Canon double-sided printing problems (grey text)

  • Thread starter Thread starter igfg
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igfg

Hi there,
I have just bought a Canon ip4300. Seems wonderful, except for one
problem: when I print double sided (through the driver option), the text
comes out greyer and dithered. On both sides. It seems like a "draft"
kind of printing. It might not be noticed at first, but it's very
noticeable if you closely compare one page printed with the double-sided
option activated with one page printed without the option.

In order to avoid that, I have to also set paper = "double-sided photo
paper", and then it prints correctly but in very slow mode (photo
mode...) and take ages.

I tried zillions of settings but I could not solve this satisfactorily.

Anybody else has a Canon ip4300 or similar printer? Do you have the same
problem?

Thanks
 
igfg said:
Hi there,
I have just bought a Canon ip4300. Seems wonderful, except for one
problem: when I print double sided (through the driver option), the text
comes out greyer and dithered. On both sides. It seems like a "draft"
kind of printing. It might not be noticed at first, but it's very
noticeable if you closely compare one page printed with the double-sided
option activated with one page printed without the option.

In order to avoid that, I have to also set paper = "double-sided photo
paper", and then it prints correctly but in very slow mode (photo
mode...) and take ages.

I tried zillions of settings but I could not solve this satisfactorily.

Anybody else has a Canon ip4300 or similar printer? Do you have the same
problem?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I think this has been a problem for a while with the pixmas. If memory
serves me right it's because it uses the slim black etc to create the
text instead of the big tank, but i really can't recall if anyone
mentioned a fix for it. Of course I'll be jumped on if I'm wrong :O)
 
Paul said:
I think this has been a problem for a while with the pixmas. If memory
serves me right it's because it uses the slim black etc to create the
text instead of the big tank,
Click to expand...

I should have added 'just on double sided prints' otherwise it uses
the big tank for text.
 
Paul said:
I should have added 'just on double sided prints' otherwise it uses
the big tank for text.
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul
I don't think the problem is (only?) the origin of the black. It really
seems printed as dithered: one pixel on, one pixel off. Checkered.
(obviously to see the pixels you have to look really near).

If you are correct on the origin of the ink, it might be that it
interprets the text as a (grey) image. If this is correct, if I could
tell it to make it blacker, it wouldn't print it dithered anymore.
This could be enough for me, however, I don't know how to set it. I
tried to set darker image or higher contrast in the "image colors
matching/processing" (I don't recall the exact name) page of the driver,
but it didn't seem to have any effect at all (on text... I tried only on
text).
 
igfg said:
Thanks Paul
I don't think the problem is (only?) the origin of the black. It really
seems printed as dithered: one pixel on, one pixel off. Checkered.
(obviously to see the pixels you have to look really near).

If you are correct on the origin of the ink, it might be that it
interprets the text as a (grey) image. If this is correct, if I could
tell it to make it blacker, it wouldn't print it dithered anymore.
This could be enough for me, however, I don't know how to set it. I
tried to set darker image or higher contrast in the "image colors
matching/processing" (I don't recall the exact name) page of the driver,
but it didn't seem to have any effect at all (on text... I tried only on
text).
Click to expand...

Paul is right.
This series of printers uses the smaller tanks when auto duplexing, so far as I
know there is no way to prevent this. The issue is one of drying time. The dye
inks in the smaller cartridges dry more quickly.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging
 
I have an ip4200 and from what I have read my understanding of why
when printing double sided the text comes out lighter, less black, is
to reduce 'ghosting' when the page is viewed from the other side.
 
Pigment ink takes longer to dry and is only used for text in one sided
printing. The dye based black is used for double sided printing since
it dries faster and us used when duplex printing is selected. While the
difference (IP4000) is noticeable it really is not that drastic and is
still very acceptable. Remember that this is a photo printer with great
standard text capabilities. You get great results with Canon ink. Use
something else and the printer is no longer a Canon printer.
 
Paul Heslop wrote:

igfg wrote:



Hi there, I have just bought a Canon ip4300. Seems wonderful, except for one problem: when I print double sided (through the driver option), the text comes out greyer and dithered. On both sides. It seems like a "draft" kind of printing. It might not be noticed at first, but it's very noticeable if you closely compare one page printed with the double-sided option activated with one page printed without the option. In order to avoid that, I have to also set paper = "double-sided photo paper", and then it prints correctly but in very slow mode (photo mode...) and take ages. I tried zillions of settings but I could not solve this satisfactorily. Anybody else has a Canon ip4300 or similar printer? Do you have the same problem? Thanks



I think this has been a problem for a while with the pixmas.

That is not a problem but the way they were designed to work.


If memory serves me right it's because it uses the slim black etc to create the text instead of the big tank, but i really can't recall if anyone mentioned a fix for it. Of course I'll be jumped on if I'm wrong :O)
 
igfg said:
Hi there,
I have just bought a Canon ip4300. Seems wonderful, except for one
problem: when I print double sided (through the driver option), the text
comes out greyer and dithered. On both sides. It seems like a "draft"
kind of printing. It might not be noticed at first, but it's very
noticeable if you closely compare one page printed with the double-sided
option activated with one page printed without the option.

In order to avoid that, I have to also set paper = "double-sided photo
paper", and then it prints correctly but in very slow mode (photo
mode...) and take ages.

I tried zillions of settings but I could not solve this satisfactorily.

Anybody else has a Canon ip4300 or similar printer? Do you have the same
problem?

Thanks
Click to expand...


