Incorrect Colors; Spot Colors Incorrect

Select the best image or images below to characterize the problem your printer is experiencing:

1-1.

The incorrect color is printed (i.e. orange is printed instead of red 255). This is typically a color management or humidity control issue. For more information on this topic please refer to the Color Management Process or contact your dealer.

1-2.

For colors which are inconsistent across the image, typically the left and right sides are different from the rest of the color space (referred to as ghosting), please ensure the preheat levels are optimized. Also slow the printer speed down and increase print pass mode, adjust preheat levels of affected color as necessary. You may have to fill white space areas with 2% yellow to control on printer models that do not have preheat settings (NovaJet PRO 50 and earlier).

1-3.

If a vertical pattern or swath appears in the middle of a print that should be of uniform color fill then typically the trailing cable is unseated or defective. Perform a test print to isolate problem. Call for service.

1-4.

If multiple vertical patterns or swaths appear across a print then typically the carriage bushings are dirty or defective. Clean carriage bushings with water and a lint-free towel. This type of problem typically only appears in solid or two-tone color ranges. Perform a test print to isolate problem. Call for service if problem is not corrected.

1-5.

If the color changes slowly (i.e. over 1 meter) in the vertical direction as the image is printed then the media may have suffered humidity exposure and damage. If the media is verified good and the problem continues then the Main Board may be defective. Rotate image 90 degrees in application and ensure blur filters are not used. Perform a test print from multiple applications to verify problem is not application or RIP specific. Call for service.

1-6.

If the color dramatically changes or shifts once (exhibits a hard border) at the beginning of each print then the network, NT server, print server, or printer carriage board is at fault. Verify the Raster Image Processor or Driver is not causing the problem by printing a test print directly to printer from the sample images CD supplied with printer. Call for service.

1-7.

If the color changes or shifts quickly (soft border) and one color fails to continue to print then ink starvation has occurred (i.e. magenta is lost completely in the example above). Ensure the cartridge is primed properly and contains approximately 20 ml of ink. The ink level inside the cartridge must be between 8 ml and 40 ml to sustain the required negative pressure for normal print operations. Use the syringe and syringe tip provided with the printer to place ink into cartridge (print head). Reprime the cartridge using the suction bulb, NovaPrime, or EasyPrime device. Check all ink delivery line connections and retest by running a color test in a low pass print mode.

If the problem continues or returns after a short period of time then replace cartridge tubing needle and cartridge to help isolate the problem. Call for service.

1-8.

If the color dramatically changes or shifts multiple times (each change exhibits a hard border) down the print then the RIP or NT server likely has a problem with the service pack version or a problem exists with the print server. Verify the Raster Image Processor or Driver is not causing the problem by printing a test print directly to printer from the sample images CD supplied with printer. For parallel cable connectivity verify all hardware is IEEE 1284 compliant (includes wall switches). Perform a test print to isolate problem. Call for software support.

1-9.

If microbanding (depicted above) is occurring in the printed output then defective cartridges, printer calibrations, or low print pass modes typically cause the error. Ensure the proper print pass mode is utilized for enhanced photo operations. Use the following suggested printer settings or RIP user-defined printer settings to ensure microbanding does not occur for each printer model:

NovaJet PRO/PRO 50/Croma24/NovaCut: -4 Pass, UNI-DIR, 7000 firing rate

NovaJet PROe/600e/500/505/630/700/750: -6 Pass, BI-DIR, 10 Speed

NovaJet 850, 2x4 mode: -4 or 5 Pass, BI-DIR, 10 Speed

NovaJet 850, 1x4 mode: -6 Pass, BI-DIR, 10 Speed

NovaJet 850, 1x8 mode: -4 or 6 Pass, BI-DIR, 10 Speed

Rotate image 90 degrees in application and ensure blur filters are not used, resend file to printer. Perform a test print from multiple applications to verify problem is not application or RIP specific. Do not use printers internal test print to verify banding problems as this is vector data which may exhibit normal vector dithering patterns. Replace all cartridges of affected color to isolate problem. Call for service.

1-10.

If data is missing within a print then the print server is typically at fault. Ensure 10/100 baseT network hubs are used (not switches); 100 baseT ethernet connectivity is suggested to ensure optimum data rate. Turn off redundant IP protocols and screen savers. Isolate the printer from other peripherals on the network by placing printer on its own direct network interface if necessary; some RIPs allow multiple printer configurations. The NovaJet 850 printer (and some NovaJet 700 printers) require 100 baseT networking to meet the 1 MB/sec data rate requirement or data starvation will occur. Call for network administration support.

1-11.

If diagonal banding appears down the image then typically the printer hardware is at fault (servo motor pulley is bent) assuming the Raster Image Processor (RIP) is not causing the error. In some cases the diagonal banding can be caused by dirty or defective carriage bushings. Rotate image 90 degrees in application, resend file to printer. Perform a test print from multiple applications to verify problem is not application or RIP specific. Call for service.

1-12.

If data changes color (reverse spotting) within the print then the print server is typically at fault. The server may not be configured properly or may be too slow for the adequate data transfer rate. Also refer to #1-10 above. Perform a test print from multiple applications to verify problem is not application or RIP specific. Call for network administration support.