer to Print Head.)

If the trouble is not resolved after replacing the Printhead, contact the Epson Service Support department.