Paper Is Smudged/Printed Surface Is Scratched

Paper Is Smudged

(A) The Edges of Paper Are Smudged
(B) Printed Surface Is Smudged

Printed Surface Is Scratched

Check 1: Did you confirm the paper and print quality settings?

Check 2: Is the appropriate type of paper used? Check the followings:

Check 3: Load the paper after correcting its curl

Check 4: Adjust the setting to prevent paper abrasion

Check 5: If the intensity is set high, reduce the Intensity setting in the printer driver and try printing again

Check 6: Is printing performed beyond the recommended printing area?

Check 7: Is the platen glass or the glass of ADF dirty?

Check 8: Is the Paper Feed Roller dirty?

Check 9: Is the inside of the machine dirty?

Check 10: Set the time to dry the printed surface longer

Check 11: Is the paper scratched by other loaded paper?

Check 1: Did you confirm the paper and print quality settings?

Check 2: Is the appropriate type of paper used? Check the followings:

Check to see if the paper you are printing on is suitable for your printing purpose.

-> [ Media Types You Can Use ]

When performing Borderless Printing, make sure that the paper you are using is suitable for Borderless Printing. If the paper you are using is not suitable for Borderless Printing, the print quality may be reduced at the top and bottom edges of the paper.

-> [ Printing Area ]

Check 3: Load the paper after correcting its curl

When using Photo Paper Plus Semi-gloss, even if the sheet is curled, load one sheet at a time as it is. If you roll up this paper to flatten, this may cause cracks on the surface of the paper and reduce the print quality.

For Plain Paper

Turn the paper over and reload it to print on the other side.
Leaving the paper loaded on the front tray for a long time may cause the paper to curl. In this case, load the paper with the other side facing up. It may resolve the problem.
We recommend putting unused paper back into the package and keeping it on a level surface.

For Other Paper

If the curl on the four corners of the paper is more than 0.1 inch / 3 mm (A) in height, the paper may be smudged or may not be fed properly. In such cases, follow the procedure described below to correct the paper curl.

1. Roll up the paper in the opposite direction to the paper curl as shown below.

2. Check that the paper is now flat.
We recommend printing curl-corrected paper one sheet at a time.

REFERENCE

Depending on the media type, the paper may be smudged or may not be fed properly even if it is not curled inward. In such cases, follow the procedure described below to curl the paper outward within 0.1 inch / 3 mm (B) in height before printing. This may improve the print result.

(C) Printing side
We recommend printing paper that has been curled outward one sheet at a time.

Check 4: Adjust the setting to prevent paper abrasion

Adjusting the setting to prevent paper abrasion will widen the clearance between the print head and the loaded paper. If you notice abrasion even with the media type set correctly to match the loaded paper, set the machine to prevent paper abrasion by using the operation panel or the computer.
Print speed may be reduced if you apply the setting to prevent paper abrasion setting.
* Readjust the setting not to prevent paper abrasion once printing is complete. If not, this setting remains enabled for all subsequent print jobs.

To set by using the operation panel

Press the Setup button, then select Device settings and Print settings in this order, then set Prevent abrasion to ON.

To set by using your computer

Open the printer driver setup window, and in Custom Settings in the Maintenance sheet, select the Prevent paper abrasion check box, and then click OK.

In the Canon IJ Printer Utility, select Custom Settings in the pop-up menu, select the Prevent paper abrasion check box, and then click Apply.

Check 5: If the intensity is set high, reduce the Intensity setting in the printer driver and try printing again

If you are using plain paper to print images with high intensity, the paper may absorb too much ink and become wavy, causing paper abrasion.

When printing from your computer

Reduce the Intensity setting in the printer driver and try printing again.

1. Open the printer driver setup window.
2. On the Main sheet, select Manual for Color/Intensity, and then click Set.
3. Drag the Intensity slide bar on the Color Adjustment sheet to adjust the intensity.

1. Open the Print dialog box.
2. Select Color Options in the pop-up menu.
3. Drag the Intensity slide bar to set the intensity.

