Aligning the Print Head
02-Sep-2008
8200271100
Solution
If printed ruled lines are misaligned or print results are otherwise unsatisfactory, adjust the print head position.
You need to prepare: a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101
NOTE
- If the supplied paper (Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101) is run out and the specified Canon genuine paper is not available, adjust the print head position manually using plain paper.
1. Make sure that the power is turned on.
2. Load a sheet of supplied paper or A4 or Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 with the print side (whiter side) facing you in the Rear Tray.
IMPORTANT
- You cannot feed paper from the Cassette for aligning the Print Head.
Load paper in the Rear Tray.
3. Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and open the Output Tray Extension.
IMPORTANT
- If the Inner Cover is open, close it.
4. Print the print head alignment pattern.
(1) Select Settings 
on the HOME screen, and press the OK button.
on the HOME screen, and press the OK button.(2) Select Maintenance, and press the OK button.
(3) Select Auto head align, and press the OK button.
NOTE
- Select Head alignment print to print the current head position adjustment values.
(4) Select Yes, and press the OK button.
The print head alignment pattern will be printed and the print head position is adjusted automatically.
This takes about 7 minutes.
NOTE
- The print head alignment pattern is printed in black and blue.
- If the automatic adjustment of the print head position has failed, the error message "Auto head align has failed." appears on the LCD. For details, refer to "An Error Message Is Displayed on the LCD ".
- If the print results are still not satisfactory after adjusting the print head position as described above, align the Print Head manually. For details, refer to "Manual Print Head Alignment"
This section describes how to align the Print Head manually.
If the results of Automatic Print Head Alignment are not satisfactory, follow the procedure below to perform Manual Print Head Alignment to precisely align the Print Head.
For details on performing Automatic Print Head Alignment, see "Automatic Print Head Alignment".
NOTE
- Close the Inner Cover if it is opened.
- The print head alignment pattern is printed in black and blue only.
1. Make sure that the machine is turned on.
2. Load three sheets of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Cassette.
3. Open the Paper Output Tray and extend the Output Tray Extension.
4. Select
Settings on the HOME screen, then press the OK button.
Settings on the HOME screen, then press the OK button.The Settings screen is displayed.
5. Select Maintenance, then press the OK button.
The Maintenance screen is displayed.
6. Select Manual head align, then press the OK button.
The confirmation screen is displayed.
NOTE
- If you select Head alignment print, the machine exits the process after printing the current head position adjustment values.
7. Select Yes, then press the OK button.
The print head alignment pattern is printed.
IMPORTANT
- Do not open the Scanning Unit (Cover) while printing is in progress.
8. When Did the patterns print correctly? is displayed, confirm that the pattern is printed correctly, select Yes, then press the OK button.
The input screen for the head position adjustment values is displayed.
9. Check the printed patterns, and use the 
or 
button to input the number of the pattern in column A that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
or button to input the number of the pattern in column A that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
10. Repeat the same procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for columns B to G, then press the OK button.
For the column F and G, pick the setting pointed by an arrow that produces the least noticeable horizontal streaks.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white streaks.
(C) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(D) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
11. Confirm the displayed message and press the OK button.
The second pattern is printed.
IMPORTANT
- Do not open the Scanning Unit (Cover) while printing is in progress.
12. Check the printed patterns, and use the or button to input the number of the pattern in column H that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
or button to input the number of the pattern in column H that has the least noticeable vertical streaks.
NOTE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
(E) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(F) More noticeable vertical white streaks
13. Repeat the same procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for columns I to Q, then press the OK button.
14. Confirm the displayed message and press the OK button.
The third pattern is printed.
IMPORTANT
- Do not open the Scanning Unit (Cover) while printing is in progress.
15. Check the printed patterns, and use the or button to input the number of the pattern in column a that has the least noticeable horizontal streaks.
or button to input the number of the pattern in column a that has the least noticeable horizontal streaks.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal streaks.
(G) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(H) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
16. Repeat the same procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for columns b to j, then press the OK button.