Imageprograf PRO-1100 leaving ink spots on prints?

[RichPate]

For the last month my new PRO-1100 is producing ink spots on one out of three prints, usually in the margins at the beginning of the print's run (see photos). I print on cotton rag fine art paper up to 17"x25" via the manual (back) feed. This problem is getting very expensive in time and materials. 

Ink spots on 1 out 3Ink spot on 17x24

[SignifDigits]

Sorry to hear you're having trouble finding support for your PIXMA PRO-1100.  This is a social media support site. and Canon's excellent printer team is available Monday through Friday from 8am to 8pm (ET),and can be reached at 1-800-OK-CANON (800-652-2666). 

Please be sure your printer is registered first.

[RichPate]

Thank you for the Canon Support contact info! I will give them a call today.

[RichPate]

Contacted Canon printer support and found out that ink spots on the prints is NOT a recurring issue known for the PRO-1100. So it's unique to my copy.

The tech suggested turning on "Unidirectional" printing in Prof Print & Layout to see if that helps. Will also try other papers to see if paper type is related. Will report back on what I find out.

Anyone else have this problem? Anyone willing to guess on a solution? Thanks!

[SignifDigits]

Someone with a PRO-1000 had a similar problem, but didn't post a solution - https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/Professional-Photo-Printers/Pro-1000-Ink-Puddles/m-p/509216.  I would guess a clogged black nozzle.  Canon could recommend the proper cleanings and hopefully you can limit it to black.  If you're not already printing a nozzle check ever week or so to keep the nozzles clear I would recommend that.  Sorry, but I haven't seen the problem nor the fix on mine or on this site.  

[RichPate]

Thanks. I do nozzle checks every two weeks, even when no evidence of a clogged nozzle is showing up in my prints. For a while I thought just the black ink was spotting, but then noticed (see photos from original post) other colors showed up, usually the dominant color in the image. 

For sure, ink seems to be building up on the print head nozzles and then it seems to "shake off" at the end of the print head run when it reverses direction. Could be the reason for most of the spots showing up at the margins of the image. 

[RichPate]

UPDATE: Conducted a series of tests, one suggested by Canon tech support. 1.) Ran all tests on a variety of papers from thick fine art to photo paper, from manual (back) tray and top tray. No difference noticed.  2.) Switched "Unidirectional" printing ON (Turns bi-directional OFF) in Other Settings of Canon's Professional Print & Layout: This reduced the spotting, but did not eliminate.  3.) Changed print quality from "Highest" to "High" seems to have stopped the spotting. Possibly because less ink building up on print head per active run of the print head across the paper?

Question: Could there be an ink leak in the print head or ink feed at the print head? 

Again, regular nozzle checks show no problem with clogged nozzles. And there is no evidence of paper abrasion going on. Solution 3 is okay for large prints, but I miss the quality on small prints which tend to be viewed closely. Has anyone else, who runs print quality at "Highest" noticed this problem?  Thanks.

[SignifDigits]

I have not.  Guess we'll see if others have.  I'm assuming that only way to know 100% for certain about a print head issue would be to install a new one at almost half the cost of a new printer.  I bought the CarePak on mine, but when that expires I wonder if I might not just buy a whole new printer as the ink (though I know they aren't full) and print head alone would almost justify the cost.  Thanks for the update - I hope someone can respond with something more definitive for you here.