Printer Colours Not Right.

[meregirl]

I have an Epson XP-345 printer, and am having a problem with the colour of the print jobs. The ink levels are OK according to the support program for checking them, but coloured print turns out very red, as if the blue has failed. Must I change the blue cartridge, and ignore what the ink levels thing says, or is there a cure? Cartridges aren't cheap!

[murraymints]

Try clean cycle ?

[bookbinder]

1. Are you using the official Epson cartridges?
2. If yes, try the following:
3. Print a nozzle check pattern. Inspect it for any missing lines.
4. If any parts/lines of the pattern are missing, clean the print head.
5. If that doesn't work, run head alignment.
I have an Epson Stylus Photo RX640 printer, and trying these "cures" usually works on my machine.

[Hymie]

I have an Epson XP-247 which uses the same ink cartridges.

I recently purchased these from an ebay seller – all but the spare black is in the printer and working fine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Ink-Cartridges-for-Epson-XP-245-XP-247-XP-342-XP-345-XP-442-XP-332-Non-OEM/282761773659?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Which works out at less than £1.20 per cartridge including p&p.

I have my own Word print test document which consists of 4 small text boxes, with each of the boarders and backgrounds coloured Black, Magenta, Cyan and Yellow.

If I notice a colour aberration in the print out – I print off the test Word document to determine which of the cartridges is at fault.

If a print cartridge is not printing soon after installation, remove it and check that the outlet seal has been pierced by the printer – and check that you have remembered to remove the cartridge strip allowing air into the cartridge as the ink is used.

[Buenchico]

As has been suggested, it seems like the jets for your blue ink are blocked. Running the cleaning cycle should fix the problem easily enough (although you might need to do it several times and/or use the 'deep clean' option if there is one).

[meregirl]

I should have said that I had run the clean head cycle twice, the blue was missing from the printout.

[Buenchico]

I've known it take up to about 10 cleaning cycles before blocked jets can be cleared. Keep trying! (NB: If there's a 'deep clean' option, that's the one you need to be using).