Nozzle Test

[B.W.]

I have a Canon IP5000 and recently changed to generic ink. When I do a
nozzle clean the printout does not show me the 3e Bk at all, as shown on the
maintenance programme example, should it?

I am having problems when printing pictures at the moment that the black
does not seem to be reproducing at all, even though I have done several head
cleans and nozzle checks. I am situated in Australia and the brand of ink I
am using is Inkarnation.

Any thoughts please?

TIA

B.W.

 

[B.W.]

Regarding my previous post, I have just tested out another idea. I have
printed out the same picture on both plain and matte photo quality inkjet
paper. The test on the photo paper printed fine. With generic ink and plain
paper the printout is terrible colours and some dark grey to black areas not
printing out. But in the past when I have used plain paper to print out
using the Canon inks I have had no problems. Any ideas why this is
happening?

TIA

B.W.

 

[Burt]

Your bci-3ebk nozzles are probably clogged. This cart uses pigmented ink
and, when seldom used, tends to clog and is then difficult to clean out.
This cart is used when "plain paper" is selected. When you select any other
paper the black dye-based bci-6 cart is used. That is why you are getting
normal printing on other than the plain paper setting. Have you tried a
cleaning cycle? If two of those doesn't work, then try one deep cleaning
cycle. If one deep cleaning cycle doesn't solve the problem you should look
up information on the nifty-stuff forum for head cleaning. You will find it
under the first FAQ - what to do when the printer doesn't print properly.
The only clogging I've read about with any regularity, by the way, is the
bci-3eBK. The other thing you might do is to put back an OEM bci-3ebk cart
to see if that solves the problem before going through a more complex head
cleaning. I don't know anything about the aftermarket ink you mentioned.
Maybe some other participants from OZ can chime in to see if they have had
either good or bad results from this ink. When using aftermarket inks it
is very important to rely on the experience of those who have already used
inks they can recommend for some period of time.
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/

 

[B.W.]

Both of my black inks are still the Canon ones. I have only just recently
switched over to generic and only have cyan and yellow generic along with
the other originals in the printer. I print quite a lot photos and text so
I wouldn't really think the nozzles are clogged. I have run two cleans and
2 deep cleans. Was interested to hear when the two different blacks print,
I wondered about that.

Thanks

B.W.

 

[Burt]

From your description I believe that your BCI-3eBK jets are clogged. The
clue is that when printing in the plain paper mode you are not getting
normal black printing. plain paper setting is when the BCI-3eBK cart is
supposed to provide black ink and and the dye based bci-6 cart doesn't.
Call Canon support and run the symptoms past them. If you are still under
warranty (or almost still in warranty) they will probably replace your
printhead at no charge. If not you can try more active cleaning with the
reference I gave you.

It doesn't appear that the Yellow, Cyan, and Magenta carts have anything to
do with the problem as printing in photo paper mode gives good colors. You
are just not getting the black ink added to the mix when in plain paper mode
when the bci-3ebk comes into play.

 

[B.W.]

Thanks for that, unfortunately my warranty ran out about four months ago so
I don't think Canon will want to know. One other question. Quite often
when printing text only I select Grey or is it Monochrome printing in the
property options, (an old hang up from the past). Which ink would have
produced this selection the 3 or 6 Bk?

Many Thanks

 

[Burt]

Don't bother with the gray scale for text. That is really for printing a
color image to gray scale. When you select the plain paper option it uses
the bci-3ebk cart. That simple. EXCEPT for when you use the duplex
printing option, in which case it uses the bci-6bk cart.

 

[Yianni]

And a suggestion. Replace the bci-3bk cartridge *immediately* with a new one
(aftermarket or oem). May the cartridge is defective. Otherwise the clog is
almost sure.

