Images too dark and poor color match 850 1

[SunKiss]

Until recently (the last month of less) my Phaser 850 printed fine with color match and photo brightness just fine. Now the images are dark (both for photos and graphics). I did a test page and things seem fine. The graphics demo page from the printer is too dark also but when I print the Diagnosics page from the printer the color strips look fine. I've checked the transparency setting lever and it's set correctly. I am using non-Xerox ink for some time and haven't had any problems with it for color match or otherwise. I've also tried printing from another computer (new with software just loaded) but no difference. I can't say that I've seen it go through a cleaning cycle lately but that doesn't mean it hasn't. I've also tried changing the printer settings to RGB, etc. but no difference.

I'm wondering about the papaer tray switches related to paper type. I see there are 3. The bottom one is for transparency/paper selection. What are the upper ones? There is a tab in the top tray position but the middle position on the tray is open (no tab).

Any help is appreciated.

Mark

 

[Displeasure]

I am having this same problem. I just changed the maintenance kit but no difference. Any help for the 2 of us would be great.

 

[marty5261]

The top position for the tray select switches is for letter size paper, with the bottom also plugged this is for transparencies, and the middel is fro a-4 size paper. My experience has been thsi will not cause the darker prints you describe. one option could be the ink has cooked in the printhead. If ink sits for longs periods without being used it can cook and cause color changes, cyan is the most likely to occur. The test print with the color bars will show cyan turning slightly greenish if it were cooking. you can run solid fills of each color and see if it starts to change, this may take 50 pages before a change is noticed. I tend to think your issue maybe with the 3rd party ink. Their color formulations can tend to vary since they can not duplicate Xerox formula, also it may change if you purchase from different manufacturers.

 

[SunKiss]

Thanks Marty, I've noticed that the blue in my photos is more greyish/brown so I think your assesment of the ink "cooking" is probably correct. If I change back to Xerox brand do you think this could clear up the problem? Also, this latest brand of ink is different from the previous brand which I didn't have any problem with. I guess I'll have to do some trial and error to see if things get better. Anyway, thanks for the help and if I find a better and more consistant ink, other than Xerox, I'll repost my findings here or if I don't have any luck other than Xerox. Mark

 

[marty5261]

You can regain teh consistency you had but you will need to flush the printhead which is timely and costly due to ink usage. Good luck.