Digital booths
Diagnose print banding before changing the photo
Use a printer check pattern to separate a file problem from a print defect.
Regular horizontal lines across a face may come from the printer rather than the camera or export. A known test pattern and a same-file reprint help isolate the stage. Use the exact maintenance instructions for the booth’s printer model.
Print the same file twice
Look for whether the line repeats at the same place within the image or stays fixed relative to the paper feed. A defect fixed to the image suggests the file or processing; a line that crosses different image areas at the same feed position points toward the print path. Keep paper type and print settings constant during this comparison.
Evidence: Printer manufacturer troubleshooting
Check a nozzle pattern
Where the installed printer provides a nozzle check, print its diagnostic pattern and look for missing segments. The manufacturer’s guide may also recommend checking loaded media, print speed, head alignment or ink supply. Those controls differ by model, so do not copy a procedure from an unrelated printer.
Evidence: Printer manufacturer troubleshooting
Verify after each correction
Make one documented maintenance adjustment, then print the same test image again. If a colour channel disappears across the entire strip, compare the nozzle pattern before recolouring the photo. Preserve a sample of the faulty print and note the printer, media and date for a repeatable service report.
Evidence: Printer manufacturer troubleshooting
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- Epson ET-8550 Support, My printout has lines running through itPrinter manufacturer troubleshooting