Lexmark C746 User manual

Print quality guide
If the solutions here do not correct the problem, then contact customer support. You may have a printer part that requires
adjustment or replacement.
Characters have jagged or uneven edges
If you are using downloaded fonts, verify that the fonts are supported by the printer, the host computer, and the software
program.
Clipped images
Try one or more of the following:
CHECK THE GUIDES
Move the width and length guides in the tray to the correct positions for the paper size loaded.
CHECK THE PAPER SIZE SETTING
Make sure the paper size setting matches the paper loaded in the tray:
1From the printer control panel Paper menu, check the Paper Size setting.
2Before sending the job to print, specify the correct size setting:
•For Windows users, specify the size from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users, specify the size from the Page Setup dialog.
Gray background on prints
ABCDE
ABCDE
ABCDE
Try one or more of the following:
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CHECK THE BACKGROUND DARKNESS OR REMOVAL SETTING
•Adjust the darkness to a lighter setting.
•Increase the background removal setting.
MAKE SURE THERE IS NO WORN OR DEFECTIVE PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE
Replace the worn or defective cartridge.
Incorrect margins
ABCD
ABCD
ABCD
These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:
CHECK THE PAPER GUIDES
Move the guides in the tray to the correct positions for the paper size loaded.
CHECK THE PAPER SIZE SETTING
Make sure the paper size setting matches the paper loaded in the tray:
1From the printer control panel Paper menu, check the Paper Size setting.
2Before sending the job to print, specify the correct size setting:
•For Windows users, specify the size from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users, specify the size from the Page Setup dialog.
Light colored line, white line, or incorrectly colored line appears on prints
ABCDE
ABCDE
ABCDE
ABCDE
ABCDE
Try one or more of the following:
MAKE SURE THERE IS NO DEFECTIVE PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE
Replace the worn or defective cartridge.
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For more information, see the instruction sheet that came with the replacement part.
MAKE SURE THE TRANSFER MODULE IS NOT DEFECTIVE
Replace the defective transfer module.
For more information, see the instruction sheet that came with the replacement part.
Paper curl
Try one or more of the following:
CHECK THE PAPER TYPE AND WEIGHT SETTINGS
Make sure the paper type and weight settings match the paper loaded in the tray or feeder:
1From the printer control panel Paper menu, check the Paper Type and Paper Weight settings.
2Before sending the print job, specify the correct paper type setting:
•For Windows users, specify the paper type from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users, specify the paper type from the Print dialog.
LOAD PAPER FROM AFRESH PACKAGE
Paper absorbs moisture due to high humidity. Store paper in its original wrapper until you use it.
Print irregularities
Try one or more of the following:
LOAD PAPER FROM AFRESH PACKAGE
The paper may have absorbed moisture due to high humidity. Store paper in its original wrapper until you use it.
CHECK THE PAPER TYPE AND WEIGHT SETTINGS
Make sure the paper type and weight settings match the paper loaded in the tray or feeder:
1From the Paper menu on the printer control panel, check the Paper Type and Paper Weight settings.
2Before sending the print job, specify the correct paper type setting:
•For Windows users, specify the paper type from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users, specify the paper type from the Print dialog.
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AVOID TEXTURED PAPER WITH ROUGH FINISHES
MAKE SURE THERE IS NO DEFECTIVE PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE
Replace the worn or defective cartridge.
MAKE SURE THE TRANSFER MODULE IS NOT DEFECTIVE
Replace the defective transfer module.
For more information, see the instruction sheet that came with the replacement part.
MAKE SURE THE FUSER IS NOT DEFECTIVE
Replace the defective fuser.
For more information, see the instruction sheet that came with the replacement part.
Print is too dark
Try one or more of the following:
CHECK THE DARKNESS, BRIGHTNESS, AND CONTRAST SETTINGS
•From the Quality menu on the printer control panel, select a lower value for these settings.
•For Windows users, change these settings from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users:
1Choose File > Print.
2From the print options pop-up menu, choose Printer Features.
3Choose a lower value for the Toner Darkness, Brightness, and Contrast settings.
LOAD PAPER FROM AFRESH PACKAGE
The paper may have absorbed moisture due to high humidity. Store paper in its original wrapper until you use it.
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AVOID TEXTURED PAPER WITH ROUGH FINISHES
CHECK THE PAPER TYPE SETTING
Make sure the paper type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray or feeder:
•From the Paper menu on printer control panel, check the Paper Type setting.
