Print Is Too Dark Or Smudged; Vertical Straight Lines Are Not Smooth - Dell J740 User Manual

If print quality is unsatisfactory, you may need to adjust your margin settings, select a higher print quality, align the ink cartridges, or clean the nozzles.
The following topics can help you improve an unsatisfactory document.

Print is too dark or smudged

Make sure the paper is straight and not wrinkled.
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Let the ink dry completely before handling the paper.
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Make sure the paper type and paper size settings in the printer software match the paper loaded in the printer.
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Make sure the print quality setting is appropriate for the paper type.
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Clean the ink cartridge nozzles and contacts. For help, see
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Vertical straight lines are not smooth

To improve the print quality of vertical straight lines in tables, borders, and graphs:
Select a higher print quality from the Quality/Copies tab of Print Properties.
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Align the ink cartridges.
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Clean the ink cartridge nozzles and contacts. For help, see
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Print smears on the page
The next page exiting the printer may be smearing the ink. Remove each page as it exits the printer, and let it dry completely before stacking.
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Clean the ink cartridge nozzles and contacts. For help, see
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Printed pages have alternating bands of light and dark print (intermittent printing)
Select a higher print quality from the Quality/Copies tab of Print Properties.
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Reinsert the print cartridges. For help, see
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Characters are missing or unexpected
Make sure the Dell J740 is selected as the default printer.
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Clean the ink cartridge nozzles and contacts. For help, see
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If you do not want to print a borderless photo, your margins must fall within these settings:
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Margin Minimum setting
Left and right 6.35 mm (0.25 in.) for U.S. Letter, U.S. Legal, Banner Letter, and custom paper sizes
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3.175 mm (0.125 in.) for envelopes
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3.37 mm (0.13 in.) for most paper sizes
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Top 1.7 mm (0.067 in.)
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Bottom 12.7 mm (0.5 in.)
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Printed characters are improperly formed or misaligned
Cancel all print jobs and print your job again. To cancel all print jobs:
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a. Windows 2000: Click Start ® Settings ® Printers.
Windows XP: Click Start ® Control Panel ® Printers and Other Hardware ® Printers and Faxes.
b. Double-click your printer icon.
Cleaning ink cartridge nozzles and
Cleaning ink cartridge nozzles and
Cleaning ink cartridge nozzles and
Replacing an ink cartridge.
Cleaning ink cartridge nozzles and
contacts.
contacts.
contacts.
contacts.