HELP PLEASE! blurry BLACK text printing PIXMA MG7120

[JIMBENDER]

My Pixma MG7120 Printer is printing all black text in blurry fashion.  I have cleaned in every way and even replaced the black ink.  Not sure what I am doing wrong or how to fix.  

[fairy]

I just went into the settings and did the 'print head alignment' thing. It worked for me. Wish I'd done it sooner!!

[rswan]

Suffered very blurred printing in black only on my MG5560  and thinking about buying a new one.  Tried alignments, deep clean etc. but no good.      After watching Youtube about taking out printheads,  using tubes and syringe with printer cleaner,  running print head under hot tap etc.    I simply took out ink cartridges,  dabbed a cotton bud dipped in hot water on the large print head, paper towel dry and presto,  perfect printing.   

[KTPIE02]

I found the work around to work as well before reading it here. Which leads me to think its a roller issue bringing the paper through too fast on regular printing. Any thoughts on that?!?

[dimitris_kak]

Dear Friends,

you only need to change the paper type settings to matte photo paper, and leave the quality to typical. Nothing else is required.

By doing this your problem will be solved without using a lot of ink each time you print

worked on my MG5753 and will work on the whole MG5 series

[Mike_M]

Hi Dimitris_kak,

It's true that changing the paper settings to matte photo paper solves the problem, but I think it does use more ink - it certainly takes a lot longer than normal printing. Perhaps when you change the setting to photo paper it automatically uses a finer print quality.

[dimitris_kak]

Dear friend,

Since it solves the problem, the slightly increased ink consumption and printing time are secondary..

[Mike_M]

Hi Dimitris_kak,

Some contributors to this thread have expressed concern about the fact that after working fine for some time, Canon Pixma printers develop a fault where normal standard printing on plain paper no longer produces sharp black type, while colour printing remains clear and sharp as expected.  The suggested workaround (to change the print or paper quality) does not address the fact that there is a fault somewhere, and raises the additional concern that the workaround is much slower and uses more ink.  The contributors to this thread suggest that the problem seems widespread, and would like Canon to address this issue.  Their problem is not the blurry print itself (which, as you and others have pointed out, can be fixed by changing the print specifications), but that the printer no longer works as it did originally.

So while you have indeed provided a workaround, I would hesitate to say that the problem is solved.

[dimitris_kak]

Hi Mike,
first of all, I totally agree with all above mentioned points.
The "problem solved" tag refers to a diy action that will keep my printer working without problems until I finish my work, since I cannot afford the time needed to service it through Canon's service department.
Please keep in mind that in Greece, the Canon's service point is in Athens and my hometown is 400km away, so I have:
1) to pay courier services to send it
2) to wait at least two - four weeks
3) pay for service cost, which is very high.
With all above mentioned points, I was frustrated and considered in buying a new one. But this is not an option for me who bought it a few years ago, lost the guarantee and will end with a practically new and useless printer.
It's definitely Canon's fault and should be more concerned. In addition, I 'm sure that a lot of consumers have the same problem but did not use this forum.

PS: the printer cost me 95EUR three years ago and the printer's head costs 55EUR plus services cost (?EUR) plus 30EUR courier service

[Mike_M]

Hi Dimitris_kak,

I fully understand your position - as you say, in those circumstances a little extra ink or printing time is not an issue.

I'm sorry if my post was too pedantic!  I guess I was just dismayed to find that what I thought was a simple problem was, in fact, a known issue that didn't appear to have a simple solution.

Good luck to you!  I have fond memories of Greece.  I hitch-hiked from London to Athens in 1965 (yes, I'm that old!) and lived in Athens during the summer - the city was under martial law and there were riots every night, but to a student from England it was a great experience!

[Disgruntled]

This problem has been reported over a number of years.  Canon KNOW why it is happening and how it can be resolved - they can, apparently, 'repair' any printer that starts doing this, but nowhere will you find them explaining just what the problem is.  Why can't they just be open and honest about it in the interest of customer service?

I've tried all the "solutions" that have been posted all over the internet and none of them works.  Given that the blurred printing only happens with standard black text, which uses the large black pigment cartridge, choosing matte photo paper as the paper option results in print that is not blurred because it uses the small black dye cartridge.  A work-round, indeed, but it's slower and disables double-sided printing.

I was very happy with my Canon printer until it suddenly started doing this, and not surprisingly I'd just like a solution that allows me to use the printer 'normally', including double-sided printing.  So I emailed Canon support and asked them what to do.  They gave me details of how to send the printer to have it 'repaired'.  I emailed back to say that having it repaired would cost far more than buying a new printer.  They emailed back and gave me details of how to send the printer to have it 'repaired'.  I emailed to ask if they'd read the bit where I said it would cost more to have it repaired than to buy a new printer and they emailed back to give me details of how to send the printer to have it 'repaired'.

Canon know what the problem is.  They're just not prepared to tell anyone.  Such a shame - I hope I'll be happy with my replacement printer.  It just won't be a Canon.