The high voltage power supply or transfer belt may be bad.

If the light color changes to whatever color is installed in the suspect location, something associated with that location is bad.

If the same color is still light, that cartridge is bad.

Turn on Disable Cartridge Check and swap cartridges between the affected color and another color.

Select “calibrate now” from the menu (this should also be done after replacing any imaging element, such as a toner cartridge, scanner, or transfer belt).

Check print quality adjustments for the affected color.

Light Print, one color only (color printers).

Note that in a color printer with separate scanners for each color, light print in all colors is unlikely to be scanner-related, since all four scanners would have to be bad. Laser/Scanner and high voltage power supply are the two most common causes.

Any of the items discussed in #1 (light print, partial) can also cause the entire page to be light.

Color printers have individual print density settings for each color. In particular, if Economode (or “Economy Mode”) is on, turn it off! Also experiment with print density settings. TOP 2.Light Print (entire page, all colors).Ĭheck settings in Print Quality Menu. – and even the fuser) for visible defects corresponding to the light area on the page. Inspect the surfaces of imaging elements (cartridge(s), transfer roller or belt, etc.

If contacts look good, the high voltage power supply may be bad.

If light areas are randomly positioned on page, check high voltage contacts to the cartridge(s), drum(s), and transfer elements.

This can also indicate high voltage problems (see next step). If one side of the page is light, check mechanical alignment between cartridge(s), drum(s) (if separate from cartridge), and transfer elements.

If light areas are strips in the direction of paper movement (as in the picture), laser/scanner optics may be partially dirty.

If this helps, the cartridge is close to being empty, and will need replacement soon.

Gently shake and reinstall print cartridge(s), making sure the cover is closed securely.

Black test print image