MAXIFY GX1020: Lines when printing fixed by nothing but print quality settings

[hijodeDios0921]

I'm having an identical issue to the one described on reddit here: https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/1g612wu/fixing_lines_appearing_in_canon_gx1020_color/

NOTHING else but setting the print quality to "high" will fix it. Not multiple manual or auto alignment checks, not any amount of cleaning, nothing.

This is a portion of the print on "normal" quality:

"Normal" print quality

While this is that same portion on "high" print quality:

"High" print quality

Is there another fix for this? The "high" print quality slows the print speed to a crawl (and uses much more ink).

If we can't get another fix, we'll probably end up returning the printer. I was actually really excited for the Canon because of the ability to buy new print heads if the old ones wear out. But if we can't get good results when the printer is brand new and pristine, what's the point? Because we homeschool we print hundreds of pages per month and didn't have this issue on our previous Epson EcoTank printer.

[DerrickL]

 I found a response to this problem, including troubleshooting step 3 as you have discovered already:

Print Quality Issues with Canon MAXIFY GX1020

Common Problems

• Vertical Lines in Standard Quality: Users have reported that when printing in standard quality, the Canon MAXIFY GX1020 may leave vertical lines on the printed pages. This issue can occur due to several factors, including clogged print heads or insufficient ink levels.

• High-Quality Printing: In contrast, when set to high quality, the printer typically does not exhibit these vertical lines. This setting uses more ink and may adjust the print head's operation to produce clearer results.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check Ink Levels: Ensure that the ink tanks are adequately filled. Low ink levels can affect print quality.

2. Clean Print Heads: Perform a print head cleaning through the printer's maintenance settings. This can help remove any clogs that may be causing the lines.

3. Print Quality Settings: If you frequently encounter this issue, consider using the high-quality setting for important documents, as it provides better results.

4. Nozzle Check: Run a nozzle check pattern to identify any missing lines or issues with the print head.

5. Firmware Updates: Ensure that the printer's firmware is up to date, as updates can improve performance and fix bugs.

You can specify the print quality in settings here:

https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/ART183887