•For Windows users, check this setting from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users, check this setting from the Print dialog.
Print is too light
Try one or more of the following:
CHECK THE DARKNESS, BRIGHTNESS, AND CONTRAST SETTINGS
The Toner Darkness setting may be too light, the Brightness setting may be too light, or the Contrast setting may be too low.
•Change these settings from the printer control panel Quality menu.
•For Windows users, change these settings from Print Properties
•For Macintosh users:
1Choose File > Print.
2From the print options pop-up menu, choose Printer Features.
3Choose a higher value for the Toner Darkness, Brightness, and Contrast settings.
LOAD PAPER FROM AFRESH PACKAGE
The paper may have absorbed moisture from high humidity. Store paper in its original wrapper until you use it.
AVOID TEXTURED PAPER WITH ROUGH FINISHES
CHECK THE PAPER TYPE SETTING
Make sure the Paper Type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray or feeder:
•From the printer control panel Paper menu, check the Paper Type setting.
•For Windows users, check this setting from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users, check this setting from the Print dialog.
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MAKE SURE THE PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE IS NOT LOW ON TONER
1Remove the cartridge.
Warning—Potential Damage: Be careful not to touch the photoconductor drum. Doing so may affect the print quality of
future print jobs.
2Firmly shake the cartridge side-to-side and front-to-back several times to redistribute the toner.
3Reinsert the cartridge.
Note: If print quality does not improve, then replace the cartridge of the color that is not printing.
CONTACT CUSTOMER SUPPORT
If the problem continues, then the printer may need to be serviced.
Printer is printing blank pages
Try one or more of the following:
MAKE SURE THERE IS NO PACKING MATERIAL LEFT ON THE PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE
Remove the cartridge and make sure the packing material is properly removed. Reinstall the cartridge.
MAKE SURE THE PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE IS NOT LOW ON TONER
1Remove the cartridge.
Warning—Potential Damage: Be careful not to touch the photoconductor drum. Doing so may affect the print quality of
future print jobs.
2Firmly shake the cartridge side-to-side and front-to-back several times to redistribute the toner.
3Reinsert the cartridge.
Note: If print quality does not improve, then replace the cartridge of the color that is not printing.
CONTACT CUSTOMER SUPPORT
If the problem continues, then the printer may need to be serviced.
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Repeating defects appear on prints
)
)
)
Try one or more of the following:
REPLACE THE PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE
Replace the cartridge of the color with the repeating defect, if the defects occur in the following instances:
•Every 33 mm (1.30 in.) of the page
•Every 35.3 mm (1.39 in.) of the page
REPLACE THE PHOTOCONDUCTOR
Replace the photoconductor of the color with the repeating defect, if the defects occur in the following instances:
•Every 28.3 mm (1.11 in.) of the page
•Every 72.4 mm (2.85 in.) of the page
REPLACE THE FUSER
Replace the fuser if print defects occur in the following instances:
•Every 47.4 mm (1.87 in.) of the page
•Every 94.8 mm (3.73 in.) of the page
•Every 113 mm (4.45 in.) of the page
Shadow images appear on prints
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CHECK THE PAPER TYPE AND WEIGHT SETTINGS
Make sure the paper type and weight settings match the paper loaded in the tray:
1From the Paper menu on the printer control panel, check the Paper Type and Paper Weight settings.
2Before sending the job to print, specify the correct paper type setting:
•For Windows users, specify the paper type from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users, specify the paper type from the Print dialog.
MAKE SURE THE PHOTOCONDUCTOR IS NOT DEFECTIVE
Replace the defective photoconductor.
MAKE SURE THE PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE IS NOT LOW ON TONER
1Remove the cartridge.
Warning—Potential Damage: Be careful not to touch the photoconductor drum. Doing so may affect the print quality of
future print jobs.
2Firmly shake the cartridge side-to-side and front-to-back several times to redistribute the toner.
3Reinsert the cartridge.
Note: If print quality does not improve, then replace the cartridge.
CONTACT CUSTOMER SUPPORT
If the problem continues, the printer may need to be serviced.
Skewed print
CHECK THE PAPER GUIDES
Move the guides in the tray to the correct positions for the paper size loaded.
CHECK THE PAPER
Make sure you are using paper that meets the printer specifications.
Solid color or black pages appear on prints
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MAKE SURE THE PHOTOCONDUCTOR IS NOT DEFECTIVE AND IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY
Remove and then reinstall the photoconductor. If the problem continues, then the photoconductor may need to be replaced.
