Problem printing glossy photo laser paper on my 3000cn

Hello,
I am afraid I havent got an answer but exactly the same problem. When printing images, the dark color (e.g. dark green/blue) ink looks to have boiled/melted, does not stick to the paper. Smudges end up on the next sheet. Am using color laser paper, also regular paper gives same problem, though not as severely. Looks as if first print goes OK, after that things go wrong(Too hot?).

Any resolution in the meantime?

Thanks,Arno.

Hello Sam,
More info: being still in the warranty period I contacted Dell Support. They concluded there must be something wrong with the fuser and are sending me a new one.
Hope this helps.
Best regards, Arno.

Hey Arno,

I may have resolved the problem...

I found where someone said the drivers are poorly written and to change settings, you have to change them in the printer driver on your PC AND manually on the printer itself.

Also, when setting the printer manually, for paper type, there are settings for plain1, plain 2, coated1, coated2, etc.. I didn't know what those meant until looking at the settings in the driver. I am using a heavy 216 g. photo paper, in the driver it says coated1 is for something like 100 - 160 g. paper and coated2 is for 161 - 220 g. paper. Once I set the driver and the printer both to coated2 paper type, all is well. I have had just a little bit of the problem right along the edge of a couple of pictures, but most of what I have printed since has been fine.

Hope this helps!

Sam

Hi Sam,
Indeed your suggestion has resolved the problem.
(Initially the new fuser as delivered by Dell Support did not give any better results.)
Thanks a lot for your help.
Best regards,Arno.

Hey Sam / Arno:

Dell advised my 3100cn fuser was too hot for glossy photo laser paper. You seem to have solved the problem. However, my paper type selections are only: "None", "Plain 1", or "Plain 2". Do you have a different driver than "Dell PCL6 Driver Version 1.0.3 (0/5) for MS Windows 2000/XP"?

Sam / Arno:

Ok, I located the "Coated 1", "Coated 2", etc Paper Types options, eg: > Dell Laser Printer 3100cn > Printing Preferences (or Printing Defaults) > Paper Tray > MPF Settings.

I guess this is what you meant by "change [settings] in the printer driver on your PC [vs] manually on the printer itself [using the Menu button].

But all thanks to your post(s)!

Hey wlfoote,

Glad it helped!

Sam

Hi everyone,

Here is the answare to this solution, I have picked some
tables from dell's user guide that is on your pc. Installed with
drivers. Just go ther and type in index "Coated". Hope this will
help a lot :).


Multipurpose feeder
Plain Paper 1(60–80 gsm) Y
Plain Paper 1-Side2 (60–80 gsm) Y
Plain Paper 2 (81–105 gsm) Y
Plain Paper 2-Side2 (81–105 gsm) Y
Covers 1 (106–163 gsm) Y
Covers 1-Side2 (106–163 gsm) Y
Covers 2 (164–216 gsm) Y
Covers 2-Side2 (164–216 gsm) Y
Transparency Y
Labels Y
Coated 1 (106–163 gsm) Y
Coated 1-Side2 (106 –163 gsm) Y
Coated 2 (164–216 gsm) Y
Coated 2-Side2 (164 –216 gsm) Y
Envelope Y

Ave Maria!

I had the same problem and the same solution. I guess Dell isn't planning on fixing the firmware (note it is now 2012).

JMJ,

Friar John Mary

I'm having the same problem.  How do I go about chaning the settings manually on the printer driver of your PC?

 

Thanks,

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,

You should be able to change the settings on the operator panel of the printer by choosing the paper type in the paper menu. Then, change it in the printer preferences on your computer to match. You can do this by opening printers and faxes or devices and printers depending on your windows version and right clicking the printer and opening printer preferences.