Canon Pixma Ip1800 Quick Start Guide

17
Routine Maintenance
Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern
Examine the nozzle check pattern output by the  printer, and clean the Print Head if necessary.
1Confirm the printed nozzle check pattern.
(1)If lines of this pattern are missing, the print head nozzle needs cleaning.
Example: When lines are missing (Black ink)
(2) If these patterns have white streaks, the print head nozzle needs cleaning.
Example: When white streaks appear (Color ink)
Note
The nozzle check pattern will not be printed correctly if...

18Routine Maintenance
2When cleaning is necessary, click  Cleaning on the Pattern Check  dialog box.
To proceed to cleaning of the Print Head, go to step 3-(3) of the Windows or Macintosh Print 
Head Cleaning procedure, depending on your  platform. See “Print Head Cleaning” on 
page 19.
If no lines of the group (1) pattern are missing and the group (2) patterns have no white 
streaks, click  Exit (Windows) or  Quit (Macintosh) to exit nozzle  check pattern examination.
 

19
Routine Maintenance
Print Head Cleaning
Clean the Print Head if lines are missing or if  white streaks appear in the printed nozzle check 
pattern. Cleaning unclogs the nozzle s and restores the print head condition. Note that cleaning the 
Print Head causes used ink to be absorbed in t he ink absorber. Cleaning the Print Head consumes 
ink, so perform Print Head Cleaning only when necessary.
If you click  Cleaning on the Pattern Check  dialog box that is displayed after printing the nozzle 
check...

20Routine Maintenance
2Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility  dialog box.
Refer to “Opening the Canon IJ Printer Utility (Macintosh)” in the  User’s Guide on-screen 
manual.
3Start  Print Head Cleaning .
(1)Make sure that  Cleaning is selected in the pop-up menu.
(2) Click  Cleaning .
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click  OK.
Print Head Cleaning starts when the  POWER 
lamp starts flashing green.
Do not perform any other operations until Print 
Head Cleaning finishes. This takes about 60 seconds.
(4)...

21
Routine Maintenance
Print Head Deep Cleaning
If print quality does not improve by standard  Print Head Cleaning, try Print Head Deep Cleaning, 
which is a more powerful process. Note that cl eaning the Print Head causes used ink to be absorbed 
in the ink absorber. Print Head Deep Cleaning consumes more ink than standard Print Head 
Cleaning, so perform this procedure only when necessary.
1Make sure that the printer is on.
2Open the printer properties dialog box.
Refer to “Opening the Printer...

22Routine Maintenance
3Start Print Head Deep Cleaning.
(1)Make sure that  Cleaning is selected in the pop-up menu.
(2) Click  Deep Cleaning .
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click  OK.
Print Head Deep Cleaning starts when the 
POWER  lamp starts flashing green. 
Do not perform any other operations until Print 
Head Deep Cleaning finishes. This takes about 
one to two minutes.
4Check the condition of the Print Head.
(1) Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Auto Sheet Feeder and set...

23 Routine Maintenance
Aligning the Print Head
If ruled lines are printed misaligned or print results are otherwise unsatisfactory, adjust the print head 
position.
1Make sure that the printer is on, and then load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain 
paper in the Auto Sheet Feeder.
Set the Paper Thickness Lever to the left. For details on the Paper Thickness Lever, refer to 
“Front View” in “Main Components” of the User’s Guide on-screen manual.
2Open the printer properties dialog box.
Refer to “Opening...

24Routine Maintenance
6Look at the printout. From the patterns, select the most even, least irregular 
patterns for each column and enter their numbers. Click OK.
(A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(B) More noticeable vertical white streaks
(C) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(D) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
7When the confirmation message is displayed, click OK.
1Make sure that the printer is on, and then load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain 
paper in the Auto Sheet...

25 Routine Maintenance
4Click Print Head Alignment.
5Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
The print head alignment pattern is printed.
6Look at the printout. From the patterns, select the most even, least irregular 
patterns for each column and enter their numbers. Click Send.
(A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(B) More noticeable vertical white streaks
(C) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(D) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
Important
Do not open the Front Cover while...

26Routine Maintenance
Replacing a FINE Cartridge
If there is no improvement with the quality of printing following such maintenance as Print Head 
Cleaning, a FINE Cartridge is probably empty. When ink runs out, replace the FINE Cartridge. The 
printer will not print properly if the wrong type of FINE Cartridge is used, or if it is installed in the 
incorrect position.
For information on available FINE Cartridges, see the back cover of this guide.
„Getting the Ink Level Information
The printer considers...