 

[measekite]

I have a Canon IP5000 and recently changed to generic ink.

strike 1

When I do a
nozzle clean the printout does not show me the 3e Bk at all, as shown on the
maintenance programme example, should it?

strike 2

for the most part you do not need it when using oem ink. i never used
it in 18 months

I am having problems when printing pictures at the moment that the black
does not seem to be reproducing at all,

strike 3 yere out

i have been telling people of the problems of generic ink where you do
not know what you are buying.

even though I have done several head
cleans and nozzle checks. I am situated in Australia and the brand of ink I
am using is Inkarnation.

generic ink are not brands

 

[measekite]

Regarding my previous post, I have just tested out another idea. I have
printed out the same picture on both plain and matte photo quality inkjet
paper. The test on the photo paper printed fine. With generic ink and plain
paper the printout is terrible colours and some dark grey to black areas not
printing out. But in the past when I have used plain paper to print out
using the Canon inks I have had no problems. Any ideas why this is
happening?

TIA

B.W.

canon ink is designed and engineered for the printer and is consistent.

 

[measekite]

Both of my black inks are still the Canon ones. I have only just recently
switched over to generic and only have cyan and yellow generic along with
the other originals in the printer. I print quite a lot photos and text so
I wouldn't really think the nozzles are clogged. I have run two cleans and
2 deep cleans. Was interested to hear when the two different blacks print,
I wondered about that.

Thanks

B.W.

i used bci3e ink in my canon ip4000 and have never had a clog in 18
months and have never done a nozzle clean when using all oem ink
exclusively. there are people who will tell you otherwise and many have
been found to work for or are associated with relabelers or have been or
are members of refilling clubs.

that may work if you total purge the crap out of the printer but it may
not if the printhead was damaged somehow. remember you did not have
this trouble before using the junk noname generic ink.
you cannot rely on those who use ink from a relabeler and not know what
they are using. each time you even go to the same relabeler you may not
get the same noname stuff you purchased the last time if they changed
their suppliers because they got a better bid
this is the biased refillers club i mentioned. most of the posters here
are refillers, hobbists, and hackers who try to reengineer the printers.

Your best bet is stay with Canon.

 

[measekite]

Thanks for that, unfortunately my warranty ran out about four months ago so
I don't think Canon will want to know.

There have been times where (in the USA) where Canon was lenient and
still supplied a new printhead if the printers was newly out of
warranty. It is worth a try. If you do and get lucky you should never
used any ink other than Canon. Give them a call.

 

[Ian]

Both of my black inks are still the Canon ones. I have only just recently
switched over to generic and only have cyan and yellow generic along with
the other originals in the printer. I print quite a lot photos and text so
I wouldn't really think the nozzles are clogged. I have run two cleans and
2 deep cleans. Was interested to hear when the two different blacks print,
I wondered about that.

You should remove the OEM black. This seems to be a problem with OEM
black pigment ink. Try a generic black non-pigment ink. This in most
cases solves the problem. According to Canon, any generic black ink is
as good as thier own OEM ink.

 

[Taliesyn]

canon ink is designed and engineered for the printer and is consistent.

As opposed to what, my excellent ink from HobbiColors being designed and
engineered for toasters, hair dryers and vacuum cleaners, and NOT my
printer? ;-)

-Taliesyn

 

[ray]

Both of my black inks are still the Canon ones. I have only just recently
switched over to generic and only have cyan and yellow generic along with
the other originals in the printer. I print quite a lot photos and text so
I wouldn't really think the nozzles are clogged. I have run two cleans and
2 deep cleans. Was interested to hear when the two different blacks print,
I wondered about that.

Thanks

B.W.

A quick check of the Canon cartridges can be done by pressing a Q tip
(cotton swab on a stick) onto the outlet sponge area. If you are
getting sufficient ink flow the Q tip should be saturated in about
10 seconds. The sponges do dry and clog.

