Date:05/15/2013 ID:faq000735_016




Title:
My printed documents are missing black.

Description:
  1. Print a Print Quality Check Sheet (PQCS).

    *If your Brother machine has a touchscreen, please follow the steps under "For touchscreen models" below.

    1. Do one of the following:

      - If your Brother machine has the INK key on its control panel, press the INK key.

      - If not:
      1. Press the MENU key.

      2. Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Ink.

      3. Press the OK key.

    2. Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Test Print.

    3. Press the OK key.

    4. Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Print Quality.

    5. Press the OK key.

    6. Press the COLOR START key.


    <For touchscreen models>

    1. Press Image or (Ink indicator).

    2. Press Test Print.

    3. Press Print Quality.

    4. Press the COLOR START key.


    Note

    The machine will generate the Print Quality Check Sheet (PQCS). On the PQCS each of the four colors is represented by a slanted square pattern. The colors should appear (from left to right): Black - Yellow - Cyan - Magenta. Cyan is the light blue color and Magenta is the pinkish color.

     

  2. The LCD will display Is Quality OK?. Do NOT answer Yes or No.
    Press the STOP/EXIT key to return to the Date and Time display.

  3. Evaluate the Print Quality Check Sheet (PQCS) to determine the print quality issue.

    The document below contains examples of Black Ink printing issues. A similar print issue can occur in each of the colors C/M/Y.

    Image




  4. Do the following to clean the print head:

    Note

    Cleaning the print head consumes ink. Cleaning too often uses ink unnecessarily.

     

    *If your Brother machine has a touchscreen, please follow the steps under "For touchscreen models" below.

    1. Do one of the following:

      - If your Brother machine has the INK key on its control panel, press the INK key.

      - If not:
      1. Press the MENU key.

      2. Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Ink.

      3. Press the OK key.

    2. Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Cleaning.

    3. Press the OK key.

    4. Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select BLACK, COLOR or ALL depending on what you want to clean.

    5. Press the OK key.


    <For touchscreen models>

    1. Press Image or (Ink indicator).

    2. Press Cleaning.

    3. Select BLACK, COLOR or ALL depending on what you want to clean.


  5. Print another Print Quality Check Sheet (PQCS).

    *If your Brother machine has a touchscreen, please follow the steps under "For touchscreen models" below.

    1. Do one of the following:

      - If your Brother machine has the INK key on its control panel, press the INK key.

      - If not:
      1. Press the MENU key.

      2. Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Ink.

      3. Press the OK key.

    2. Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Test Print.

    3. Press the OK key.

    4. Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Print Quality.

    5. Press the OK key.

    6. Press the COLOR START key. The machine will generate another PQCS.


    <For touchscreen models>

    1. Press Image or (Ink indicator).

    2. Press Test Print.

    3. Press Print Quality.

    4. Press the COLOR START key. The machine will generate another PQCS.

  6. The LCD will display Is Quality OK?. Do NOT answer Yes or No.
    Press the STOP/EXIT key to return to the Date and Time display.

  7. Review the new PQCS and do the following based on the quality of the sheet:

    • If all four colors printed correctly and the print quality is acceptable, the issue is resolved.

    • If Black only or Black AND any of the other colors is still missing blocks, compare the 2nd PQCS to the 1st PQCS printed.

      • If there IS improvement in the print quality of the second PQCS compared to the first PQCS, go to STEP 8.

      • If there is NO improvement in the print quality of the 2nd PQCS compared to the 1st PQCS, go to STEP 9.

  8. If there IS improvement in the print quality of the second PQCS compared to the first PQCS, complete at least 3 more cleanings by following STEP 4. The recommendation is to complete the print head cleaning at least four (4) times total to ensure the head is completely clean.

    After completing 3 more cleanings, print the PQCS again (STEP 5). Compare the new PQCS to the previous PQCS and determine if there is any improvement.

    If there is no improvement and the print quality continues to be unacceptable, continue to STEP 9.

  9. Contact Brother Customer Service and we will assist with a cleaning process that will possibly resolve the issue. If repair is needed Brother may extend the warranty. Please contact Brother Customer Service from "Contact Us".

Related FAQ's:
If your question was not answered, please check...
  

  • Have you checked other FAQ's?

  • Is the answer in the user guide?

  • If you need further assistance, please contact Brother customer service:

Related Models

DCP-165C, DCP-375CW, DCP-385C, DCP-395CN, DCP-585CW, MFC-250C, MFC-255CW, MFC-290C, MFC-295CN, MFC-490CW, MFC-495CW, MFC-5490CN, MFC-5890CN, MFC-5895CW, MFC-6490CW, MFC-6890CDW, MFC-790CW, MFC-795CW, MFC-990CW

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