MAKE SURE THE PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGES ARE INSTALLED CORRECTLY, ARE NOT DEFECTIVE, AND
NOT LOW ON TONER
•Remove the cartridges, shake each cartridge from side to side to redistribute the toner, and then reinstall them.
Warning—Potential Damage: Be careful not to touch the photoconductor drum. Doing so may affect the print quality of
future print jobs.
•Reinsert the cartridges.
Note: If the quality does not improve, then replace the cartridges.
CONTACT CUSTOMER SUPPORT
If the problem continues, then the printer may need to be serviced.
Streaked horizontal lines appear on prints
ABCDE
ABCDE
ABCDE
Try one or more of the following:
SELECT ANOTHER TRAY OR FEEDER
•From the printer control panel, navigate to:
Paper Menu > Default Source > select a tray or feeder > Submit
•For Windows users, select the paper source from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users, select the paper source from the Print dialog and pop‑up menus.
MAKE SURE THERE IS NO WORN, DEFECTIVE, OR EMPTY PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE
Replace the worn, defective, or empty cartridge.
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Streaked vertical lines appear on prints
ABCDE
ABCDE
ABCDE
Try one or more of the following:
SELECT ANOTHER TRAY OR FEEDER
•From the printer control panel, navigate to:
Paper Menu > Default Source > select a tray or feeder > Submit
•For Windows users, select the paper source from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users, select the paper source from the Print dialog and pop‑up menus.
MAKE SURE THERE IS NO WORN, DEFECTIVE, OR EMPTY PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE
Replace the worn, defective, or empty cartridge.
MAKE SURE THE TRANSFER MODULE IS NOT WORN OR DEFECTIVE
Replace the worn or defective transfer module.
Toner fog or background shading appears on the page
Try one or more of the following:
MAKE SURE THE PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY OR IS NOT DEFECTIVE
Reinstall or replace the defective print or toner cartridge.
MAKE SURE THE TRANSFER MODULE IS NOT WORN OR DEFECTIVE
Replace the worn or defective transfer module.
MAKE SURE THE PHOTOCONDUCTOR IS NOT WORN OR DEFECTIVE
Replace the worn or defective photoconductor.
MAKE SURE THE FUSER IS NOT WORN OR DEFECTIVE
Replace the worn or defective fuser.
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MAKE SURE THE PRINTER HAS BEEN RECALIBRATED RECENTLY
Select Color Adjust in the Quality menu.
MAKE SURE THE APPLICATION HAS NOT SPECIFIED AN OFF‑WHITE BACKGROUND
Check the application settings.
MAKE SURE NO TONER IS IN THE PAPER PATH
Contact customer support.
Toner rubs off
Try one or more of the following:
CHECK THE PAPER TYPE AND WEIGHT SETTINGS
Make sure the paper type and weight settings match the paper loaded in the tray or feeder:
1From the printer control panel Paper menu, check the Paper Type and Paper Weight settings. Change the Paper Weight
setting from Normal to Heavy.
2Before sending the print job, specify the correct paper type setting:
•For Windows users, specify the paper type from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users, specify the paper type from the Print dialog.
CHECK THE PAPER TEXTURE SETTING
From the printer control panel Paper menu, make sure the Paper Texture setting matches the paper loaded in the tray or feeder.
If necessary, change the Paper Texture setting from Normal to Rough.
MAKE SURE THE FUSER IS NOT WORN OR DEFECTIVE
Replace the worn or defective fuser. For more information, see the instruction sheet that came with the replacement part.
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Toner specks
Try one or more of the following:
MAKE SURE THERE IS NO WORN OR DEFECTIVE PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE
Replace the worn or defective cartridge.
MAKE SURE THERE IS NO TONER IN THE PAPER PATH
CONTACT CUSTOMER SUPPORT
If the problem continues, then the printer may need to be serviced.
Transparency print quality is poor
Try one or more of the following:
CHECK THE TRANSPARENCIES
Use only transparencies that meet the printer specifications.
CHECK THE PAPER TYPE SETTING
Make sure the paper type setting is set to Transparency:
1From the printer control panel Paper menu, check the Paper Type setting.
2Before sending the job to print, specify the correct type setting:
•For Windows users, specify the type from Print Properties.
•For Macintosh users, specify the type from the Print dialog.
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Uneven print density
MAKE SURE THERE IS NO DEFECTIVE OR WORN PRINT OR TONER CARTRIDGE
Replace the worn or defective cartridge.
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