Faded text, streaks and patchy colors can make everyday documents difficult to read. Before buying a replacement cartridge, identify the print defect and whether your printer uses ink or toner.
Faded, streaky or uneven prints can result from low ink or toner, clogged inkjet nozzles, print settings, unsuitable paper, incorrect cartridge installation, or problems with a laser printer’s drum and other imaging components. Start with a printer-generated test page, then follow the troubleshooting instructions for your exact model.
Quick troubleshooting guide
| Print problem | Possible cause | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Entire page looks too light | Toner Save mode, low supplies or unsuitable settings | Check supply warnings and turn off Toner Save mode |
| Gaps or horizontal bands on an inkjet print | Clogged nozzles, paper settings or alignment | Print a nozzle check |
| Vertical streaks on a laser print | Toner cartridge, drum, corona wire or imaging contamination | Follow the model’s print-quality guide |
| Uneven or missing colors | Ink delivery, toner or calibration issue | Print the built-in quality report |
| Problem appears in only one document | File or application settings | Print a different document and compare |
These are starting points, not definitive diagnoses. Similar print defects can have different causes.
1. Low ink or toner
Check the printer display or software for supply warnings. If it indicates that a cartridge needs replacement, follow the model’s replacement instructions.
Avoid assuming that every faint print means the cartridge is empty. Settings, paper and maintenance problems can produce similar results. Compare the supply status with a test page before deciding what to replace.
What to do: Confirm the cartridge code and full printer model before ordering. If only one color looks weak, use the printer’s quality report to help identify the affected color.
2. Toner Save mode and print-quality settings
Toner Save mode can make laser prints look lighter. It may be useful for internal drafts, but it can reduce the darkness of text and graphics.
What to do: Turn off Toner Save mode and print the same page again. For other quality settings, check your printer’s guide and select a setting appropriate for the document and paper.
Change one setting at a time so you can see which adjustment helps.
3. Clogged inkjet printhead nozzles
An inkjet printer with clogged nozzles may produce missing lines or bands.
What to do: Run a nozzle check from the printer’s maintenance menu. If the pattern has gaps, use the recommended printhead-cleaning procedure, then check the pattern again.
Follow your model’s limits and waiting periods. Cleaning consumes ink; intensive cleaning should be used only when the manufacturer’s instructions call for it.
Laser printers do not use inkjet printhead nozzles. For a laser printer, use its toner, drum and imaging-system troubleshooting instructions instead.
4. Paper and media settings
Paper selection and the paper-type setting can affect print quality. Loading the wrong printable side can also cause problems on media designed for one-sided printing.
What to do:
- Use paper that meets the printer’s specifications.
- Match the paper-type setting to the loaded media.
- Load the printable side as directed.
- Try a fresh batch of supported plain paper to compare results.
If quality improves with different paper, check the original paper and settings before replacing a cartridge.
5. Incorrect cartridge or drum installation
A cartridge or drum assembly that is not seated correctly can interfere with normal operation. Installation procedures vary by printer and cartridge.
What to do: Reinstall the assembly using the instructions for your exact model. For a new cartridge, check its installation guide for any protective materials that must be removed.
Do not remove unidentified parts or force an assembly into place. Confirm that the replacement is listed for your full printer model.
6. Laser printer drum or corona-wire problems
On some laser printers, toner and drum units are separate consumables. Replacing toner may therefore leave a drum-related defect unresolved.
Some Brother models also have a user-cleanable corona wire. Where applicable, the cleaning tab must return to its home position; leaving it out of position can produce a vertical stripe.
What to do: Follow the model-specific cleaning and replacement sequence. Do not apply a corona-wire procedure to a printer that does not have one.
7. Alignment or color calibration
Inkjet alignment problems can affect line placement. On supported color laser printers, calibration may help correct faint or uneven color output.
What to do: Use the maintenance function specified for your printer. For inkjets, check the nozzles before assuming alignment is the cause. For color laser printers, follow the manufacturer’s calibration instructions.
8. The original file or application
A low-resolution image can look blurry or pixelated when printed. A problem limited to one document may also require checking that file or its application settings.
What to do: Print a built-in test page and a different document. If those look good, investigate the original file and print settings before replacing supplies.
What should you check first?
Use this order to narrow down the problem:
- Print a built-in test page or quality report.
- Check supply warnings.
- Confirm the paper and media settings.
- Turn off Toner Save mode if the page is too light.
- Follow the appropriate inkjet or laser maintenance procedure.
- Replace the component indicated by the model’s troubleshooting guide.
Save a sample page before making changes. Comparing before-and-after results is more useful than changing several settings at once.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my printer printing faded text?
Possible causes include low supplies, Toner Save mode, clogged inkjet nozzles or an imaging-component problem. Check a built-in test page and the printer’s supply status first.
Why are there lines through my prints?
Inkjet bands may come from clogged nozzles or alignment and media settings. Laser streaks may involve the toner cartridge, drum or imaging system. The printer type determines which maintenance procedure to use.
Why are my prints streaky with a new cartridge?
Check compatibility and installation first. A new cartridge will not necessarily resolve a clogged printhead, incorrect paper setting or separate drum problem.
Should I replace the toner or the drum?
Follow the printer’s diagnostic instructions. Toner replacement and drum replacement address different components on printers that use separate units. Streaks alone do not identify which component needs replacement.
Can cleaning fix uneven prints?
Cleaning can help when contamination or clogged nozzles are responsible. It will not correct every fault. Use only the cleaning procedure specified for your model.
Find the right replacement at True Color Toner
When troubleshooting indicates a replacement is needed, compare your full printer model and cartridge code with the product’s compatibility list.
Browse compatible toner cartridges or compatible ink cartridges at True Color Toner. If you need help selecting a replacement, contact TCT with your printer model, cartridge code and a photo of the print defect.