Print quality: dark faded, but continuous

Print quality issues on these models is usually if not always down to the cartridges used. I bet you are using compatible cartridges. If so just buy a set of genuine ones and I bet the quality will be perfect again.

If you are getting vertical faded streaks in the black print like this:
The problem is with the developer in the imaging unit. The problem can be fixed by either replacing the imaging unit for $100+ or you can fix it yourself by cleaning the imaging unit. You will need simple hand tools and if you are careful restore the print quality of your printer. I have a link to instructions that should help you http://www.fixya.com/support/r4120906-clean_developer_blades_samsung_clp_300 Hope this helps you.

Hi ...

Well it looks like the head alignment sheet was not filled in properly ...
Confirm the circles were filled in as follows: Good example:



Bad examples:



If more than one circle is filled in, reprint the Head Alignment Sheet.
Print Head Alignment

1. Ensure that the printer is powered on and open the paper output tray. (Confirm that the paper thickness lever is set to the left.)
   
   
   
   
2. Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the auto sheet feeder (or ASF).
   
   
3. Press the <Maintenance> button several times until [P] is displayed in the LED.
   
   
   
   
4. Press the <Black> or <Color> button. The machine prints the head alignment sheet.
   
   
   
   
5. From each group, select the pattern which has the least visible streak.
   
   
   Example of the pattern with the least visible vertical streak
   
   
   Example of the pattern with the most visible vertical streak
   
   
6. Pencil in the circles on the left side of the selected pattern, using a dark pencil.
   
   
   < 1 > Good example
   
   
   < 2 > Bad example: Checkmark
   < 3 > Bad example: Line only
   < 4 > Bad example: Not dark enough
   
   
7. Open the document cover and load the head alignment sheet on the platen glass.
   
   Note: - Place the printed side down.- Align the sheet with the alignment mark (shown by the arrow) on the lower right corner of the platen glass.
   
   Alignment Mark
   
   
8. Close the document cover gently.
   
   
9. Confirm that U is displayed in the LED.
   If U is not displayed, press the <Maintenance> button several times until [U] is displayed in the LED.
   
   
   
   
10. Press the Black or Color button.
    
    
11. The machine scans the head alignment sheet and aligns the print head automatically.

Please vote if this helps .... Cheers :)

this thing happened in my laptop also i got green screen fully
then when i hit it behind the screen it was gone but comes many times then again i would hit
later on the screen was completly lost then had to replace the screen
yous is a starting period so go to a nearby computer service and fix the screen

Issue: Banded or streaked prints
Solution: Change the Print Quality Settings (Windows)

Change the Print Quality Settings (Windows) The Quality setting controls how finely ink droplets are placed on the printed page. Depending on the type of paper being used a higher Print Quality setting does not always insure a better print. Print speed will decrease as the Print Quality setting is increased. Follow the instructions below to change the print quality settings in the Canon printer driver for the Windows operating system through a printing application.

1. Click 'Properties' in the Print dialog box.
   
   Note: Depending on the Application software, 'Properties' may be displayed as 'Preferences'.
   
   
2. Set the desired print quality in the 'Print Quality' section.
   
   
3. Select 'High', 'Standard', or 'Draft / Fast'.
   

To set more detailed print quality settings, follow this procedure:

1. Select 'Custom' and click 'Set'.
   
   
   
   
2. In the Set Print Quality dialog drag the slide bar from 'Fast' to 'Fine' to select the print quality.
   
   
   
   Note: There are five options in 'Quality'. However, selectable options are limited depending on the media type.
   
   
3. Select 'Auto', 'Dither', or 'Diffusion' from the 'Halftoning' section.

Here's the solution from Canon USA:

Issue: Banded or streaked prints
Solution: Print Head Alignment MP530

Perform Print Head Alignment Instructions to perform a Print Head Alignment directly from the machine. If diagrams or ruled lines are misaligned, print head alignment is required. The print head alignment can be performed automatically or manually. If the automatic print head alignment does not work, adjust the print head manually. Automatic Print Head Alignment

1. Press <ON/OFF> to turn on the machine.
   
   
2. Load a few sheets of letter-sized plain paper in the auto sheet feeder.
   
   
3. Press the Open button to open the Paper Output Tray. Then open up and set the extension by pressing down the hollow on the front side.
   
   
4. Execute automatic print head alignment.
   
5. 1. Press <COPY> button.
      
   2. Press <Menu> repeatedly to select [MAINTENACE].
      
   3. Press the left or right cursor to select [AUTO HEAD ALIGN], then press the <OK>. (A pattern is printed and the print head is automatically aligned. It takes about five minutes to finish printing the pattern.)
      
      
      
      

Manual print head alignment

1. Press <ON/OFF> to turn on the machine.
   
   
2. Load two sheets of Letter-sized plain paper in the auto sheet feeder or cassette.
   
   
3. Ensure that the proper paper source is selected.
   
   
4. Execute manual print head alignment.
   
5. 1. Press <Menu> repeatedly to select [MAINTENACE].
      
   2. Press the left or right cursor to select [ALIGN PRINT HEAD], then press the <OK>. (The nozzle check pattern is printed.)
      
      
6. Check the printed patterns and use the left or right arrow to input the number of the pattern in column A that has the least noticeable streaks.
   
   
   
   
7. Press <OK> to move the cursor to column B, and then use the left or right arrow to input the number of the pattern that has the least noticeable streaks.
   
