Canon PIXMA iP8750 Drivers, Print Quality, Feed, and Error Failures
Canon PIXMA iP8750 Drivers, Print Quality, Feed, and Error Failures
This page exists because Canon PIXMA iP8750 problems frequently present as sudden print quality changes, feed inconsistencies, or hardware errors even when the printer powers on and passes basic checks. In many cases, nozzle tests appear acceptable while real-world prints show banding, fading, offset alignment, or missing color channels. The following notes document how these failures presented and what patterns were observed when cleaning cycles, driver changes, media adjustments, and part replacements did not consistently resolve the issue.
Problem: Lines on solid black prints (banding not visible on nozzle test)
What users observed: Horizontal or vertical lines appeared across solid black areas. Nozzle check patterns showed no obvious defect. The issue appeared after switching quality settings or changing media type. Standard documents printed differently than graphics.
What was tried: Print head alignment was performed. Cleaning and deep cleaning cycles were run. Media type was switched between Plain Paper and High Resolution Paper. Quality was increased to High. Driver settings were adjusted.
How this played out: The behavior correlated with which black ink channel was being used. When Plain Paper was selected, the pigmented PGBK cartridge was used. When photo or high-resolution media was selected, dye-based black was used instead. Banding appeared depending on which black channel was active and how ink density was managed under the selected media profile.
Problem: Prints fade quickly when exposed to light
What users observed: Prints on matte photo paper shifted toward red tones within hours or days when exposed to indirect sunlight. Other printers using the same paper did not exhibit the same fading behavior.
What was tried: Different papers were tested. Fixative spray was applied. Ink type was reviewed.
How this played out: The fading aligned with dye-based ink chemistry rather than a mechanical defect. Lower-cost third-party dye inks showed accelerated fade under light exposure compared to pigment-based systems. The issue did not correlate to printhead alignment or feed mechanics.
Problem: Missing color channel (magenta or cyan drops out after cleaning)
What users observed: A color channel disappeared on nozzle check. After cleaning cycles, additional colors dropped out. Replacing cartridges did not restore output. A new print head initially printed correctly, then lost black mid-page with a visible gap in the nozzle pattern.
What was tried: Cleaning and deep cleaning were performed repeatedly. Cartridges were replaced. New print heads were installed. Manual rinsing of print heads was attempted.
How this played out: The pattern of intermittent nozzle gaps suggested ink starvation, internal air introduction, or thermal damage from printing after ink depletion. Repeated deep cleaning did not consistently restore output once a channel developed a persistent gap. In cases involving third-party cartridges, chip compatibility and ink delivery integrity were also factors.
Problem: Washed-out, grainy, or dull prints despite correct ink
What users observed: Prints appeared faded, low contrast, and grainy compared to on-screen artwork. Blacks lacked depth. Changing applications and adjusting contrast did not fully correct the output.
What was tried: Printing from different software (Windows driver, Photoshop). Switching between vivid and standard profiles. Changing paper types including glossy, matte, and heavy card. Reinstalling drivers.
How this played out: Output quality depended heavily on correct media type selection and coated inkjet-compatible paper. Plain or non-coated stock produced visibly weaker saturation and softer edges. Incorrect color management or mismatched paper profiles amplified washed-out appearance even when hardware was functioning normally.
Problem: Borderless printing not centered / offset output
What users observed: Borderless prints were visibly offset compared to preview. Cropping occurred unevenly. Even bordered prints showed measurable side-to-side discrepancy. Offset varied between applications (Photoshop vs PDF viewer).
What was tried: Reinstallation of drivers. Switching between Bonjour and Canon IJ drivers. Print head alignment. Scaling adjustments. Manual positioning offsets in design software. Attempted printer-side calibration adjustments.
How this played out: The offset persisted independent of print head alignment. Behavior aligned with driver-level scaling and start-position interpretation rather than mechanical skew. Re-adding the printer with correct driver selection improved consistency in some cases, but certain units were deemed faulty when consistent measurable offset could not be corrected within normal driver adjustments.
