Issues with my IP4200, wrong colours when doing photo printing

[IngramAU]

I've got a fairly old IP4200 printer, which has the same print head as when I bought it.

It was printing fine last year, then for a while it was sitting around unused because I had no ink. I bought some ink from Ebay recently (Seller Page/Description of ink. ) It prints perfectly fine on standard paper. However, the second you change to photo paper, or disc printing, the colours go completely out the window.

What I've done to try and fix:

Lots of deep cleaning.
Removing Print Head several times, flushed with hot water, alcohol and windex, I've spent hours with the tap pressure as hard as I can getting all the ink out of it. I believe I did get it all out fine.
Testing on Windows XP in case there was a driver issue with W7.

When I do a print test, all the colours come out correct (http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/Lord-Ingram/print.jpg)

It only happens when I do photo or disc printing, which is basically all I ever use it for.

Now, I've pretty much given up on trying to fix this issue, unless someone here has a better idea. I've been looking at the ip4700 as a replacement, but I'm not so sure the ink I bought for my ip4200 can be used in that one? It would be a pain if I couldn't, because I spent $60 AUD on the ink!

Thanks for any help

 

[leo8088]

Look at this thread post #12:
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5004

It explains what happened to your print head.

 

[IngramAU]

Look at this thread post #12:
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5004

It explains what happened to your print head.

I don't think so. I'm still using genuine Canon printer cartridges, I'm just refilling them with ink.

A dead printer head would not produce perfect results when the printer is set on standard quality, but then produce screwed up colours ( reds are too strong ) with photo printing settings.

 

[Tin Ho]

There are two sizes of the nozzles, 2 and 5 pico-liters. The smaller ones are not used for regular quality mode. They are used when you print photos in high quality mode with higher resolution. The smaller nozzles have smaller heater elements too. They are probably clogged or burnt out. Do a nozzle check. You should see problems in the print.

 

[IngramAU]

How do I do a photo/high quality mode nozzle check? I seem to be only able to do the normal one, which I posted a picture of in the original post.

Ok, so I found a picture of a picture of someone else's nozzle check, printed it via Paint Shop Pro in Photo Quality and Standard. Far as I can tell the colours are all printing correctly, the only issue is that there is I guess you'd call it a "Magenta Cast" over the entire image. So it's a little bit red/pink than it is on the Standard print.

 

[Tin Ho]

That's not the way to do a nozzle check. Look at your printer property from your control panel. Select maintenance tab and click on nozzle check.

 

[IngramAU]

As I've already said, I've already done that, and posted pictures it in the original post.

I don't think the nozzle check actually checks the photo jets or whatever anyway? So it's a useless test. This is why I did it the method I mentioned above, so it actually printed WITH the photo jets.

 

[The Hat]

IngramAU..

Looking at your problem it seems that you are going round in circles. I suggest you buy new oem cartridges for your printer or completely clean out your current cartridges and buy better refill ink from an established source. I think that may solve your problem + you might find it quicker in the long run..

 

[mikling]

Let's focus on the software if the raw output from the nozzle checks are fine.

What OS are you using?
Did you install or do anything different?
Did you try reinstalling the drivers?
Is a straight print file from say a web browser come out OK? If yes on this one, then I'd be checking the print settings in the driver as well as the OS? Did you change anything in WCS if you're using Vista?

 

[IngramAU]

Let's focus on the software if the raw output from the nozzle checks are fine.

What OS are you using?
Did you install or do anything different?
Did you try reinstalling the drivers?
Is a straight print file from say a web browser come out OK? If yes on this one, then I'd be checking the print settings in the driver as well as the OS? Did you change anything in WCS if you're using Vista?

W7 + Fresh XP Install specifically to test that it wasn't W7 causing it.
Nope.
Yes.
Normal printing, as I've always done.

IngramAU..

Looking at your problem it seems that you are going round in circles. I suggest you buy new oem cartridges for your printer or completely clean out your current cartridges and buy better refill ink from an established source. I think that may solve your problem + you might find it quicker in the long run..

Unfortunately I can't afford to do that. Even if I could, I would not risk wasting money on new cartridges if it does turn out to be something else. I'm pretty confident the ink I bought is fine, considering the colours are fine in standard printing mode.

I guess there's nothing to be done, so don't worry about it. I'll eventually buy a new printer and move on.

Thanks for the help.