   
8. Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column P.
   
   
   
   
9. When you have finished inputting all pattern numbers, press <OK>.
   
   Note: For columns A through N select the patterns with the least visible vertical streaks. For columns O and P select the patterns with the fewest visible horizontal streaks.
   
   
   
   <1> Example of the pattern with the fewest visible vertical streak
   
   <2> Example of the pattern with the most visible vertical streak
   
   
   
   <1> Example of the pattern with the fewest visible horizontal streak
   
   <2> Example of the pattern with the most visible horizontal streak
   

Hope this helps - fotobean

Here's a solution from Canon USA:

Issue: Banded or streaked prints
Solution: Print Head Alignment MP530

Perform Print Head Alignment Instructions to perform a Print Head Alignment directly from the machine. If diagrams or ruled lines are misaligned, print head alignment is required. The print head alignment can be performed automatically or manually. If the automatic print head alignment does not work, adjust the print head manually. Automatic Print Head Alignment

1. Press <ON/OFF> to turn on the machine.
   
   
2. Load a few sheets of letter-sized plain paper in the auto sheet feeder.
   
   
3. Press the Open button to open the Paper Output Tray. Then open up and set the extension by pressing down the hollow on the front side.
   
   
4. Execute automatic print head alignment.
   
5. 1. Press <COPY> button.
      
   2. Press <Menu> repeatedly to select [MAINTENACE].
      
   3. Press the left or right cursor to select [AUTO HEAD ALIGN], then press the <OK>. (A pattern is printed and the print head is automatically aligned. It takes about five minutes to finish printing the pattern.)
      
      
      
      

Manual print head alignment

1. Press <ON/OFF> to turn on the machine.
   
   
2. Load two sheets of Letter-sized plain paper in the auto sheet feeder or cassette.
   
   
3. Ensure that the proper paper source is selected.
   
   
4. Execute manual print head alignment.
   
5. 1. Press <Menu> repeatedly to select [MAINTENACE].
      
   2. Press the left or right cursor to select [ALIGN PRINT HEAD], then press the <OK>. (The nozzle check pattern is printed.)
      
      
6. Check the printed patterns and use the left or right arrow to input the number of the pattern in column A that has the least noticeable streaks.
   
   
   
   
7. Press <OK> to move the cursor to column B, and then use the left or right arrow to input the number of the pattern that has the least noticeable streaks.
   
   
8. Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column P.
   
   
   
   
9. When you have finished inputting all pattern numbers, press <OK>.
   
   Note: For columns A through N select the patterns with the least visible vertical streaks. For columns O and P select the patterns with the fewest visible horizontal streaks.
   
   
   
   <1> Example of the pattern with the fewest visible vertical streak
   
   <2> Example of the pattern with the most visible vertical streak
   
   
   
   <1> Example of the pattern with the fewest visible horizontal streak
   
   <2> Example of the pattern with the most visible horizontal streak
   

Hope this helps - fotobean.

yes directly

I had exactly the same problem. Luckily we have 3 of these printers. Swapped the photoconductor and it solved the vertical streaking, even though the photoconductor was only half way through its life.

Perform Print Head Alignment Instructions to perform a Print Head Alignment directly from the machine. If diagrams or ruled lines are misaligned, print head alignment is required. The print head alignment can be performed automatically or manually. If the automatic print head alignment does not work, adjust the print head manually. Automatic Print Head Alignment

1. Press <ON/OFF> to turn on the machine.
   
   
2. Load a few sheets of letter-sized plain paper in the auto sheet feeder.
   
   
3. Press the Open button to open the Paper Output Tray. Then open up and set the extension by pressing down the hollow on the front side.
   
   
4. Execute automatic print head alignment.
   
5. 1. Press <COPY> button.
      
   2. Press <Menu> repeatedly to select [MAINTENACE].
      
   3. Press the left or right cursor to select [AUTO HEAD ALIGN], then press the <OK>. (A pattern is printed and the print head is automatically aligned. It takes about five minutes to finish printing the pattern.)
      
      
      
      

Manual print head alignment

1. Press <ON/OFF> to turn on the machine.
   
   
2. Load two sheets of Letter-sized plain paper in the auto sheet feeder or cassette.
   
   
3. Ensure that the proper paper source is selected.
   
   
4. Execute manual print head alignment.
   
5. 1. Press <Menu> repeatedly to select [MAINTENACE].
      
   2. Press the left or right cursor to select [ALIGN PRINT HEAD], then press the <OK>. (The nozzle check pattern is printed.)
      
      
6. Check the printed patterns and use the left or right arrow to input the number of the pattern in column A that has the least noticeable streaks.
   
   
   
   
7. Press <OK> to move the cursor to column B, and then use the left or right arrow to input the number of the pattern that has the least noticeable streaks.
   
   
8. Repeat the procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for column P.
   
   
   
   
9. When you have finished inputting all pattern numbers, press <OK>.
   
   Note: For columns A through N select the patterns with the least visible vertical streaks. For columns O and P select the patterns with the fewest visible horizontal streaks.
   
   
   
   <1> Example of the pattern with the fewest visible vertical streak
   
   <2> Example of the pattern with the most visible vertical streak
   
   
   
   <1> Example of the pattern with the fewest visible horizontal streak
   
   <2> Example of the pattern with the most visible horizontal streak
   

I hope it helps!!!