topic Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker? in Office Printers

imageCLASS MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

Linda_Hagan — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 19:19:18 GMT

My new (bought in October) Imagelcass has yet to print black in full black. It's very light, almost greyscale. Color prints fine but the black is more of a grey. I can adjust print settings when making copies, but can't find a way to make it "print" darker. I use a PC, not a Mac. Suggestions?

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

Darius — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 18:03:03 GMT

Hi, Linda_Hagan.

If this problem is occurring out-of-box, try enabling the Reduce Faint Print After Replacing a Cartridge option. The menu map for that is:

Other than that setting, double-check the type of paper to which you're printing. While many paper types currently available are multipurpose, some are still made specifically for Inkjet or specifically for Laser printers. Inkjet-specific plain paper may not print correctly in a laser printer.

If you need immediate assistance with this issue, please call us at 1-800-OK-CANON (652-2666), Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET (excluding holidays).

Did this answer your question? Please click the Accept as Solution button so that others may find the answer as well.

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

irmoscott — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 17:42:28 GMT

I tried this setting but it didn't help. However, the details of this function indicated it would change the operation when a new cartridge was inserted. Of note in my case, printing black is dark/correct when I print a document through MW Word so the printer/toner appears to be capable of operating correctly. It's printing other things, like webpages, where the black is light gray. I've selected B/W printing, but black text is still quite light. So this seems like an incorrect default somewhere. Let's try addressing this from the other direction? What setting would I change if I wanted to lighten black text? Also, I've seen multiple posts that the printer driver for this printer is terrible. What I'm seeing is a very full-featured offering (maybe too many?) but what is the correct driver for this printer? Thanks!

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

Linda_Hagan — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 19:13:28 GMT

This did not help. I see another person has added to this string with similar problem with no resolution either.

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

Darius — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 20:45:22 GMT

Hello irmoscott and Linda_Hagan.

Web-based content often is not actually black and white, but rather various shades of colors to produce a more pleasing and properly contrasted image. When printing to the MF743Cdw, some of those finer details are lost due to the lower resolution of the printer, and some of what appears to be black will be printed lighter, in black and white or grayscale printing, due to actually being a dark shade of another color.

When printing web-based content, try to use a "Printer friendly" version, and, if possible, change it to black and white before printing. Most current operating systems will allow you to Save as PDF; setting Black and White or Grayscale for Save as PDF will allow you to see the black and white before printing.

Canon provides drivers for this printer at the MF745Cdw Drivers & Downloads page. You're free to use any other drivers, though we're only able to help with the drivers we provide.

For the MF Drivers, you can adjust color/grayscale quality on the Quality tab. This can be used to adjust the brightness, contrast, and gamma.

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

Linda_Hagan — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 21:55:00 GMT

Thank you for the additional info. Unfortunately, my printing issues occur when printing MS Word, PowerPoint or PDFs - not web content. Other thoughts?

Re: Imageclass MF634 Cdw printing blue wrong color.

NanaPatti — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 04:29:10 GMT

My printer is printing navy blue as purple. I read on google that I may need to 'calibrate' the cartridges, but it did not say how to do that.

Also the printer will not print watermarks or the bottom layer of an image created in MS Word.

ALL of this began after I downloaded the Canon Driver updates # 1/6/20 yesterday. I think I will just call the help line and sit on hold for an hour.

I have a project deadline on Thursday 1/23/20....HELP!!

Re: Imageclass MF634 Cdw printing blue wrong color.

Darius — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 23:26:34 GMT

Hello Linda_Hagan and Nana Patti.

For both, try performing a Quick Adjust and, if that doesn't correct the problem, perform a Full Adjust.

Linda, if that doesn't correct the problem, try adjusting the Density setting for Black.

<Menu> <Function Settings> <Printer> <Printer Settings> <Print Quality> <Density> Adjust the density of each color <Apply>

If you need immediate assistance with this issue, please contact us using the numbers and information at http://Canon.us/ContactLI

Did this answer your question? Please click the Accept as Solution button so that others may find the answer as well.

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

TEKnightRider — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 06:45:03 GMT

How to fix the “lighter looking” / slightly “washed out” printing of a Canon MF740 Series laser printer (Canon Color ImageClass MF743Cdw).

I noticed the brand new Canon MF743Cdw was printing what I would call “washed out” Color. Even on Black/Text only prints, it looked almost “Lite-Brown” or like some sort of Lighter Grayscale instead of a “Deep True Black”. It was very noticeable compared to several Canon Color ImageClass MF730 Series / MF733Cdw printers I had previously installed and configured.

To fix this…I followed this procedure and now the MF740 Series / MF743Ddw is printing like expected…like a champion with full vibrant Color and great rich deep Blacks when printing either B&W or Color.

