Canon MG5250 printing black as blue when using photo paper

[PhilandJojones]

Hi,
Can anyone help...

I am trying to print an x-ray image (which is grey scale) using a Canon MG5250 printer, with non OEM inks, on glossy photo paper at the high quality setting. However, when I do so, the darkest part of the image (it looks black to me) comes out Blue (probably pure Cyan). I have tried the 'grayscale printing' setting but this does exactly the same.

If I use ordinary paper, it works fine.

Any ideas, before I use up too much photo paper...

Many thanks,

Phil

 

[The Hat]

While still using your glossy paper to print on, set your printers media to plain paper and then you’ll find it will work for you..

 

[PeterBJ]

I think the printer will then use the pigment black, which is unsuitable for printing on photo paper. The print will be neither scratch resistant nor waterproof.

But if you flush your pigment black cartridge and fill it with dye black (photo black) the method should work.

 

[Łukasz]

Hello!

Could You upload scanned nozzle print? It may help a lot.

Most likely it is blocked CLI-BK (photo black), please don't neglect such condition!
If CLI-BK is blocked, very bad damage to printhead may occur in any moment.

Ł.

While still using your glossy paper to print on, set your printers media to plain paper and then you’ll find it will work for you..

As long as his PGBK non-OEM cart is cheapest one

 

[The Hat]

I think the printer will then use the pigment black, which is unsuitable for printing on photo paper. The print will be neither scratch resistant nor waterproof.

I wasn’t reckoning on that because I taught he’d still use the colours and not print in greyscale, nice one @PeterBJ.
I am spoiled in that I use pigment inks mostly and don’t have a drying problem on gloss.

Hello!
Could You upload scanned nozzle print? It may help a lot.

Most likely it is blocked CLI-BK (photo black), please don't neglect such condition!
If CLI-BK is blocked, very bad damage to printhead may occur in any moment.
Ł.

@ Łukasz has a point also; he may in fact have an ink flow problem with his PK black which would result in poor dark prints !

 

[PeterBJ]

@ Łukasz has a point also; he may in fact have an ink flow problem with his PK black which would result in poor dark prints !

The dye black (photo black) has a reddish/purplish tint. This is easily seen if you dilute the ink. Maybe the printer compensates for this tint by adding cyan to the dark areas? If the photo black is not printing properly then the cyan might show?

 

[Łukasz]

Cyan CLI-BK run out condition in MG5150 (photo quality settings on cheap photo paper):

Black is fading to sea-like green-blue color. Quite far from pure Cyan (pure Cyan is to the right).

Ł.

Also Epson do that in Stylus Pro 3880 - photo black is "reinforced" with Cyan:

http://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/viewtopic.php?p=12082079#12082079

 

[PeterBJ]

Printing correct B/W images with a colour inkjet printer can be a problem. There are some methods to improve this,

Enthusiasts make their own printer profiles, but this takes expensive hard- and software and is no simple task.

Make sure your non OEM ink gives a good colour photo print. If not colours can be tweaked in the printer driver and you might get better results, or you could try another ink brand, maybe even try OEM cartridges even if expensive.

You could try replacing the ink in the pigment cartridge with dye black if you refill OEM cartridges.

You could try this method suggested by Łukasz. You will have to flush your magenta cartridge and refill with dye black or transfer a magenta chip to a dye black cartridge.

Mikling from precisioncolors once offered a special B/W inkset for Canon printers. Maybe it is still available? @mikling . You might be able to make something similar, but with less linear grey scale by refilling the cyan and magenta cartridges with dye black and the yellow cartridge with grey ink. Then print your image in colour mode and the print out will be B/W.

What cartridges do you use? Canon OEM refilled with what brand of ink using what method? Or do you use aftermarket cartridges? Brand?

 

[martin0reg]

...when I do so, the darkest part of the image (it looks black to me) comes out Blue ...

To be sure what actually is going on, please post an image which shows your problem and a nozzle check!

 

[palombian]

I think the printer will then use the pigment black, which is unsuitable for printing on photo paper. The print will be neither scratch resistant nor waterproof.

But if you flush your pigment black cartridge and fill it with dye black (photo black) the method should work.

There exists matte photo paper. Even a decent cardboard could be used.

But since this printer has CMYK photo inks, it should print an acceptable black-and-white image on glossy paper.
I have the same printer and will try it this weekend.