For anyone having this same problem, I found the answer:
http://www.neilslade.com/Papers/inkjetstuff3.html
this website seems to be very helpful and I think printing a simple test print every day will save me a lot of time and aggravation in the long run.
My friend and I both have the same printer, he uses his daily and has no problem. I use mine only a few times a week. We both use the same ink and cartridges. Every time I print something the colors are all wrong and I have to do the clean cycle. Then it works fine till the next printing...
My friend stored her Canon iP3000 with the cartridges still in it, maybe half full of ink....over winter in a storage unit in Wisconsin. Obviously the water based ink would freeze, but we need to know what to do when we hook it back up. Assuming the carts didn't bust (if so, we'd replace)...
I bought a ream a long time ago for making cards, used to use it on an old printer but was afraid it would mess up this newer one.
I also have a package of Kodak Premium Picture paper that's 59#, the package says it works on all inkjet printers--I've written to ask Kodak about that, when my...
After installing refilled ink carts, what should be done: cleaning? alignment? nozzle check? The manual for Canon iP3000 says these things should be done when certain problems are occurring, but I can't find info on whether they should be done routinely after installing new or refilled carts.
My Pixma iP3000 says max paper weight 28# but I want to print on card stock 110#, or at least photo paper that's 44#. My i850 Canon has a paper thickness lever, but this one doesn't seem to have that (and it also has max weight 28#).
What does the "prevent printhead abrasion" setting do?
And...