Horizontal printing not straight

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Canon Knowledge Center Aligning the Print Head MX452 MX459
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try aligning cartridges

press helpful button Canon Knowledge Center Aligning the Print Head MX452 MX459

run head alignment

clean the print heads and align them

Issue: How do I align the print head?
Solution: Perform a Print Head Alignment (Windows)- MX340

Aligning the Print Head Position Print head alignment corrects the installation positions of the print head and improves deviated colors and lines. The procedure for performing print head alignment is as follows:

Print Head Alignment

1. Open the printer driver setup window
   • In Windows Vista, select the Start menu -> Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Printers.
     
     
   • In Windows XP, select the Start menu -> Control Panel -> Printers and Other Hardware -> Printers and Faxes.
     
     
   • In Windows 2000, select the Start menu -> Settings -> Printers.
     
     
     
2. Right-click your model name icon, and then select Printing Preferences from the displayed menu.
   
   The printer driver setup window appears.
   
   
3. Click Custom Settings on the Maintenance tab.
   The Custom Settings dialog box opens.
   
   
4. Check the Align heads manually check box.
   
   
5. Click Send, and click OK when the confirmation message appears.
   
   
6. Click Print Head Alignment on the Maintenance tab The Start Print Head Alignment dialog box opens.
   
   
   
   
7. Load three sheets of A4 size or Letter size plain paper into the rear tray (3).
   
   
   
   
8. Execute head alignment Make sure that the machine is on and click Align Print Head.
   Follow the instruction in the message.
   
   
9. Check the printed pattern
   Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least amount of streaks in the associated boxes.
   Clicking the patterns with the least amount of streaks in the preview window, will automatically set their numbers in the associated boxes.
   
   
   
   
10. When you have entered all the necessary values, click OK.
    
    Note:
    • If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
      
      
      (A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
      (B) More noticeable vertical white streaks
      
      
    • If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white streaks.
      
      
      (A) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
      (B) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
      
      
11. Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
    The second pattern is printed.
    Important: Do not open the Scanning Unit (Cover) while printing is in progress.
    
    
12. Check the printed pattern
    Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least amount of streaks in the associated boxes.
    Clicking the patterns with the least amount of streaks in the preview window, will automatically set their numbers in the associated boxes.
    
    
    
    
13. When you have entered all the necessary values, click OK.
    
    Note:
    
    • If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
      
      
      (A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
      (B) More noticeable vertical white streaks
      
      
      
14. Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
    The third pattern is printed.
    Important: Do not open the Scanning Unit (Cover) while printing is in progress.
    
    
15. Check the printed pattern
    Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least noticeable horizontal stripes in the associated boxes.
    Clicking the patterns with the least noticeable horizontal stripes in the preview window, will automatically set their numbers in the associated boxes.
    
    
    
    
16. When you have entered all the necessary values, click OK.
    
    Note:
    
    • If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white stripes.
      
      
      (A) Less noticeable horizontal white stripes
      (B) More noticeable horizontal white stripes
      

Note: To print and check the current setting, open the Start Print Head Alignment dialog box, and click Print Alignment Value.

The instructions as copied from the Pixma 480 "onscreen manual." (Only the text -- not the images -- could be pasted into the solution. Hope you can follow the text.) Steve G.

Prepare 2 sheets of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper

1. Make sure that the power is turned on, and load 2 sheets of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Rear Tray.

2. Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and open the Output Tray Extension.

3. Print the print head alignment pattern.
- Press the Menu button.
- Select Maintenance, and press the OK button.
- Select Print head alignment, and press the OK button.
Note: To print the current head position adjustment values, select Head alignment print in the Maintenance menu and press the OK button. See Selecting Menus on the Top Menu Screen.)
- Select Yes, and press the OK button to print alignment sheet.
- Check the pattern is printed correctly, select Yes and press OK button.
- Confirm the displayed message and press the OK button.

The Print head alignment screen appears.