When copying

Making Copies

Load the original to copy.
This section describes the basic procedure to perform standard copying.

1. Make sure that the machine is turned on.

2. Load paper.
-> [ Loading Paper ]

3. Press the COPY button.
The Copy standby screen is displayed.

4. Load the original document on the platen glass or in the ADF.

5. Confirm the page size and magnification.

(1) Magnification
(2) Page size

REFERENCE

To change or confirm the page size, magnification, or other settings, press the Menu button, then use the button to display the desired setting item. Refer to [ Setting Items ] within this webpage.
Press the Stop button to reset the magnification to 100%.

6. Use the (-) (+) button or the Numeric buttons to specify the number of copies.

7. Press the Color button for color copying, or the Black button for black & white copying.
The machine starts copying.
Remove the original on the platen glass or from the document output slot after copying is complete.

IMPORTANT

If you load the original on the platen glass, do not open the document cover or remove the original while Scanning.. is displayed on the screen.
If you load the original in the ADF, do not move the original until copying is complete.

REFERENCE

To cancel copying, press the Stop button.
If you load the original on the platen glass, you can add the copying job while printing.

- Adding the Copying Job (Reserve copy)
If you load the original on the platen glass, you can add the copying job while printing (Reserve copy).
The screen below is displayed when you can reserve copy.

Load the original on the platen glass and press the same button (the Color button or the Black button) as the one which you previously pushed.

IMPORTANT

When you load the original on the platen glass, move the document cover gently.

REFERENCE

When Image quality is set High, or you load the original in the ADF, you cannot add the copying job.
When you add the copying job, the number of copies or the settings such as the page size or media type cannot be changed.
If you press the Stop button while reserve copying is in progress, the screen to select the method to cancel copying is displayed. If you select Cancel all reserv. then press the OK button, you can cancel copying all scanned data. If you select Cancel last reserv., then press the OK button, you can cancel the last copying job.
If you set a document of too many pages to reserve copy, Memory is full may appears on the LCD. Press the OK button and wait a while, then try copying again.
If Try again appears on the LCD when scanning, press the OK button, then press the Stop button to cancel copying. After that, copy the documents that have not been finished copying.

Setting Items

You can change the copy settings such as the page size, media type, and intensity.
Press the Menu button, use the

button to select a setting item, then press the OK button.
Use the

button to adjust each setting item, then press the OK button. The next setting item is displayed.
The LCD returns to the Copy standby screen when all the settings are complete.

REFERENCE

The * (asterisk) on the LCD indicates the current setting.
Some settings cannot be specified in combination with the setting of other setting items or the copy menu.
The settings of the page size, media type, etc. are retained even if the machine is turned off.

Enlarge/Reduce

Select the reduction/enlargement method.
Refer to [ Reducing or Enlarging a Copy ] within this webpage.
Ex:

Copy intensity

Change the intensity.
Ex:

REFERENCE

If you select Auto adjust, load the original on the platen glass.
If you select Manual adjust, use the button to decrease the intensity or the button to increase it.

Page size

Select the page size of the loaded paper.
Ex:

Media type

Select the media type of the loaded paper.
Ex:

Image quality

Select the image quality according to the original.
Ex:

REFERENCE

If you use Fast with the media type set to Plain paper and the quality is not as good as expected, select Standard or High and try copying again.
Select High to copy in grayscale. Grayscale renders tones in a range of grays instead of black or white.

Reducing or Enlarging a Copy

You can specify the magnification optionally or select the preset-ratio copying or fit-to-page copying.
In the copy mode, press the Menu button, use the

button to select Enlarge/Reduce, then press the OK button.
Use the

button to select the reduction/enlargement method, then press the OK button.
Ex:

REFERENCE

Some of the reduction/enlargement methods are not available depending on the copy menu.

Preset ratio

You can select one of the preset ratios to reduce or enlarge copies.

Use the

button to select a preset ratio to match the size of your original document and printing paper, then press the OK button.

Magnification

You can specify the copy ratio as a percentage to reduce or enlarge copies.

