Printing won't print solid black on documents with mixed text and color graphics

[SunnyD]

Hi everyone! I have a Canon G7020, and recently cannot seem to get it to print with black ink on documents with mixed graphics and text (color and black). The black text comes out looking like dark magenta. However, when I print a straight text page in black, the black is solid black. I checked the color graphic page, and the font color is k-only.

We tried all the maintenance routines available in software. We even removed the printheads to manually clean them. When we print a test page, all colors are present and alignment is perfect.

This wasn't always the case. We've printed hundreds of pages (color flyers for our company) without any issue until the last several weeks. Ink tanks are all at least half full. We've had the printer for about a year and a half, and we're using Canon ink only. Other than the black color issue, the printer still works fine. Overall, color graphics pages seem a bit faded due to the lack of solid black. Perhaps some black is missing from the darker colors too??

This is noticeable when printing with both plain paper and glossy photo paper. Our software and drivers are up to date. We're using Canva with Windows 11.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
-Don

 

[thebestcpu]

Hi everyone! I have a Canon G7020, and recently cannot seem to get it to print with black ink on documents with mixed graphics and text (color and black). The black text comes out looking like dark magenta. However, when I print a straight text page in black, the black is solid black. I checked the color graphic page, and the font color is k-only.

We tried all the maintenance routines available in software. We even removed the printheads to manually clean them. When we print a test page, all colors are present and alignment is perfect.

This wasn't always the case. We've printed hundreds of pages (color flyers for our company) without any issue until the last several weeks. Ink tanks are all at least half full. We've had the printer for about a year and a half, and we're using Canon ink only. Other than the black color issue, the printer still works fine. Overall, color graphics pages seem a bit faded due to the lack of solid black. Perhaps some black is missing from the darker colors too??

This is noticeable when printing with both plain paper and glossy photo paper. Our software and drivers are up to date. We're using Canva with Windows 11.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
-Don

Hi Don

Please print a nozzle check pattern, scan it, and post it as another reply in this thread. The nozzle check test is the first step in debugging and verifying that all nozzles are functioning properly. Here is the link for the specifics of the test pattern to which I referred:

John Wheeler

 

[TorreyReinger]

Hi Don

Please print a nozzle check pattern, scan it, and post it as another reply in this thread. The nozzle check test is the first step in debugging and verifying that all nozzles are functioning properly. Here is the link for the specifics of the test pattern to which I referred:

John Wheeler - X Trench Run

It helped explain how to perform regular and deep cleaning. However, it didn’t fix my issue. I’m still getting no magenta bars and only two very faint yellow ones, with one barely visible. My ink tanks are around 40% full. I wish there were more details on what to try next.

 

[thebestcpu]

Just to let you know, you did not scan and share the nozzle check pattern. It helps to visually see the pattern (not your text description) in the debug process, yet I know that is your choice on what to share.

Here is a more complete set of steps, and you have already done some of them.
I used to do more debug and repair to the detailed level yet in my later years have jumped to tech support a bit earlier. There are experts on this forum that take the the deep dive steps and can adivse you better than I
John Wheeler

Canon PIXMA G7020 – Full Nozzle Diagnosis and Repair Guide
===========================================================

1. Confirm Software and Driver Health
-------------------------------------
- Print a test page directly from the printer panel.
• If it prints fine, the issue is computer/driver related.
- Reinstall or update printer drivers.
• macOS: System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Delete and re-add.
• Windows: Control Panel → Devices → Remove printer and reinstall latest driver.
- Verify print quality settings and paper type.

2. Run Built-In Cleaning Routines
---------------------------------
1. Setup → Maintenance → Cleaning → OK.
2. Print Nozzle Check Pattern.
3. If still missing lines, run Deep Cleaning.
4. Wait 24 hours between repeated deep cleanings.

3. Inspect Ink Levels and Air Entrapment
----------------------------------------
- Ensure all tanks are at least one-third full.
- Check for air bubbles or gaps in transparent ink lines.
- Reseat printhead if removable to ensure proper ink contact.

