Solved: Printer Prints Faint, Faded, and Dull Pictures but No Problem with Documents

Question:
My Canon Pixma MP190 prints documents just fine, but when I print photos, the pictures come out faint, faded, and dull. I'm new to printing and would like to know what kind of paper I should use for both photo and document printing.

Answer:

When a printer like the Canon Pixma MP190 produces sharp, clear documents but dull or faded photos, the cause often lies in the combination of paper type, print settings, and ink performance. Documents typically print well on plain office paper because the printer expects low ink saturation for text. Photos, however, require a special coating on the paper to hold the higher ink load without bleeding or fading.

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Paper Selection

• Plain Paper (for documents): For everyday text printing, use regular office paper, preferably in the 20-24 lb range. This provides decent sharpness without requiring heavy ink absorption.

• Photo Paper (for pictures): For photos, it's essential to use coated inkjet photo paper. Glossy, semi-gloss, or matte photo papers are designed with a special top layer that absorbs ink evenly, producing vibrant colors and sharp details. Canon-branded photo paper or third-party options designed for inkjets will work. Avoid using standard copy paper for photos-this is the primary reason pictures appear dull.

2. Printer Settings

• In your print dialog box, select the correct paper type (e.g., "Photo Paper Glossy") and print quality ("High" or "Best"). If the printer thinks it is printing on plain paper, it will restrict ink flow, leading to washed-out results.

• For photo printing, make sure you're using the photo printing mode, not just "standard."

3. Ink Quality and Age

• Dull colors can also occur if ink cartridges are running low, drying out, or clogged. Run a nozzle check and cleaning cycle to ensure proper ink flow.

• If your cartridges are old, the pigments and dyes may have degraded, which can significantly reduce color vibrancy.

4. Color Management

• On beginner models like the MP190, the printer relies heavily on driver settings. Double-check that you don't have grayscale or "economy" printing turned on.

• If possible, let the printer manage colors instead of your software until you're more comfortable adjusting profiles.

5. Practical Recommendations

• For documents, keep using standard copy paper-it's cost-effective and efficient.

• For photos, buy Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy II or a high-quality third-party equivalent (labeled "Inkjet Photo Paper"). Sizes like 4x6 or 8.5x11 are common and affordable.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we can accept your printer. Our services cover whole-printer and part-specific repairs, with step-by-step instructions. That said, our rates may not be the most economical, so we encourage self-help options through online research. You can start with YouTube or our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search bar on our channel (found next to "About") to look for specific videos. Since we've created content over nine years, it's difficult to recall each video by memory, but the search tool-and YouTube's recommendations-will help you find what you need.

Thank you again for your patience and for trusting us with your printing concerns. We appreciate your support and are always here to share what we've learned to make your printing experience better.