Use the

(-)

(+) button or the Numeric buttons to specify the reduction or enlargement ratio (25 - 400%), then press the OK button.

REFERENCE

Press and hold the (-) (+) button to quickly advance through the ratios.

Fit to page

The machine automatically reduces or enlarges the image to fit the page size.

REFERENCE

When you select Fit to page, the document size may not be detected correctly depending on the original. In this case, select Preset ratio or Magnification.
When Fit to page is selected, load the document on the platen glass.

About Special copy Menu

The following menus are selectable in the Special copy menu.

Frame erase copy

When copying thick originals such as books, you can make a copy without black margins around the image and gutter shadows.
Refer to [ Copying Thick Originals Such as Books ] within this webpage.

Borderless copy

You can copy images so that they fill the entire page without borders.
Refer to [ Copying without Borders ] within this webpage.

2-on-1 copy

You can copy two original pages onto a single sheet of paper by reducing each image.
Refer to [ Copying Two Pages to Fit onto a Single Page ] within this webpage.

4-on-1 copy

You can copy four original pages onto a single sheet of paper by reducing each image.
Refer to [ Copying Four Pages to Fit onto a Single Page ] within this webpage.

Collated copy

You can obtain sorted printouts when making multiple copies of a multi-paged original.
Refer to [ Making Multiple Copies of an Entire Document ] within this webpage.

Copying Two Pages to Fit onto a Single Page

You can copy two original pages onto a single sheet of paper by reducing each image.

1. Make sure that the machine is turned on.

2. Load paper.
-> [ Loading Paper ]

3. Press the COPY button.
The Copy standby screen is displayed.

4. Press the Menu button.
The Copy menu screen is displayed.

5. Use the button to select Special copy, then press the OK button.

6. Use the button to select 2-on-1 copy, then press the OK button.
If a page size setting or a media type setting that cannot be used in 2-on-1 copying is selected, the LCD displays the following message.

(1) Use the button to select the page size, then press the OK button.
(2) Use the button to select the media type, then press the OK button.

7. Load the original document on the platen glass or in the ADF.

8. Use the (-) (+) button or the Numeric buttons to specify the number of copies.
Change the print settings as necessary.
Refer to [ Setting Items ] within this webpage.

9. Press the Color button for color copying, or the Black button for black & white copying.

When the document has been loaded on the platen glass:

When the machine finishes scanning the first document, the message below is displayed.

If you have the next sheet of document to scan, load it on the platen glass and press the OK button. The machine starts copying.
If you do not need more scanning, press the tone button to start copying. The machine starts copying.

REFERENCE

You can add the copying job while printing.

When the document has been loaded in the ADF:

The machine starts scanning the next sheet of document automatically after one sheet of document finishes being scanned.

REFERENCE

If Memory is full appears on the LCD when scanning, set the image quality to Standard or reduce the number of sheets of documents, then try copying again. If the problem is not resolved, set the image quality to Fast and try copying again.

Copying Four Pages to Fit onto a Single Page

You can copy four original pages onto a single sheet of paper by reducing each image. Four different layouts are available.

Layout 1

Layout 2

Layout 3

Layout 4

1. Make sure that the machine is turned on.

2. Load paper.
-> [ Loading Paper ]

3. Press the COPY button.
The Copy standby screen is displayed.

4. Press the Menu button.
The Copy menu screen is displayed.

5. Use the button to select Special copy, then press the OK button.

6. Use the button to select 4-on-1 copy, then press the OK button.
If a page size setting or a media type setting that cannot be used in 4-on-1 copying is selected, the LCD displays the following message.

(1) Use the button to select the page size, then press the OK button.
(2) Use the button to select the media type, then press the OK button.

7. Specify the layout.
Follow the procedure below to select the layout.
(1) Press the Menu button.
The Copy menu screen is displayed.
(2) Use the button to select 4-on-1 layout, then press the OK button.
(3) Select the layout, then press the OK button.
Select the layout from Layout 1, Layout 2, Layout 3, or Layout 4.

REFERENCE

The * (asterisk) on the LCD indicates the current setting.

