Desktop Printer Issues

Printer issues are annoying. You've worked hard to get everything perfect for your laser labels or inkjet labels, but the they just won't print right! We've laid out common printing issues associated with general label printing, CD label printing and barcode label printing, and some solutions to go along with them. A common theme with printer issues is just maintenance, so be sure to keep your printer properly maintained.

General Issues:

• Paper jams are often caused by print rollers that have collected dirt and other debris, which clog up the system. To solve this problem just clean the rollers using the printer manufactures' recommended method. It's a good idea to do this every time you change the ink.
• Unwanted lines can be the result of a couple of factors. If you're using an inkjet printer, a print nozzle could be burned out or blocked. Try cleaning the blocked nozzles by checking your printer manual for details or soaking the printheads in hot water for 2 to 3 minutes. Lines can also be caused by a dirty cleaner bar inside the printer. Replacing the cleaner bar should solve this problem.
• Smudging toner usually comes from defective toner cartridges. It is easily solved by replacing the cartridges.
• Leaking ink is sometimes caused by using different brands of ink to refill your cartridges than what was manufacturer recommended. Manufacturers recommend a certain brand and type for its quality control, and poorer quality ink often causes problems. Damaged cartridges may also be to blame for leaking ink, and may need to be replaced. You can avoid cracking cartridges by not allowing the cartridge to completely dry and refilling the cartridge as soon as you run out of ink.
• Flaking toner can be solved simply by adjusting the printer settings to reflect the material type of labels you are printing on.
• If your paper won't feed through the printer the rubber on the printer rollers has probably worn down and lost its grip, or the printer rollers are dirty. First try cleaning the printer rollers. If this doesn't help, you may need to replace the rollers.