4. Perform Ink Flush (Power Flush)
----------------------------------
Purpose: Force-purge ink through the printhead.

Menu path: Setup → Maintenance → Ink Flush → All Colors → OK → Yes
- Duration: 8–10 minutes.
- Ensure all tanks are at least half full.
- Print a nozzle check afterward.
- Wait 24 hours before repeating; maximum two flushes.

Warnings:
- Uses 10–20x the ink of a deep cleaning.
- Excess flushes can trigger “ink absorber full” (5B00) error.

5. Manual External Cleaning (Safe Surface Cleaning)
---------------------------------------------------
- Turn printer OFF and unplug.
- Open access door and move carriage to center.
- Use lint-free swab moistened with distilled water or Canon cleaning solution.
- Gently dab nozzle surface; avoid electrical contacts.
- Close lid, plug in, and run Deep Cleaning once.

6. Manual Printhead Removal and Soak
------------------------------------
(For advanced users comfortable with delicate components)

- Remove ink tanks and lock off ink valves if possible.
- Detach printhead assembly.
- Place nozzle face down on paper towel soaked with 50/50 distilled water and isopropyl alcohol.
- Soak 10–20 minutes.
- Rinse gently with distilled water, blot dry, reinstall, and run Deep Cleaning.

Caution: Do not blow air into nozzles or use pressure syringes without Canon adapters.

7. Service Mode Full Purge (Technician Level)
---------------------------------------------
- Turn printer OFF.
- Hold STOP + POWER simultaneously.
- While holding POWER, press STOP 5 times.
- Release both buttons; printer enters Service Mode.
- Using Canon Service Tool v5103+ on a PC:
* (Optional) Reset Ink Absorber Counter.
* Run “Power Ink Charge” or “Deep Ink Flush.”

Note: Consumes large amounts of ink—ensure absorber capacity is sufficient.

8. Hardware Evaluation
----------------------
If nozzle check still fails completely:
- Printhead may be electrically damaged.
- Print “Device Info” report (Maintenance → Print Settings → Device Info).
- If “Printhead Error” appears, the heater array is likely failed.

Possible remedies:
- Replace printhead: BH-20 (Black) / CH-20 (Color).
- Run Initial Ink Charge after replacement.

9. Professional Service or Replacement
--------------------------------------
If printhead replacement fails or cost is high:
- Authorized Canon service centers can perform ultrasonic cleaning or ink system priming.
- If repair exceeds 50% of printer cost, replacement is usually better.

10. Preventive Maintenance
---------------------------
- Print a small color page weekly.
- Keep tanks at least 1/3 full.
- Maintain humidity between 30–70%.
- Always power off via front button (not power strip) to allow head capping.

 

[Artur5]

I'm quoting you :
“The black text comes out looking like dark magenta. However, when I print a straight text page in black, the black is solid black. “

That‘s easy to explain. When you print only text, the printer uses the black pigmented ink. If you mix text and graphics/photos in the same page, the printer uses a mix of CMY dye inks to make black or shades of grey, because pigment and dye ink don’t mix well. The fact that you get dark magenta (red ?) instead of black it’s probably because the cyan channel fails to deliver part of the ink. It might be a clog or nozzle electrical failure (i.e. printhead kaput ).

Instead, in a further post you say that the magenta and yellow bars on the nozzle test are missing or very faint. That’s in contradiction with what you said in the first post. If both magenta and yellow fail, blacks in graphics should come cyan.

All in all, I suspect that this printhead is damaged past help. After all the automated and manual cleanings that you’ve done, if the issue were just clogs, the printhead should be now in good working order. If that’s not the case, either the nozzles were already fried or those intensive cleanings must have killed them for good.

I don’t know if it’s worthwhile the expense of a new printhead, depending on what it costs compared to a new printer, but don’t ever be tempted to purchase a spare printhead on Ebay, Aliexpress or even Amazon. Those are used units and the chances of finding one of them in good condition are quite remote.