8. Load the original document on the platen glass or in the ADF.

9. Use the (-) (+) button or the Numeric buttons to specify the number of copies.
Change the print settings as necessary.
Refer to [ Setting Items ] within this webpage.

10. Press the Color button for color copying, or the Black button for black & white copying.

When the document has been loaded on the platen glass:

When the machine finishes scanning each sheet from the first to the third document, the message below is displayed.

If you have the next sheet of document to scan, load it on the platen glass and press the OK button. The machine starts copying.
If you do not need more scanning, press the tone button to start copying. The machine starts copying.

REFERENCE

You can add the copying job while printing.

When the document has been loaded in the ADF:

The machine starts scanning the next sheet of document automatically after one sheet of document finishes being scanned.

REFERENCE

If Memory is full appears on the LCD when scanning, set the image quality to Standard or reduce the number of sheets of documents, then try copying again. If the problem is not resolved, set the image quality to Fast and try copying again.

Copying Thick Originals Such as Books

When copying thick originals such as books, you can make a copy without black margins around the image and gutter shadows. Using this function, you can reduce unnecessary ink consumption.

1. Make sure that the machine is turned on.

2. Load paper.
-> [ Loading Paper ]

3. Press the COPY button.
The Copy standby screen is displayed.

4. Press the Menu button.
The Copy menu screen is displayed.

5. Use the button to select Special copy, then press the OK button.

6. Use the button to select Frame erase copy, then press the OK button.

7. Load the original on the platen glass.

REFERENCE

When you use this function, load the original on the platen glass.

8. Use the (-) (+) button or the Numeric buttons to specify the number of copies.
Change the print settings as necessary.
Refer to [ Setting Items ] within this webpage.

9. Press the Color button for color copying, or the Black button for black & white copying.
The machine starts copying.

REFERENCE

Close the document cover.
There may be a narrow black margin that appears around the image. This function removes the dark margins only. If a scanned book is too thin or when the machine is used near a window or in a bright environment, a faint black frame may remain. Also, if the color of an original is dark, the machine cannot distinguish the document color from the shadow and this may cause slight cropping or a shadow on the crease.

Copying without Borders

You can copy images so that they fill the entire page without borders.

1. Make sure that the machine is turned on.

2. Load the photo paper.
-> [ Loading Paper ]

3. Press the COPY button.
The Copy standby screen is displayed.

4. Press the Menu button.
The Copy menu screen is displayed.

5. Use the button to select Special copy, then press the OK button.

6. Use the button to select Borderless copy, then press the OK button.
If a page size setting or a media type setting that cannot be used in borderless copying is selected, the LCD displays the following message.

(1) Use the button to select the page size, then press the OK button.
(2) Use the button to select the media type, then press the OK button.

7. Load the original document on the platen glass.

REFERENCE

When you use this function, load the original on the platen glass.

8. Use the (-) (+) button or the Numeric buttons to specify the number of copies.
Change the print settings as necessary.
Refer to [ Setting Items ] within this webpage.

9. Press the Color button for color copying, or the Black button for black & white copying.
The machine starts borderless copying.

REFERENCE

Slight cropping may occur at the edges since the copied image is enlarged to fill the whole page. You can change the width to be cropped from the borders of the original image as needed. However, the cropped area will be larger if the extension amount is large.
For details on the paper size and the media type available for borderless copying:

-> [ Printing Area ]

Making Multiple Copies of an Entire Document

You can obtain sorted printouts when making multiple copies of a multi-paged original.

When Collated copy is selected:

When Collated copy is not selected:

1. Make sure that the machine is turned on.

2. Load the paper.
-> [ Loading Paper ]

3. Press the COPY button.
The Copy standby screen is displayed.

4. Press the Menu button.
The Copy menu screen is displayed.

5. Use the button to select Special copy, then press the OK button.

6. Use the button to select Collated copy, then press the OK button.

7. Load the original in the ADF.

REFERENCE

When you use this function, load the original in the ADF.

8. Use the (-) (+) button or the Numeric buttons to specify the number of copies.
Change the print settings as necessary.
Refer to [ Setting Items ] within this webpage.