Three (3) Steps to Great Color & Deep Blacks –

Clean Fixing Assembly -
Go to the Home Screen > Menu > Adjustment/Maintenance > Maintenance > Clean Fixing Assembly > Select ‘OK’ > Then, Select ’Start’ (in the lower righthand corner of the Printer Display, and let it do its thing).
Correct Print Color Mismatch -
Next, go to the Home Screen > Menu > Adjustment/Maintenance > Adjust Image Quality > Correct Print Color Mismatch > Select ’Start’ (in the lower righthand corner of the Printer’s Display, and let it do its thing).
Auto Adjust Gradation - Full Adjust - (This is a more robust sequence than the initial Startup Color Adjustment when the printer was first turned ON.)
Go to the Home Screen > Menu > Adjustment/Maintenance > Adjust Image Quality > Auto Adjust Gradation > Full Adjust > Select ‘OK’ (it will list 4 Steps)…

Print Image 1 for adjustment.
Scan the printed Image 1 for adjustment.
Print Image 2 for adjustment.
Scan the printed Image 2 for adjust.
Select ’Start’ (in the lower righthand corner of the Printer’s Display, and follow the on screen instructions).

This did the trick for me, hope others find it helpful, enjoy! 🙂

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

Linda_Hagan — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:02:15 GMT

Finally, YES, this worked!! Thank you!! 🙂

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

TEKnightRider — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 19:36:25 GMT

Glad that worked for you! I'm new on this forum, so does that mean I get a Kudos Button?

Plus, you have my favorite ladies name...Linda (my very patient wife is named Linda, too) Seems everyone one I know that is named Linda are super nice people...Anyway, my Linda does a great job of putting up with me and my "techland" / late night propellerhead work.

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

Firefly1 — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 03:41:51 GMT

Thanks so much, I'm hoping this will work for me, but when I try to use the clean feature, it says it can't perform the operation 😕 Any advice?

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

KNoakes — Sun, 03 May 2020 23:58:50 GMT

OMG! It worked.

I honestly didn't think it was going to! You ROCK!!!!

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

TEKnightRider — Sun, 31 May 2020 07:12:26 GMT

So pleased others are finding this helpful!

Yet I have a continuing and lingering thought, which I connot help but think...

And that is...How can or why doesn't Canon correct this easily fixed problem right out of the box when it is new? i.e. I hope that this printer does NOT get a "bad reputation" simply because somehow these printers are not setup to print deep black out of the box.

I would hate to see Canon lose face over this...or have this otherwise great printer lose sales, get bad reviews, or get low sales. I selfishly want this Canon Printer to sell like gainbusters; so that Canon sells lots; so future toner cartrigeds are in high demand; and so they also keep this great laser engine around for like a decade or longer (wishful thinking perhaps). But this is a great printer and engine otherwise...it reminds me of other great Canon Laser Engines from the past...like the old Canon EX Laser Engine that was in the Apple LaserWriter II 16/600 and many HP LaserJet 4 printers for years and years.

Anyway, I hope Canon is reading...they are great company and simpley make the best, period...just seems a lil' strange that this printer needs this lil' messaging to make it work correctly.

PS thanks for Kudos mark, too. 🙂

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

unclefish51 — Sun, 31 May 2020 02:28:01 GMT

Thanks, this Did WORK! I wish they had the 743 do this Automatically on initial set up, as it seems many have had the same issue.

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

TEKnightRider — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:57:01 GMT

Glad it worked unclefish51 ...and I totally and 110% agree...it certain seems that Canon should make this the "Standard Initial Setup Process". I really hope Canon does NOT get a bad reputation for this otherwise great printer. As selfishly, I'd want Canon to sell lots so that they stick with one Toner Cartrige for more than just a year or two. 😉

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

snovosel — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 13:38:28 GMT

Nope, this did not work for me as I had hoped. Following your suggestion does result in a minor improvement to the readability of the text on downloaded pdfs (from any given manufacturer's product) but my machine is not recreating or functioning as it should.

Any other suggestions by chance?

At the end of the day, our desire, and reason for purchasing a laser printer to begin with, is to easily and without this kind of bother, print a pdf brochure so that what gets printed so closely approximates the original as to not cause any question.

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

debzex — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 17:43:07 GMT

This was very helpful!!! Thank you!!

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

thomasjohnlynch — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 15:47:51 GMT

This printer is a disaster. The most overly complicated printer I have ever bought EVER (my first was an Okidata dot matrix in the 1980s and also a Diablo daisywheel) HIT print and it.........<wait for it> PRINTS?

This thing wiht all its processing and software can't even WYSIWYG what is on the Word, Powerpoint, Photoshop, or even web screen............the colors and intensity and etc are all standard and communicated? So why does it know if it is printing what it is sent? I have done the calibrations and etc. USELESS

ALSO its a DHCP network disaster as well., Every time my network is reset from a power outage or just yesterday PSEG Long Island swapped my meter and we had a hurricane and stroms over the last month or so...... etc. The printer is assigned a new IP port and the **bleep** driver on ALL my windows (all Windows 10, Lenovo laptop, and two desktops) machines drivers are too stupid to "find" it and adjust. The printer TELLS you the IP address changes I then have to uninstall and then rediscover and re-install the drivers. REALLY LOW TECH and basic?

This image quality issue spans all of our devices and I am amazed how the drivers and setting do not allow you to set this all up like every other printer I have used since the 1980s???

The friggin front panel and menu hiearchy are SO over engineered and complicated one of the worse UI I have ever used.......and why do I have to???

Thank you TEKnightRider for doing what Canon shoudl have at least presneted about 20 messages ago and I spent HOURS trying to find this solution.

Re: Imageclass MF743Cdw prints too light. How to get it darker?

david07666 — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 21:26:54 GMT

Outstanding! You solved my problem with this brand new printer. I confess that I am disapointed that a new printer, out of the box, required this step.