Such activities can be a bit frustrating, especially when all prints from your Brother printer get smudged during usage. Such problems detract from the professionalism expected of such printed documents. This problem, however, usually concerns ink completed on the paper, or more often called ink retention, and there are various possible causes, from the help sheets you have used to the malfunction of the printer itself or even its settings.
In this guide, we will first analyze why the ink is getting reduced from the paper and secondly how to tackle this problem.
Why Is the Ink Rubbing Off the Paper?
There is usually one or more reasons why ink smudging or rubbing off occurs.
- Wrong Paper Type: Paper is also ranked based on the kind of printing, and some papers are not made for inkjet printers, which results in ink resting above the paper and not getting soaked in.
- Humidity or Moisture: If ink can’t stick to a paper or bond very well, it’s probably to be blamed on the ink being too diluted with a lot of water or even when paper itself is too damp.
- Low-Quality Ink or Toner: The third reason is people’s tendency to buy cheap toners, which are usually not recommended because no matter the stickiness of the paper, the ink will never stick.
- Incorrect Printer Settings: Settings like low-quality print mode or using the wrong paper type in the printer settings can result in ink not drying properly.
Clogged or Dirty Print Heads: Blocked or dirty print heads can affect how the ink is applied, leading to smudging or ink rubbing off.
How to Fix the Ink Rubbing Off on Your Brother Printer
Here are some steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue of ink smudging or rubbing off the paper.
Choose the Right Paper
One of the reasons why the ink rubs off from the paper is because an inappropriate paper is being used. In these modern days, there are different types of printed materials suitable for particular printers, and therefore, failure to use the right type can render the ink ineffective.
Steps:
- If using a Brother ink printer, make sure inkjet papers are being used, and if Brother laser, make sure laser papers are being used.
- Do not use photo paper unless your printer is a photographic printer, and also do not use heavyweight paper, coated papers, or glossy papers unless they are made for that type of printer.
- For better output, check on the paper for lamination as per the model of the printer.
Enhancing the print outcomes could be achieved by changing the kind of paper used within your print settings.
How to adjust paper settings:
- On your computer, open the Print Dialog when sending a document to print.
- Select Properties or Preferences.
- In the Media Type or Paper Type option, choose the correct paper (e.g., plain paper, glossy, matte, etc.).
2. Checking for excessive humidity or moisture environment
High humidity is one of the possible causes that can prevent the ink from drying and bonding with the rest of the surface of the paper instead of sticking to it.
Steps:
- Always keep your printer paper in a cool, dry place. Perhaps use a moisture-less container to prevent moisture paper.
- During the dry season when humidity is high, keep a room dehumidifier in a room where your printer is placed.
- Try to print the example once again on white, clean, dry paper as always.
3. Ensure You’re Using Genuine Brother Ink or Toner
Using third-party or low-quality ink cartridges can sometimes cause the ink to rub off or smudge because they may not bond to the paper as effectively as genuine cartridges.
Steps:
- Check if you’re using genuine Brother ink or toner. If not, consider switching to Brother’s official ink or toner cartridges.
- Replace any third-party cartridges with original Brother cartridges to see if this improves the print quality.
4. Clean the print heads.
If the print heads on your Brother printer are dirty or clogged, they may not be applying the ink properly, leading to smudging or ink rubbing off the paper. Regular cleaning of the print heads can resolve this issue.
Steps to clean print heads:
- Turn on your Brother printer.
- On the control panel, navigate to the Maintenance or Tools section.
- Select Print Head Cleaning.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to clean the print heads.
After the cleaning cycle, try printing a test page. If the problem persists, repeat the cleaning process or try a deeper cleaning option if your printer offers it.
5. Adjust Printer Settings
Sometimes, simply adjusting your printer’s settings can resolve the issue. If the print quality setting is too low, or if the paper type is incorrectly set, the ink may not adhere properly to the page.
Steps:
- Go to the Print Dialog in the software you’re using (e.g., Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat).
- Click Properties or Preferences.
- Set the print quality to Best or High Quality.
- Under Media Type or Paper Type, select the appropriate paper type for the paper you’re using.
This ensures that the printer applies the correct amount of ink or toner and adjusts the fusing temperature (in the case of laser printers) to prevent smudging.
6. Allow Time for Ink to Dry
If you’re printing large blocks of color or images, the ink might need more time to dry before you handle the paper. While this isn’t as common with newer printers, it’s still possible if you’re using certain types of paper or high-resolution prints.
Steps:
- After printing, allow the paper to sit for a few minutes to ensure the ink dries completely.
- Avoid touching the printed area immediately after printing to prevent smudging or ink transfer.
7. Run a printer calibration
Many printers have a calibration option to ensure that the print heads are aligned properly, which helps to prevent ink from rubbing off the paper.
Steps:
- Open the control panel of your Brother printer.
- Go to the Maintenance or Settings menu.
- Select calibration or print alignment.
- Follow the instructions to complete the calibration.
This will help in making sure that either of the print heads delivers the right amount of ink to the paper, thereby reducing the possibility of the ink being smeared or rubbed off the paper.
When to get in touch with Brother Printer Help
First things first, if there are common printing problems that appear to be ignored by the Troubleshooting Wizard, if you follow these instructions, that would be THE LAST CASE. Brother isn’t likely to replace the printer; the printer is under warranty.
Final Thoughts
The issue of ink smearing over manually written papers usually arises out of very simple things like the ink’s elevation going out, the occlusion type of paper, high humidity in the surroundings, or any other printer settings. After following the polishing methods provided in this guide, you will solve the problem and return the printer to operating condition.
Using the correct paper, genuine ink, and maintaining your printer’s print heads can go a long way in preventing this issue from occurring again in the future. If the problem persists, don’t hesitate to contact Brother laser printer support for expert assistance.