Yes, in double sided printing the driver mixes the three dye colours and
maybe a bit of pigment to give you this grey feathered looking text.
Being a picky printer I don't find this acceptable. Also, it takes twice
as long to print anything using this stupid double-sided printing in the
first place because the machine fiddles with the papers going in and
out. To avoid this stupidity I simply print the even numbered pages of
my booklets, then flip the bunch over and print the odd numbered pages.
I print in half the time and my pages are in pure pigment black and
there is no show through to speak of that would worry anyone. Works
perfectly!

-Taliesyn
 
measekite wrote:
You get great results with Canon ink. Use
something else and the printer is no longer a Canon printer.
Click to expand...

What? You means the name of the printer changes if you don't use oem ink?
Hehehehe...you need to get some mental help right away.
You're a ****wit moron idiot...lol!
Frank
 
Taliesyn said:
Yes, in double sided printing the driver mixes the three dye colours and
maybe a bit of pigment to give you this grey feathered looking text.
Being a picky printer I don't find this acceptable. Also, it takes twice
as long to print anything using this stupid double-sided printing in the
first place because the machine fiddles with the papers going in and
out. To avoid this stupidity I simply print the even numbered pages of
my booklets, then flip the bunch over and print the odd numbered pages.
I print in half the time and my pages are in pure pigment black and
there is no show through to speak of that would worry anyone. Works
perfectly!

-Taliesyn
Click to expand...

It is best to use the duplex mode. It works all of the time. Do not
listen to hacker kids. Now let say you have a webpage that you want to
print. It may take more than 2 or 3 printed pages. Just put it on
duplex mode in the driver and the webpage will print on the front and
then on the flip side until all of the information is printed. Just go
have a cup of coffee and come back and the job is done or do something
else. It really does not take that long. You also can adjust the dry
time so the printing takes place faster.
 
measekite wrote:

It is best to use the duplex mode.
Click to expand...

Auto duplex sucks on the ip4300 period. Do not use it. Use only manual
duplex.
Don't listen to this moron idiot lying loser. He know nothing at all
about ink, printers or paper. He is stuck-on-stupid.
Frank
 
Gary Tait wrote:

igfg <[email protected]> wrote in news:46a70468$0$79261 [email protected]:



Anybody else has a Canon ip4300 or similar printer? Do you have the same problem?



It is what they do. The fix is to avoid auto duplexing and manually duplex.


There, in reality, not such thing as manual duplex.  People who turn the paper over and print the same sheet use that term but they are just fooling themself.  Real duplexing is a savings of both paper and time.  Try printing out a webpage that goes on for 6 pages.  Print it on duplex mode, walk away, and in a short time you have 3 printing pages and did not have to do anything to get them.
 
measekite wrote:

There, in reality, not such thing as manual duplex.
Click to expand...

I know this will come as a big shock to your mental well being but a lot
of software applications have a setting called "manual duplex". I know,
you proly need a few mins to recovery your thoughts on that but, it is
true and get this...they had that setting nows for years!...can you
image that?
Frank
 
igfg said:
Hi there,
I have just bought a Canon ip4300. Seems wonderful, except for one
problem: when I print double sided (through the driver option), the text
comes out greyer and dithered. On both sides. It seems like a "draft" kind
of printing. It might not be noticed at first, but it's very noticeable if
you closely compare one page printed with the double-sided option
activated with one page printed without the option.

In order to avoid that, I have to also set paper = "double-sided photo
paper", and then it prints correctly but in very slow mode (photo mode...)
and take ages.

I tried zillions of settings but I could not solve this satisfactorily.

Anybody else has a Canon ip4300 or similar printer? Do you have the same
problem?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Pigment-based ink from the large black cartridge is used when plain paper is
selected EXCEPT when automatic duplexing is used. If you use duplexing to
save paper (laudable environmentally) you will have to settle for the
printer making black from a mix of the dye-based black and color ink carts
(documented by previous posts from a participant who examined the printout
at high magnification). Taliesyn is right - automatic duplexing is much
slower than removing the paper and turning it over manually. In addition,
you will get more crisp black text by not using the auto duplex feature.
BTW, if paper saving is you goal (and you have young eyes!) the Canon print
program that places a toolbar on web site windows will also print two or
more pages of data on one piece of paper. I've done this rarely, but it
works out well for something you need to print and discard later.
 
Thanks everybody. I'm happy to know that I don't have a defective
printer. Well, am I? Anyway...
This sucks!
How come I cannot choose if I prefer dribbles (slavers? slobbers? what's
the eng term here) on the paper or grey and dithered text print?
Canon people don't seem too smart...
 
igfg said:
Thanks everybody. I'm happy to know that I don't have a defective
printer. Well, am I? Anyway...
This sucks!
How come I cannot choose if I prefer dribbles (slavers? slobbers? what's
the eng term here) on the paper or grey and dithered text print?
Canon people don't seem too smart...
Click to expand...


They find new and interesting ways to waste your color ink. And yes, I
did have a look with a strong magnifying glass and noticed color dots
showing that precious color ink was also used to make the "grey" in
duplex mode. Anyone with a small business running off all kinds of
copies, thinking he/she was using only BCI-3e ink in duplex mode would
soon notice ALL their cartridges running low, not just the black text
one!

-Taliesyn (duplex-free!)
 
Taliesyn said:
They find new and interesting ways to waste your color ink. And yes, I
did have a look with a strong magnifying glass and noticed color dots
showing that precious color ink was also used to make the "grey" in
duplex mode. Anyone with a small business running off all kinds of
copies, thinking he/she was using only BCI-3e ink in duplex mode would
soon notice ALL their cartridges running low, not just the black text
one!

-Taliesyn (duplex-free!)
Click to expand...

People who use an inkjet for business must run a small business. Laser
is a better way to go. And anybody who wastes their time in a business
and does not use duplex when called for should be fired.
 
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