You approach your copier to obtain multiple copies of your lengthy document. The stack of papers is neatly stacked by you. As you return to your desk, you feel a sense of accomplishment. Then you notice a blob on page one, followed by the same mark on each subsequent page. Because you can’t hand out sloppy copies at your meeting, you toss the stack in the recycling bin.
If that scenario rings a bell, you are not alone. There isn’t a copy machine user on the planet who hasn’t been let down by poor print quality and had to discard a print job. While image issues may necessitate the services of a copier technician, office managers can take steps to improve print quality.
-A clean copier will help end poor print quality
Your poor print quality issue is most likely simple to resolve. Those marks on each page are typically the result of a dirty scanner glass.
Useful hint: If your print quality problem only occurs when you’re copying rather than printing, dirty glass is most likely to blame.
IMPORTANT: Do not use a cleaner with ammonia or an abrasive that can scratch the glass. NEVER spray cleaning fluid directly on the glass because it could get inside and damage the machine. Instead, spray the cleaner on a soft cloth.
Wite-Out is still a popular product for fixing typos on documents. If you use it on copied pages, you may inadvertently cause poor print quality. Marks will be transposed to your copies if little blobs of Wite-Out remain on the scanner glass.
Worse, if Wite-Out dries on the plate surface, it may have to be scraped off the glass. If you are not cautious when scraping, you may damage the glass, resulting in poor print quality. Wite-Out residue should be removed by a professional.
Post-its are another common office product that contributes to poor print quality. If you leave those little sticky notes on the pages you’re copying, the stickiness will transfer to the scanner glass. Sticky glass attracts dust and dirt, resulting in poor print quality.
-More cleaning tips to prevent poor print quality
Don’t forget to clean your copier’s slit glass, which could be the source of your poor print quality. Black lines may appear on your copies and scans if the slit glass is dirty. A slit glass is a narrow strip of glass that is usually found to the left of the large glass plate.
Check that your paper drawers are clean. Print quality will suffer as a result of dust and dirt on the paper.
Dust can enter the copier and collect on the underside of the glass and the mirrors. Because some disassembly is required, cleaning the inside of a copier requires the services of an experienced technician.
-Staples can cause damage and quality problems
We’re all tempted to leave staples in multi-page documents because removing staples takes time and a staple remover is rarely available when you need one.
Remove the staples to avoid scratching the glass. Marks on your prints are caused by scratches on the glass. You’ll also be saddled with a hefty repair bill.
-Using the wrong paper can create poor print quality
Poor print quality, including blurred print, can result from using low-quality paper. Toner specks may appear on your copies if the paper is too rough or moist. If you have rounded faded areas on your print, the paper may be defective.
-Use proper settings to avoid poor print quality
Some copiers have paper type settings, which should be matched to the paper type. Remember that faint lines on original paper are sometimes more visible on a copy. You can reduce the visibility of lines by adjusting the contrast and brightness settings.
If your copier has a background removal feature, you can use it to remove a grey background.
-Toner issues are often the reason for poor print quality
Copier toner is frequently to blame for poor print quality. If a vertical white steak appears on a piece of paper, or if a portion of the page contains light print, the toner may be low. The toner cartridge must be replaced.
If black vertical streaks appear, the toner cartridge’s surface may be scratched and must be replaced. If marks appear at regular intervals on a page, this could indicate a faulty toner cartridge. If a page is completely black, it is most likely due to a faulty or improperly installed toner cartridge.
IMPORTANT: Use only toner recommended by the copier manufacturer. Use the correct toner for your specific model. If you feel uncomfortable changing the toner cartridge, you should call your copier service company. While swapping out the toner in a printer is an easy task, it can be more difficult to remove in some copier models. There are delicate parts that require gentle and patient handling.
-Sometimes your copier can correct poor print quality
When considering how to improve print quality, keep in mind that many modern copiers include a troubleshooting feature. This feature allows you to make image adjustments and resolve faded image issues.
-When in doubt, call in your copier service company
Your poor print quality could be the result of an internal hardware problem.
Print quality issues could be caused by the transfer drum, fuser, or corona wire. Damage to the drum, fuser roller, or corona wire can result in dots or repetitive marks on your prints. These are all delicate parts of a copier that require expert cleaning or repair. If our cleaning tips did not remove the marks, a service call is required.
If you have any qualms about performing print quality fixes, call in your copy service company.
The adage, “better safe than sorry” definitely applies here.
