Why Is My Printer Leaving Ink Blotches on Only One Image? Troubleshooting Guide

Question:

I’m printing two pictures on the same sheet of photo paper, but one of the images always has ink blotches or smears, regardless of where I move it on the layout. If I position the image at the top of the page, the splotches appear there; if I relocate it to the bottom, they disappear. However, the second image prints just fine. When I delete the offending image, the blobs disappear. Can my printer have a problem with this particular image?

Answer:

Now back to your issue. The fact that the ink blots only show up when printing one particular image — and only depending on where you set it on the page — indicates that the issue is not with the printer itself, but with how the printer interprets that file. Here’s a rundown of possible causes and fixes:

Possible Causes & Solutions:

Saturation or Ink – Enhancement of Image

Some images have high-density ink areas that can soak the paper and cause blotches or smear.

• If you are printing the photo, try lowering the saturation or brightness in an editing program before printing it.
• Print using a “Best Photo” mode if your printer offers one, with increased “Dry Time” (for more ink absorption).
• Print the image with a slightly lower resolution and see if that fixes the ink overload problem.

Printing Processing & File Corruption

Inconsistencies could occur if an image file is corrupt or contains an embedded color profile incompatible with the printer’s processing.

• Save it in a different format (e.g., re-download it as a PNG or JPEG) and try printing again.
• Open and print that image using another software program to see if the problem continues.
• If so, print the same image from another computer to eliminate software-related issues.

Paper & Ink Drying Issues

Some images have dark areas or areas of intense saturation, requiring special drying times.

• If you’re using glossy photo paper, try a different paper type or brand to see if the problem persists.
• Let it rest a minute before touching it to avoid smudging.

Printer Nozzle Or Roller Lines

If the dots look like smudges or streaks, ink residue might be on the rollers or nozzles.

• Perform a cleaning cycle on the printhead to clear off any remaining ink.
• All you need to do is check the rollers and clean them with a special lint-free cloth and isopropyl alcohol to prevent the ink from transferring.
• Manually clean your printer if you have that option, if no residual ink affects your prints.

Next Steps:

1. Print just the problem image out to see if cling-ons still show up.
2. Try printing it in grayscale or on plain paper to see if it's a saturation problem with the ink.
3. Re-save it in a different format ( PNG, JPEG), and print it using a different software.
4. Test another brand of glossy paper or wait longer for the print to dry before handling it.
5. Run a cleaning cycle and check rollers for any residual ink buildup.

The printer isn’t “rejecting” the image, but some of its properties can cause problems with ink. Further troubleshooting will be required if these steps are insufficient to fix the issue.

Because printers are physical devices, troubleshooting them can be complicated. Sorry, but we do not offer remote assistance or repair services. However, if you prefer, we can evaluate your printer in person at our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service), but keep in mind that our services are first-come, first-served and there is currently a high request volume that may delay us from providing you service for a few weeks. We offer repairs for complete printers or individual parts along with detailed process instructions. Nonetheless, we know that our price can be expensive, so we suggest going for self-help through a simple internet search.

To get up to speed, check out our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Then, you can click the search icon next to the “About” section in the right-hand menu bar and look for the videos you need. Since we’ve made so many videos in the last nine years, directly searching on YouTube is often the quickest method to find what you’re looking for. YouTube might also suggest relevant content from other channels that could help.

Thank you for continuing to follow and engage with the content. Please keep us posted about any developments, and let us know if you have any additional questions!