Nozzle Drop-out Test

Test Pattern and Details Checked

Before printing, perform a nozzle drop-out test (print a test pattern). The printing size for the test pattern is approximately 90 × 51 mm (3.54 in. × 2.01 in.) (landscape).

If you prepare a landscape A5 size (210 mm × 148 mm (8.27 in. × 5.83 in.) paper as the media, you can perform nozzle drop-out tests in up to four locations on a single sheet of media.

Print the test pattern using inks as indicated in the sequence below. You can check if the print heads are functioning normally.
MEMO The primer (Pr) and white (Wh) in this figure are deliberately made gray, but the actual test pattern Pr is printed transparent and Wh is printed white. These two will be harder to see than the following figure when printed on white media.
BD-8_TestPrint_InkPosition

Make sure that the lines of each color are clear and evenly aligned. Missing sections in the test pattern indicate "dot drop-out," while a collapsed or sloping test pattern indicates "dot displacement." Such issues can be improved by eliminating the nozzle clogging. For this reason, several cleaning menus have been provided.

BD-8_TestPrint_Normal

Test Paper

The nozzle drop-out test is a task that should be performed frequently. If a problem is found by checking the test pattern, cleaning is performed and the nozzle drop-out test is performed again. Because of this, ease of checking and ease of loading media are important. The ease of checking depends on the color of the media.

To check the test pattern without removing the media and perform the nozzle drop-out test again after cleaning, the Print Origin must be set again.

Media Color
Media color Features
Transparent

Since the flat table is black, check the test pattern by removing the nozzle drop-out test paper. Pr is transparent, but you can check it by its light transmission state. Once the media is removed, all colors can be easily checked.

Some media are weakly adhesive and easy to reapply.
White

CMYK inks can be checked while media are attached to the flat table. Wh and Pr can be checked by removing them and changing the angle at which they are exposed to light.
Black Wh can be checked while media are attached to the flat table. All except Wh can be checked by removing the media and changing the angle at which it is exposed to light.
Silver It is relatively easy to check the test patterns for all colors with the media attached to the flat table. A matte finish makes it even easier to check.
How to Secure the Media
How to secure the media Features
Tape

Fix the four corners or the entire circumference of the media with masking tape or similar. Tape the media closely to the flat table so that the media does not become loose. Apply the tape itself so that it does not become lifted or overlapped, creating a difference in height.

If you remove the media and then check the test pattern, reloading it will require the same amount of time and effort as the first time.
Double-sided tape

Apply thin double-sided tape to all sides of the media and secure it to the flat table. Apply the double-sided tape starting from the edges so that the media does not become wrinkled or loose.

When removing the media, be careful not to leave any double-sided tape on the flat table. Reloading is easier than with ordinary tape.
Media with weak adhesive sheet Both loading and removing can be done easily.