 

[measekite]

As opposed to what, my excellent ink from HobbiColors being designed
and engineered for toasters, hair dryers and vacuum cleaners, and NOT
my printer? ;-)

you do not know what you have since they told me they will not disclose
what the are selling. when they change suppliers you will never know
since they will not tell you.

 

[Ian]

you do not know what you have since they told me they will not disclose
what the are selling. when they change suppliers you will never know
since they will not tell you.

Who care's...It's just a Canon. Thier black ink is only as good as
standard generic black ink...any generic black ink. The OEM ink is not
as good as name brand black in...that's directly from Canon.

 

[Taliesyn]

you do not know what you have since they told me they will not disclose
what the are selling.

What is in my ink is fully disclosed to my complete satisfaction on
their website - including ALL the special additives used. That my dear
claustrophobic friend is MUCH MUCH more than Canon has ever disclosed
about its OEM ink. You know NOTHING about Canon's ink because they will
tell you NOTHING, not even who makes it for them. So eat crow! ;-)

Go ahead, phone Canon. Ask them what's in their ink. Guess what, you
get no information because they will think you're a competitor.

when they change suppliers you will never know since they will not tell you.

That's a completely asinine comment! Canon itself will NEVER EVER tell
you on the cartridge box or website that they changed the formula
slightly or changed their supplier. This is information Canon has deemed
you do not need to know.

Go ahead, phone Canon. Ask them who makes their ink. Guess what, you
get no information because they will think you're a competitor.
Welcome to the real world of business!

We're not all dummies here that you can think you can preach your one
dimensional logic to. Your preaching is flawed!

-Taliesyn

 

[B.W.]

Many thanks for all the help, I now understand a little how printer ink
cartridges work. Glad to report I removed my Canon 3e Bk to find it
completely dry. I repeat I did not receive any warning of it getting low at
all. I replaced it and now all appears to be working normally.

So am I right in thinking this had nothing really to do with using generic
inks or not?

Two other questions arising out of the information I have received.

Should you replace your inks immediately the low warning appears and not
wait for the ink out warning?

Also if the smaller black ink (6 Bk) is used mainly for special paper and
duplexing, if you never did either of these two things does the ink never
get used. Or does it get mixed all the time with the other colours to
create a special colours?

Thanks all

B.W.

 

[Burt]

Many thanks for all the help, I now understand a little how printer ink
cartridges work. Glad to report I removed my Canon 3e Bk to find it
completely dry. I repeat I did not receive any warning of it getting low
at all. I replaced it and now all appears to be working normally.

So am I right in thinking this had nothing really to do with using generic
inks or not?

Two other questions arising out of the information I have received.

Should you replace your inks immediately the low warning appears and not
wait for the ink out warning?

Also if the smaller black ink (6 Bk) is used mainly for special paper and
duplexing, if you never did either of these two things does the ink never
get used. Or does it get mixed all the time with the other colours to
create a special colours?

Thanks all

B.W.

First, don't leave the printhead with a cart out for any more time than it
takes to replace a cart. You mentioned that you removed the bci-3ebk cart
and it was empty. Hopefully, you replaced it immediately with another cart.

Especially when you use OEM inks most people are inclined to use as much of
the overpriced ink as possible before giving up on a near-empty cart. I
refill my carts and visually inspect the carts to see their levels. I try
to not let the reservoir area get lower than about 80% empty. If you really
go empty you risk burning out the nozzles that are ink starved.

Even if you never used the bci-6 black cart it does get used up in cleaning
cycles. That is necessary to put some ink through the nozzles that are
otherwise unused and may dry up.

Using aftermarket yellow, cyan, and magenta carts will have NO effect, good
or bad, on the two black carts. Several people on this NG (and the Nifty
stuff forum you went on) use aftermarket inks in all their carts exclusively
with no ill effects and excellent prints. You just have to be careful which
inks you use. Only use what others have successful long time experience
with. Pay no attention to the troll who tries to dissuade people from using
anything but OEM inks although he has had NO experience with any of these
products.