In most printers with color printing, cartridges are delimited by two blocks - black and color. When the second unit fails, the printer (Epson) prints in red.
The color palette of images is determined by the black cartridge and the variety of inks - basic (yellow, cyan, magenta) and their shades. When ink is mixed, color combinations are obtained. For example, green - if you combine yellow and cyan, orange - if you mix magenta and yellow. This is how all printing devices work: Canon, HP, Xerox, etc.
The ink flows through the nozzles (holes). If even one of them gets clogged, the paint does not come out or comes in partially. The printer prints in red, green, or another color. This is the most common problem. But not the only one. Sometimes the device crashes if:
- the cartridge is not filled correctly;
- the overlap between the paint tanks is broken;
- "non-native" ink is used;
- air enters the nozzles;
- paint thickens or dries.
Read below what to do in such cases.
The printer prints in a red tint: solution to the issue
When the photos come out in the wrong colors than on the PC monitor, figure out what the reason is: in the printer hardware or in the software.
Run a nozzle test
Nozzles (nozzles) are holes in the print head of a printer. By printing the test and comparing it with the reference, you will immediately see which colors print well, which ones with spaces, and whether ink is fed into the print head in the correct order.
Different models have their own way of checking. You can test the nozzles (Nozzle Check) using the control buttons on the printer. Or check through the driver in the following sequence: Start → Devices and Printers → Print setup → Service → Checking the nozzles (nozzles).
If you see gaps in the color or it is not displayed at all, then the reason has already been found. Or partially found. Run nozzle cleaning and recheck. It is performed in the following sequence: Start → Devices and Printers → Print setup → Service → Cleaning the print head.
Does the test match the benchmark? Excellent! If not, repeat the procedure again, after making sure that one of the ink colors has not run out. To do this, use a special utility (in HP printers). Or through the printer driver. The procedure is as follows: Service tab or "Print setup" → Status Monitor 3 utility.
Ink does not flow into the cartridge
- Add ink to the CISS. If there is ink, it means that air has entered the cartridge or CISS loop.
- Remove air with a syringe.
- Remove the cartridge assembly from the printing device and open the plug in the cartridge.
- Evacuate air until the paint stops foaming in the syringe.
- Close the plug and run the test.
- Clean the print head with a utility or flushing fluid.
Clean the print head no more than two times in a row to avoid clogging the diaper meter. Maintain a 2 hour interval - this applies to the Epson printer.
Color order on carriage does not match
Swap the paint tanks.
The integrity of the partitions between flowers is broken
Replace cartridge.
If the test is perfect: the nozzles are not clogged, and there is no air in the system, and the printer still prints in red, then there are two reasons:
- You are using consumables not recommended by the manufacturer without an ICC Profile - a support file for the printer driver.
- The ICC profile is not suitable for the ink and paper used.
An example from experience
The Epson photo printer printed photos of excellent quality on "native" paper. And on Lomond paper, it turned out reddish. And the point is this: for Lomond paper you also need an ICC Lomond profile, because each type of paper has its own profile. It's the same with ink.
Epson printer prints with a red tint: how to apply an ICC profile
First, make sure the Epson ink is original. It should be understood that Epson ink is not suitable for Canon or HP printers. Use either original or analogs with the appropriate ICC profile. The analog ink formula changes every ≈2 years. Accordingly, the ICC profile is also changing, so stay tuned.
Check printer operation in three steps.
- Print the gray scale on Epson paper, without using an ICC profile. The printout should be a pure gray color, with no reddish or other tint.
- In the graphics editor Adobe, set the ICC profile recommended by the manufacturer for this type of paper. Disable No Color Adjustment in the printer driver.
- Print with the correct paper type selected in the printer driver. It must match the established ICC profile.
Watch the video how to flush the Epson L-modification printhead
