New black cartridge, but fonts are light - Kodak EASYSHARE 5100 All-In-One Printer

Hi
First before you buy a new cartridge,try doing a 'printhead' cleaning on your machine.Sometimes the printheads need cleaning clogginl.

Ink cartridges can't be refilled more than a few times before they lose vacuum or can hold pressure which can affect performance.

Try to use only genuine new Canon cartridges for max. performance and quality.

Sounds like you have a printer that uses a multi-color cartridge to print black, instead of a separate black cartridge and a color cartridge.

If your printer does indeed use one color catridge, then your printer gets the black color by mixing all the color inks together. If one of the ink color runs out before the other, you'll end up with what you're seeing right now.

It would appear that the black ink cartridge is either out of ink or running out soon.Change the cartridge.If your need to print now and don't have a new cartridge try this open the unit pull out the black cartridge shake it and the reinstall it you may get a little more out of it.If this is a new printer the cartridges install are always limited in use,so you'll buy more.If you must print know try changing your font color to dark blue avoiding black.Good luck.

I had a similar problem, it turned out to be a cheap toner cartridge. Replaced it with an HP cartridge and have had any problem since.

It sounds like the font that is being used is too light, not dense enough. Is there a default density or toner save function on this printer? Check the settings from the control panel.

Hi devi960:
Pages print, but all
colors do not print or
the pages are
completely blank.
One of the print cartridges might be
low or empty.
Run an engine test and see if all four colors print. If
not all colors print, replace one or more of the print cartridges. If the
engine test is successful, replace the formatter.
If the printed pages are completely
blank, the file might have blank
pages.
Check the file to make sure that it does not contain blank pages.
A print cartridge might be low or
empty.
Check the printer control panel for a Supplies Status message,
print a Supplies Status page, or use the embedded Web server
(HP color LaserJet 2500 series printers only) to see the levels
remaining in the print cartridges. Replace any print cartridges that
are low or empty. Messages are not created for non-HP print
cartridges.
If you are using non-HP print
cartridges, one or more print
cartridges are low or empty. The
control panel lights do not indicate
low or empty for non-HP print
cartridges.
Replace one or more of the print cartridges.
Font DIMM might be selected but the
font DIMM is not physically installed in
the printer. (This issue applies only to
HP color LaserJet 2500 series
printers using an Asian-language font
DIMM.)
In the settings for this printer, clear the Font DIMM check box on
the Configure tab if no font DIMM is installed in the printer. Select
the Font DIMM check box only if the font DIMM is physically
installed in the printer. If you think that the font DIMM is installed,
make sure that it is installed correctly.
The paper curls when
exiting the top output
bin.
The paper needs to print to the
straight-through paper path.
Open the rear output door to print to the straight-through paper
path. Remove each sheet as it exits the printer.
The stack was slightly curled when it
was placed in the tray.
Turn the stack over in the tray.
The paper does not meet
specifications.
See the user guide for information about print-media specifications.
If you are printing on light media, the
Type setting might not be correct.
Select Light in the Type is field in the printer driver.

My compaq ij300 was doing the same thing. I removed the cartridge, took a kleenex and wiped the back of the cartridge until it was completely dry and shiny looking...until no more ink would come off on the kleenex. Replaced the cartridge and aligned it using the printing software. I didn't use the test page, just typed a one-line document and hit Print. That took care of the problem.