4. Adjust the print head position.
- Check the printed patterns, and use the (Left) or (Right) button to select the number of the pattern that has the least noticeable streaks for column A.
Note: If it is difficult to select the best pattern, select the pattern that has the least noticeable white streaks.
(A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(B) Noticeable vertical white streaks
(C) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(D) Noticeable horizontal white streaks
- Repeat the same procedure to input the pattern number for each column from B to L, then press the OK button.
- Select Yes to continue printing, and press the OK button.
- The second page of print head alignment sheet will be printed.
- Confirm the message for print head alignment, and press the OK button.
- Check the printed patterns and use the (Left) or (Right) button to input the number of the pattern that has the least noticeable horizontal streaks for column M.
- Repeat the same procedure to input the pattern number for each column from N to R, and press the OK button.

Nozzle check must perfect for perfect output. There are tranversal lines at vertical straight lines that represent same point of head micro piezo. If tranversal lines no clog at all, but vertical straight lines not perfectly straight, the result not good (like horizontal white banding). Check it? Head aligment is for vertical banding. If your result is horizontal banding, you don't need to realign head. It's caused by some residual at the output of head sprayer. So, the spray of ink not straight to paper. Try to print with photo/best photo.

With I could post a solutions but I have the same problem! Cyan has horizontal gaps, rest of the colors seem to be ok. I've realigned and cleaned the heads many times.

Here's a solution from Canon USA:

Issue: Banded or streaked prints
Solution: Print Head Alignment MP530

Perform Print Head Alignment Instructions to perform a Print Head Alignment directly from the machine. If diagrams or ruled lines are misaligned, print head alignment is required. The print head alignment can be performed automatically or manually. If the automatic print head alignment does not work, adjust the print head manually. Automatic Print Head Alignment

1. Press <ON/OFF> to turn on the machine.
   
   
2. Load a few sheets of letter-sized plain paper in the auto sheet feeder.
   
   
3. Press the Open button to open the Paper Output Tray. Then open up and set the extension by pressing down the hollow on the front side.
   
   
4. Execute automatic print head alignment.
   
5. 1. Press <COPY> button.
      
   2. Press <Menu> repeatedly to select [MAINTENACE].
      
   3. Press the left or right cursor to select [AUTO HEAD ALIGN], then press the <OK>. (A pattern is printed and the print head is automatically aligned. It takes about five minutes to finish printing the pattern.)
      
      
      
      

Manual print head alignment

1. Press <ON/OFF> to turn on the machine.
   
   
2. Load two sheets of Letter-sized plain paper in the auto sheet feeder or cassette.
   
   
3. Ensure that the proper paper source is selected.
   
   
4. Execute manual print head alignment.
   
5. 1. Press <Menu> repeatedly to select [MAINTENACE].
      
   2. Press the left or right cursor to select [ALIGN PRINT HEAD], then press the <OK>. (The nozzle check pattern is printed.)
      
      
6. Check the printed patterns and use the left or right arrow to input the number of the pattern in column A that has the least noticeable streaks.
   
   
   
   
7. Press <OK> to move the cursor to column B, and then use the left or right arrow to input the number of the pattern that has the least noticeable streaks.
   
   
8. Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column P.
   
   
   
   
9. When you have finished inputting all pattern numbers, press <OK>.
   
   Note: For columns A through N select the patterns with the least visible vertical streaks. For columns O and P select the patterns with the fewest visible horizontal streaks.
   
   
   
   <1> Example of the pattern with the fewest visible vertical streak
   
   <2> Example of the pattern with the most visible vertical streak
   
   
   
   <1> Example of the pattern with the fewest visible horizontal streak
   
   <2> Example of the pattern with the most visible horizontal streak
   

Hope this helps - fotobean.

Go to control panel and printers and faxes and right click on printer icon then hit printing preferences, go to maintenance and do head cleaning cyles and print nozzle check. if it comes out fine trash and reinstall driver
download driver from support.epson.com site after selecting the printer mdel on the lists