XP600 DTF Printer White Ink Fades After One Print: Causes, Nozzle Check Tests, and Fixes

Question

I have an XP600 DTF printer. After I perform a strong cleaning and start printing, the white ink prints very well at first. However, by the time the artwork is almost finished, the white ink starts to fade. After one print, the white becomes weak again. I have watched some troubleshooting videos, but I still have not been able to fix the issue. What could be causing the white ink to fade during the print, and what should I check?

Answer

For your XP600 DTF printer, the most important first step is to print a nozzle check before you start printing the artwork. This gives you a baseline. If the white nozzle check looks good immediately after a strong cleaning, but the white ink fades during the print or becomes weak after one artwork, then the issue is usually not a simple clog. It is more likely related to white ink supply, white ink circulation, air entering the ink line, ink settling, damper starvation, or the white ink itself.

White ink is much more difficult to manage than CMYK ink because it contains heavier pigment. In DTF printing, white ink can settle quickly if the circulation, agitation, and ink delivery system are not working correctly. That means a printer may look good right after a strong cleaning because the cleaning temporarily pulls ink through the head, but once the printer starts printing, the ink system cannot keep up with the demand. The result is exactly what you described: the white starts strong, then gradually fades near the end of the print.

The first thing I would check is the nozzle check pattern before and after printing. Print a nozzle check immediately after the strong cleaning. Then print your artwork. As soon as the white fades, stop and print another nozzle check. If the second nozzle check shows missing white nozzles or weak white output, the printer is losing white ink flow during printing. That points toward an ink supply issue rather than a software or artwork issue.

Next, check whether the white ink is properly mixed. White DTF ink must be shaken or circulated regularly because the pigment settles. If the ink bottle, tank, or cartridge has settled pigment at the bottom, the printer may first pull a stronger mixture after cleaning, but then begin feeding thinner or poorly mixed ink during printing. Make sure the white ink is fresh, well shaken, and compatible with your XP600 DTF system. Old white ink, low-quality white ink, or ink that has partially separated can cause fading, clogging, and unstable output.

Also inspect the white ink line. Look for air bubbles, gaps, foam, or sections where the white ink appears thin or separated. Air in the white ink line can cause the printhead to starve during printing. A strong cleaning may temporarily pull ink forward, but if air is entering through a loose fitting, leaking tube, weak damper seal, or faulty cartridge connection, the white ink will fade again once printing starts.

The dampers are another common cause. On XP600 DTF printers, the damper acts like a small ink reservoir and filter before the ink reaches the printhead. If the white damper is partially clogged, full of settled pigment, leaking air, or not refilling fast enough, the printer may print white well for a short time and then fade as the damper empties. If the problem repeats after every strong cleaning, the white damper should be inspected and possibly replaced.

The capping station and pump system should also be checked. A strong cleaning depends on the cap top sealing properly against the printhead. If the cap top does not seal well, the pump may not pull ink evenly through the white channels. However, since your printer does print white strongly at first, the cleaning system is at least partially working. Still, if the cap top is dirty, swollen, misaligned, or not sealing well, it can contribute to inconsistent white recovery.

Another possible issue is insufficient ink flow from the white ink tank or cartridge. Check that the vent is open and not blocked. If the tank or cartridge cannot breathe, a vacuum can form during printing. The printer may start well, but as ink is consumed, the flow slows down and the white fades. This is easy to overlook, especially after cleaning, because cleaning may temporarily force ink through the system.

If your printer has a white ink circulation system, make sure it is actually working. Many DTF printers advertise white ink circulation, but the circulation pump, stirring motor, or recirculation path can fail. If the white ink is not being circulated or agitated, pigment settling can happen quickly. Check whether the white ink is moving through the circulation line and whether the bottle or tank is being stirred properly.

You should also confirm that the print settings are not causing the fading. If the artwork uses a heavy white underbase and the printer is running at a high speed, the printhead may demand more white ink than the supply system can deliver. Try slowing the print speed, reducing the white ink density slightly, or printing a smaller test design. If a small design prints fine but a larger one fades near the end, that strongly suggests ink starvation.

In short, because the white prints well right after a strong cleaning but fades during the print, I would focus on the white ink supply system first. Start with a nozzle check before printing, then another nozzle check immediately after the fading appears. If the white nozzles drop out after printing, check the white ink, white ink line, damper, tank vent, circulation system, and air leaks. The problem is likely not the printhead alone unless the nozzle check is already poor before printing.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair because many of these problems require hands-on inspection. For that reason, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, step-by-step repair guidance, or individual repair support for every printer issue. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility, BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Due to high demand, service is handled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before your printer can be dropped off. Our services are designed to repair either the whole printer or specific printer parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we understand that our repair rates may not be the most economical option for everyone. For that reason, we strongly recommend using self-help resources and online research whenever possible. You can begin by checking YouTube or visiting our YouTube homepage at BCH Technologies on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar to search for specific topics. I receive dozens of questions every day asking for videos on specific problems, and after creating videos for the past nine years, it is difficult to remember every single video by topic. YouTube's search function is usually the most efficient way to find the right video, and it may also suggest helpful videos from other channels.

Thank you again for contacting us and for supporting BCH Technologies. I hope this gives you a better direction for troubleshooting the fading white ink issue on your XP600 DTF printer.