Printing in black is fine, but when i print in color there is a slight shadow under the text and the color is grainy. how do i fix this? thanks!

Hi
Try re-installing the black cartridges.
Also check them for possible clogging.

Fist set for default settings, calibrate color.. it will resolve the issue ..even its remin service involment must..

1515n - I have the Magenta colour 'shadowing' the blue test. A mirror image of the blue text. [slightly staggered] Black is fine. Applies to all Word docs when printing in blue - can you help please?
I only use genuine cartridges.
Thanks
Jules Radstock

from cnet review of the product

• Unfortunately, as with the Z1420, fast print speeds come at the cost of print quality with the Z1300. Black text prints, though nicely dark, were beset by obvious jaggedness. The color graphics print had a slightly faded look to it and color blocks showed graininess and faint horizontal striations. Barcode-style patterns were muddled, too. For our tests, we printed color 4x6 photos with the standard black and tricolor cartridges, as Lexmark did not include photo ink tanks with the test unit. The colors were dull, details were hazy, and again, the entire print was marred by graininess and faint horizontal lines. That said, nobody buys a $25 printer to print photos for framing or to create displays for a classroom science project. A $25 printer is a convenience item for occasional reference prints, and as such, the Z1300 does its job.

Inkjet printer quality
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Photo Graphics Text Canon Pixma iP1800
Good Good Good Lexmark Z1300
Fair Fair Fair Lexmark Z1420
Fair Fair Fair

There are 2 reasons for this either the ink is drying out nor your page settings isnt set to the correct size of the paper you are printing to.

It's probably a contamination problem but it could be mechanical.
Try this page: http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/tree?c=us&journalid=6562681BAEE21456E040AE0AB6E1608F&l=en&s=gen&treeid=320898&Query=&SystemID=&ServiceTag=&contenttype=&os=&component=&lang=&doclang=&toggle=&dl=

Start by checking if the panel shows an error message (or not), then click Next.

Sometimes a problem is with the printhead if it does that. Most likely a printhead. I'm sorry. Print a nozzle test pattern and you will be able to see what color has extra ink.

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/alex_22751bbefa74c3d0

I did the following and it has stopped printing "shadows". I don't know if it was one solution or the other (or both) that worked.

1.On the face of the printer press the "Menu" button>Admin Menu>Maintrnance>Color Reg Adj>
Auto Correct>Yes
2. "Menu" button>Admin Menu>Maintrnance>Clean Developer>(Pick problem color)>Yes.

Hope it helps

Sounds like the black dev unit is worn out. Easy enough to change yourself if it is out of warranty. If it is in warranty get Epson to do it for you.

make all your printer settings to default. If any problem in that simply uninstall & re-install the driver.

 

If still no good, your black cartridge might have dried-up