9. Press the Color button for color copying, or the Black button for black & white copying.
The machine starts copying.

REFERENCE

The number of pages the machine can read varies with the document. If Memory is full appears on the LCD when scanning, reduce the number of document pages to scan and try copying again.

Making Copies

Check 6: Is printing performed beyond the recommended printing area?

If you are printing beyond the recommended printing area of your printing paper, the lower edge of the paper may become stained with ink.
Resize your original document in your application software.

To ensure the best print quality, the machine allows a margin along each edge of media. The actual printable area will be the area inside these margins.
Recommended printing area : Canon recommends that you print within this area.
Printable area : The area where it is possible to print.
However, printing in this area can affect the print quality or the paper feed precision.

REFERENCE
- When performing borderless copying, you can specify the amount of images that extends off the paper by Extended copy amt. in Print settings.
Borderless Printing
- By selecting Borderless Printing option, you can make prints with no margins.
- When performing Borderless Printing, slight cropping may occur at the edges since the printed image is enlarged to fill the whole page.
- Duplex printing is not available when performing Borderless Printing.
- For Borderless Printing, use the following paper:

Photo Paper Pro Platinum <PT-101>
Glossy Photo Paper "Everyday Use" <GP-501>
Photo Paper Glossy <GP-502>
Photo Paper Plus Glossy II <PP-201>
Photo Paper Plus Semi-gloss <SG-201>
Matte Photo Paper <MP-101>

Performing Borderless Printing on any other type of paper may substantially reduce printing quality and/or result in printouts with altered color hues.
Borderless Printing on plain paper may result in printouts with reduced quality. Use them only for test printing. You can perform Borderless Printing on plain paper only when printing from your computer.
- Borderless Printing is not available for legal, A5, or B5 sized paper, or envelopes.
- Depending on the type of paper, Borderless Printing may reduce the print quality at the top and bottom edges of the paper or cause these parts to become smudged.

Other Sizes than Letter, Legal, Envelopes

Size	Printable Area (width x height)
A5	5.56 x 7.95 inches (141.2 x 202.0 mm)
A4	8.00 x 11.38 inches (203.2 x 289.0 mm)
B5	6.90 x 9.80 inches (175.2 x 249.0 mm)
4" x 6" (10 x 15 cm)	3.73 x 5.69 inches (94.8 x 144.4 mm)
4" x 8" (10 x 20 cm)*	3.73 x 7.69 inches (94.8 x 195.2 mm)
5" x 7" (13 x 18 cm)	4.73 x 6.69 inches (120.2 x 169.8 mm)
8" x 10" (20 x 25 cm)	7.73 x 9.69 inches (196.4 x 246.0 mm)
Wide	3.73 x 6.80 inches (94.8 x 172.6 mm)

* This page size can be used only when printing from your computer.

Recommended printing area
(A) 1.28 inches (32.5 mm)
(B) 1.32 inches (33.5 mm)

Printable area
(C) 0.12 inches (3.0 mm)
(D) 0.20 inches (5.0 mm)
(E) 0.13 inches (3.4 mm)
(F) 0.13 inches (3.4 mm)

Letter, Legal

Size	Printable Area (width x height)
Letter	8.00 x 10.69 inches (203.2 x 271.4 mm)
Legal	8.00 x 13.69 inches (203.2 x 347.6 mm)

Recommended printing area
(A) 1.28 inches (32.5 mm)
(B) 1.32 inches (33.5 mm)

Printable area
(C) 0.12 inches (3.0 mm)
(D) 0.20 inches (5.0 mm)
(E) 0.25 inches (6.4 mm)
(F) 0.25 inches (6.3 mm)

Envelopes

Size	Recommended Printing Area (width x height)
European DL*	3.88 x 7.06 inches (98.8 x 179.5 mm)
US Comm. Env. #10*	3.68 x 7.90 inches (93.5 x 200.8 mm)

* This page size can be used only when printing from your computer.

