Pixma iP8700 Random Dark Marks on Luster Paper

[tmhanser]

But not on matte photo paper - what's the deal?

I know this isn't an expensive printer, but it does a pretty good job for now. I've run every cleaning method provided in the printer utility, several times. Luster photo paper, which I prefer, results in faint dark gray lines or marks on the print. Not sharp lines, but soft, diffuse marks or smudges. Why is this? They appear in the same area every time.

Photo matte paper (I'm using Epson matte right now) prints perfectly fine, with no problems. The problem luster paper is from Finestra Art.

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

 

[DavidDilworth]

Have you tried cleaning the printhead with a specialized cleaning solution? Sometimes, stubborn ink clogs can cause these kinds of issues. You might also want to check the printer's nozzles for any blockages.

If the problem persists, it could be a specific issue with the Finestra Art paper. Perhaps trying a different brand of luster paper might help.

Let us know if any of these suggestions work!

 

[tmhanser]

Thanks, everyone.

I'll try another brand of luster or semi-gloss paper, maybe from Epson.

I've run nozzle and roller cleaning several times but still have the same problem. The printer dialogue for this printer driver (Mac OS X) isn't very robust and I wish there were a third-party driver for this printer.

I'll report back when I find a solution.

Thanks again.

 

[LuxeryTravels]

Hey there! I’ve seen this kind of issue come up before with certain Canon printers, especially with luster or glossy papers.


Since you're getting clean results on Epson matte paper but seeing smudgy gray marks on the Finestra Art luster paper, a few things come to mind:

1. Paper Thickness & Coating: Luster papers often have a different surface coating than matte, and if the paper is slightly thicker or the coating isn't fully compatible with the printer's ink/drying system, it can lead to smudges or tracking marks. Even subtle thickness differences can cause issues with the printer's roller mechanism.
2. Roller Marks (Pizza Wheels): What you're describing – soft, repeating marks in the same area – could be caused by the feed rollers or the anti-curl/pizza wheels inside the printer. These rollers can sometimes

 

[tmhanser]

Hey there! I’ve seen this kind of issue come up before with certain Canon printers, especially with luster or glossy papers.


Since you're getting clean results on Epson matte paper but seeing smudgy gray marks on the Finestra Art luster paper, a few things come to mind:

1. Paper Thickness & Coating: Luster papers often have a different surface coating than matte, and if the paper is slightly thicker or the coating isn't fully compatible with the printer's ink/drying system, it can lead to smudges or tracking marks. Even subtle thickness differences can cause issues with the printer's roller mechanism.
2. Roller Marks (Pizza Wheels): What you're describing – soft, repeating marks in the same area – could be caused by the feed rollers or the anti-curl/pizza wheels inside the printer. These rollers can sometimes

Thanks, LuxuryTravels.

 

[Williamjane]

It sounds like your printer might be having issues with paper thickness or coating interaction. Luster paper, especially from third-party brands like Finestra Art, can sometimes have slightly different coatings or thickness compared to Epson's own media, which might cause the print head to lightly graze the paper resulting in those soft smudges or faint gray lines you're seeing.


Since matte paper works fine, it’s less likely to be a mechanical issue and more about the paper-feed or head-clearance settings. You might want to try:

1. Adjusting the paper type setting Make sure your printer driver is set to the correct media type. If it’s not set to "Premium Luster" (or similar), the ink application or head height may not be optimized.
2. Increasing the platen gap (if your printer allows this) – This creates more space between the print head and the paper, which can help reduce smudging.
3. Manually feed single sheets Sometimes feeding paper one at a time can avoid roller marks or misfeeds.
4. Try a different batch or brand Just to rule out possible coating inconsistencies in that particular batch of Finestra paper.

Hope this helps! Let us know if any of these adjustments work for you.