Bleed, halo, wicking
Sometimes a small color migration may be observed at the border between different colors (bleed). It may
also happen at the border between a color and blank substrate (no ink), reducing the sharpness of the shape.
On some substrates, a gloss halo can be observed at the border between colors.
There are three likely causes:
●
Optimizer misalignment: There may be misalignment between the optimizer printhead and the other
printheads. To check the printhead alignment, print the printhead alignment diagnostics plot (see
Printhead alignment diagnostics plot on page 101). If necessary, perform a manual alignment, then
reprint the printhead alignment diagnostics plot.
If the problem is in the substrate axis direction, it may also be caused by incorrect substrate advance.
See
Substrate-advance test print on page 107 and Substrate-advance compensation on page 106.
●
Optimizer level, which may be too low for this substrate and ink density. Other associated defects may
also appear, such as coalescence or grain in the area fills due to low wetting of the ink on the substrate.
You can correct this problem by increasing the optimizer percentage in the substrate preset.
●
Drying power, which may be too low for this substrate and ink density. Other associated defects may
also appear, such as coalescence or grain in the area fills due to low wetting of the ink on the substrate.
You can correct this problem by increasing the drying power leading/trailing percentages in the
substrate preset.
Low gloss, haze
On glossy substrates, the print may have lower gloss than expected, which is probably due to the optimizer
level. To investigate and correct this problem, try increasing and decreasing the optimizer percentage in the
substrate preset.
Color accuracy
Ideally, the colors that you see on the screen should match the colors in the print. In practice, you may find
that the colors are not sufficiently accurate. There are three possible causes:
●
Color calibration provides consistent colors, but consistent colors are not necessarily accurate.
However, if the combination of substrate and printheads has not been calibrated recently (or ever), that
is a possible source of color inaccuracy. You can eliminate the possibility by performing a color
calibration (see
Color calibration on page 104).
●
ICC profile. If you are using the wrong profile, your colors are likely to be inaccurate. Check which
profile you are using. If necessary, you can make your own ICC profile for the printer, printheads, print
mode, and substrate that you are using.
●
Ink density, which affects color saturation. If the color saturation of your print seems wrong, try
changing the ink density in the substrate preset; you may need to change the number of passes at the
same time.
ENWW Advanced print-quality troubleshooting 241
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