Recommended printing area
(A) 0.31 inches (8.0 mm)
(B) 1.28 inches (32.5 mm)
(C) 0.22 inches (5.6 mm)
(D) 0.22 inches (5.6 mm)

Printing Area

Check 7: Is the platen glass or the glass of ADF dirty?

Clean the Platen Glass or the glass of ADF.

REFERENCE

If the glass of ADF is dirty, black streaks appear on the paper as shown below.

Check 8: Is the Paper Feed Roller dirty?

Clean the paper feed roller.
-> [ Cleaning the Paper Feed Roller ]

REFERENCE

Cleaning the paper feed roller will wear the roller, so perform this procedure only when necessary.

Check 9: Is the inside of the machine dirty?

When performing duplex printing, the inside of the machine may become stained with ink, causing the printout to become smudged.
Perform the Bottom Plate Cleaning to clean the inside of the machine.

REFERENCE

To prevent the inside of the machine from stains, set the paper size correctly.

Cleaning the Inside of the Machine (Bottom Plate Cleaning)

Remove stains from the inside of the machine. If the inside of the machine becomes dirty, printed paper may get dirty, so we recommend performing cleaning regularly.

IMPORTANT

Do not perform any other operations while performing the Bottom Plate Cleaning.

You need to prepare: a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper*
* Be sure to use a new piece of paper.

1. Make sure that the power is turned on and remove any paper from the front tray.

2. Prepare paper.
(1) Fold a single sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in half widthwise, then unfold the paper.
(2) Fold one side of the opened paper in another half, aligning the edge with the center crease, then unfold the paper.

(3) Load only this sheet of paper in the front tray with the ridges of the creases facing up and the edge of the half with no crease facing away from you.

3. Open the output tray extension, open the paper output tray, then extend the paper output support.

4. Clean the inside of the machine.
(1) Press the Setup button.
The Setup menu screen will appear.
(2) Use the or button to select Maintenance, then press the OK button.
(3) Use the or button to select Bottom cleaning, then press the OK button.

The paper cleans the inside of the machine as it feeds through the machine.
Check the folded parts of the ejected paper. If they are smudged with ink, perform Bottom Plate Cleaning again.

If the problem is not resolved after performing cleaning again, the protrusions inside the machine may be stained. Clean them according to instructions.
Refer to [ Cleaning the Protrusions inside the Machine ] within this webpage.

REFERENCE

To access other available functions, use the mode buttons.
When performing Bottom Plate Cleaning again, be sure to use a new piece of paper.

Cleaning the Protrusions inside the Machine

IMPORTANT

Be sure to turn off the power and disconnect the power plug before cleaning the machine.

- The power cannot be turned off while the machine is sending or receiving a fax, or when unsent faxes are stored in the machine's memory. Make sure if the machine completed sending or receiving all the faxes before disconnecting the power plug.
- The machine cannot send or receive faxes when the power is turned off.
- If the power plug is disconnected, the date/time settings will be reset and all documents stored in the machine's memory will be lost. Send or print a necessary document before disconnecting the power plug.

You need to prepare: cotton swab
If the protrusions inside the machine are stained, wipe off any ink from the protrusions using a cotton swab or the like.

Cleaning the Inside of the Machine (Bottom Plate Cleaning)

Check 10: Set the time to dry the printed surface longer

Doing so gives the printed surface enough time to dry so that paper smudged and scratched are prevented.

1. Make sure that the machine is turned on.
2. Open the printer driver setup window.
3. Click the Maintenance tab and then Custom Settings.
4. Drag the Ink Drying Wait Time slide bar to set the wait time, and then click OK.
5. Confirm the message and click OK.

1. Make sure that the printer is turned on.
2. Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility.
3. Select Custom Settings in the pop-up menu.
4. Drag the Ink Drying Wait Time slide bar to set the wait time, and then click Apply.
5. Confirm the message and click OK.

Check 11: Is the paper scratched by other loaded paper?

Depending on the media type, the paper may be scratched by other loaded paper when feeding from the front tray. In this case, load one sheet at a time.

PIXMA MX374
PIXMA MX375