Print Quality Troubleshooting Guide
Streaks, ghosting, faded output and smudges — what causes each and how to fix it.
- Same-day service
- All major brands
- Flat-rate diagnostics
Reading the page
The defect pattern tells you which component failed.
- Vertical streaks in the same place every page: drum scratch or dirty scanner glass.
- Repeating spots at a fixed interval: a roller with a defect — measure the spacing.
- Faded output across the page: low toner or a failing transfer roller.
- Smudging that wipes off: the fuser is not reaching temperature.
- Ghost images of the previous page: drum or transfer voltage issues.
- Skewed pages: tray guides, worn feed rollers or a misaligned ADF.
Print the machine's internal test page. If the defect disappears, the problem is in the driver or file, not the hardware.
Still stuck?
Our Sugar Land technicians troubleshoot by phone at no charge before scheduling anything. Call (281) 313-9764 or request a quote.
Related services: copier repair, preventive maintenance, managed print services.
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