Why is all the text gray in Windoze?

[The Hat]

Can you post up a sample of the text doc so we can see what the problem might be?
Looking at the setting you have in post #8 and you say you can get black text with the printer set to these,

it would seem that your pigment black cartridge is not been used for those setting and so it may not be functioning properly, resulting in poor ink output.

 

[PeterBJ]

On the main tab of the printer properties window click Default. This should reset settings to standard, with plain paper selected, quality=standard selected, Colour/Intensity=Auto selected, and Greyscale printing not selected.

Now print the Windows Printer Test Page and do a nozzle check from the maintenance tab. Please upload scans or photos of both prints.

The test page uses the pigment black for text, so you avoid errors caused
by your office program or text editor or PDF reader.

I have experienced some PDF files print grey text instead of black, others print black text. I think this depends on the properties of the PDF file

 

[PenguinLust]

Oh oh! Canon finally got back to me, to tell me that I need to clean the head. I rolled my eyes, by went through w/it anyway. My experience w/clogged heads was very different from faded prints. Well, I complied and did 3 cleanings and 2 deep cleanings. It made the problem worse! Check it out! I've never had that problem w/the graph design on the test pattern.
Since I refill, I thought I should talk to you guys first. I use the German method. You're going to tell me to dump all my carts and restart using top-fill, aren't you?
Oh and forget what I said about the Linux driver getting it right. It looks like the Linux driver was using photoblack. This is why Canon has a bad rep w/Linux.

Also, even thought my printer takes 225/226 carts, I'm using the 221/220s

 

[turbguy]

THAT'S a strange PGBK matrix. Other than a handful of missing lines, it shows your PGBK ink isn't black! WHAT ARE YOU REFILLING OUR PGBK CART WITH??

 

[PenguinLust]

I'm using what http://precisioncolors.ca sent me. They seem to call it "C1128P For use in PGI-220". I keep it in a cupboard on my desk (where it's dark). I think it unlikely that I would have accidentally filled it w/gray.

 

[turbguy]

Please print some text on plain paper, then come colored text, let it dry, and see if the black is more waterproof/water resistant than the color (use a damp sponge or a highlighter). I think you might have used some Dye ink instead of Pigment ink.

 

[stratman]

I'm using what http://precisioncolors.ca sent me. They seem to call it "C1128P For use in PGI-220".

It looks like the C1128P is used in both PGI-220 and PGI-250 cartridges.

Did you uninstall, reboot, and install the printer and it's drivers? Make sure the Linux printer drivers are not installed when testing.

Try a different computer that only has Windows installed on it in case your installation of Linux is somehow (impossibly?) interfering.

Are you sure you are using the correct ink?

Are you sure there isn't anything other than DEFAULT settings for the printer?

Does the print look better printing a web page that has text?

What applications have you tried printing from?

Since this occurs when printing via Wireless LAN and ONLY over wireless LAN:
- what router are you using?
- is the printer wireless or do you have it use only your wireless router (with the printer hardwired into the router)?
- what software are you using to communicate wirelessly -- some routers require an installed application/drivers, such as the Netgear N900 that I have -- as this may be corrupted like any other software.

If you have not yet... try a new OEM Canon cartridge. You may be chasing your tail if you do not try this at some point. If this works then it's your ink. If it does not work then you have narrowed down the possibilities.

 

[PeterBJ]

There are many unknowns in this problem, so to rule out some of them, I also strongly suggest to try a new OEM cartridge.

Please also print the Windows printer test page using the default settings and upload a scan or photo. Here is an example of a Windows printer test page showing ink flow problems with PGBK.

To rule out wireless problems try printing the nozzle check and the Windows printer test page with the printer connected to the computer via USB instead of wireless LAN.

I have experienced ink flow problems with the PGI-x20/CLI-x21 cartridges that were refilled using the German method. They work better for me when top filled. My theory is that the sponges in these cartridges are more fragile than those in the older transparent cartridges and are more easily damaged by a needle. But even with top filling these cartridges can develop ink flow problems after a number of refills, so a purging is needed after maybe 5 refills.

To test your refilled cartridges for ink flow problems, see this thread.

Even if Image Specialists inks are good, they don't have an unlimited shelf life, so could your pigment ink be too old or maybe ruined by contamination?

 

[PenguinLust]

For a start, I should point out that I swapped PGBK carts, on the off chance that I did fill it w/the wrong stuff. After doing 2 cleanings and a deep cleaning I don't see any improvement to the shading.

• The above is from a Windoze printer test page, but cropped. This one isn't. Feel free to ignore the see-through from the other side.
• I also have an XP VM that uses the USB connection. I've been using that since several posts ago.
  
• Uh... shelf life... I just notice for the first time a best before: "01/12/2013". I don't know if that's the beginning of last year or the end of last year. I doubt there's contamination and like I said, the environment is the recommended one. So what are the problems w/using these inks 6 months past the due date and 1.5 years past the due date?

 

[turbguy]

Did you swap to a new OEM PGBK cart? That's what was suggested earlier. And is the PGBK more water resistant that the colors?

What you printed is not a Windows printer test page, but a nozzle check from within the driver. Most Canon's can produce these without even being connected to a computer (through a series of button pushes).

It sure appears that your PGBK nozzles are not being supplied the correct ink. And it appears the matrix is now complete.