Problem: Paper not feeding or requires manual push
What users observed: Printer attempted to grab paper multiple times but failed unless manually assisted. No foreign object was visible. The printer previously fed correctly.
What was tried: Multiple paper types were tested. Feed settings were reviewed. Warranty support was contacted.
How this played out: Repeated feed attempts without engagement suggested feed roller grip degradation or pressure inconsistency. The behavior was not tied to software settings when identical configurations had previously worked.
Problem: 6A81 error (carriage/purge fault) with flashing lights
What users observed: Printer powered on with alternating white/orange flashes (12 blinks). Carriage did not home correctly. 6A81 error reported. Encoder strip cleaning and replacement did not resolve the fault.
What was tried: Encoder strip cleaning/replacement. Inspection of purge unit and sheet feed path. Manual inspection of carriage movement.
How this played out: The error aligned with AP motor or purge unit mechanical faults during initialization. Cleaning the encoder strip alone did not correct the condition when purge mechanics or motor control were implicated.
Problem: Four flashing lights (ink tank recognition failure)
What users observed: Printer stopped mid-job and displayed four rapid error flashes. Removing and reseating cartridges did not resolve it. USB connection later identified a specific cartridge as invalid.
What was tried: Reseating cartridges. Replacing low cartridges. Cleaning carriage contacts. Installing via USB to read cartridge status.
How this played out: The fault corresponded to cartridge chip recognition failure or incorrect cartridge model (e.g., incompatible series installed). Replacing with the correct cartridge type restored normal operation when the mismatch was identified.
Problem: Scratching or ink marks at bottom corners only
What users observed: Ink marks and slight corner bending occurred at the trailing edge of thicker matte paper. Printer made scraping or clicking noise near page exit. Standard plain paper did not show the issue.
What was tried: Internal cleaning including bottom plate and print head. Paper thickness verified. Continued use of same paper and ink combination.
How this played out: The defect appeared when heavier matte stock passed under exit rollers at the final stage of transport. The issue did not present on thin plain paper, indicating interaction between media thickness, platen gap, and exit roller pressure rather than general printhead failure.
Problem: Linear roller marks on glossy paper (“pizza wheel” effect)
What users observed: Fine linear impressions appeared top-to-bottom across glossy prints. Marks resembled stitching patterns and were visible under light.
What was tried: Different quality settings. Reduced coverage test prints. Media substitution considered.
How this played out: The marks aligned with roller contact before full ink drying on glossy stock. The effect was linked to media characteristics and pressure interaction rather than internal mechanical defect. It was reproducible with certain glossy weights and reduced with different stock or lighter coverage.
Problem: Pale banding in same area of page regardless of file
What users observed: A lighter band appeared in the same vertical area on every print across all colors. Replacing ink and changing DPI did not shift the location of the defect.
What was tried: Resolution adjustments. Ink replacement. Printing only affected region. Supporting paper during exit.
How this played out: The consistency of the band location suggested paper lift or momentary head-to-paper distance change near the exit rollers rather than software rendering. Supporting the sheet during ejection reduced banding in some cases, indicating mechanical interaction at the trailing edge.
Problem: Deep black difficult to achieve
What users observed: Black output varied in density depending on settings. Some prints produced deep, crisp black while others appeared softer and lighter.
What was tried: Adjusting density in driver settings. Switching between plain and matte paper modes. Verifying PGBK channel usage. Running nozzle checks.
How this played out: Deep blacks were achieved when pigment black (PGBK) was active and media type matched the intended ink path. Disabling or bypassing pigment black or selecting photo media shifted output to dye black, changing density and edge sharpness characteristics.
Other printers showing similar behavior:
- Scans your system for missing or outdated drivers
- Downloads and installs the correct versions
- Creates a restore point before making changes