Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Subject:
Color Shift Prevention / Correction
Detail:
There are 2 types of Color Shifts caused by the printer (horizontal lines out of registration). To identify them, you will
need to use PG-Type 6.
1. Faulty Color Reproduction: the horizontal lines that correspond to each color are not superimposed, but rather
parallel with each other.
Causes: Mechanical failure at the ITB Drive Level, dirty Belt, faulty Gears or ITB Motor, reversed ITB Cleaning Blade.
2. Faulty Color Reproduction: the horizontal lines that correspond to each color are not all superimposed and at least
one line is not parallel to the others. In this case, often, the vertical lines are also slightly out of registration.
Causes: Most often this happens following a service call (when the Laser Unit was swapped, when the Laser Unit was
replaced, the DC Controller Memory cleared, etc.). These operations can cause the Lasers to fall out of registration.
The Color Registration in Printer Mode (PG-Type6) is dependant on the 4 Lasers, the Test Pattern Reader, the IMG Board
and the Maisy Board (DC Controller) as well as on ITB Drive status. In any case, an Image Processing Board,
Motherboard or Sub Board could never be the cause.
(1/5)
iRC4580i-043
The test patterns printed on the ITB are read by the Test Pattern Reader that transmits the information to the DC
Controller. The DC Controller calculates the timing of each Laser so that they are synchronized with the data from
the yellow Laser.
It is therefore important to remember, when exchanging the Black Laser with that of another color in the machine, that
the Laser Unit that serves as black must always have the Lens Motor in the middle position.
This is never the case if it has been swapped with a unit that has served as a Color Laser, as the Lens correction position
system has been activated to print.
(2/5)
iRC4580i-043
Example of A4 PG-Type6 with a color shift.
NOTE: In this example, the M,Y,C,K horizontal lines are not parallel, which implies a faulty Laser registration.
Distance D represents the space between two lines of color. In the illustration, we see that D is not the same
distance at the front as it is at the rear-end of the paper. The lines are therefore not parallel, which implies that
the Lens Motors are not in registration.
(3/5)
iRC4580i-043
To check that the Laser Lens is indeed in the middle position:
Detach the vertical Cover from the Laser Unit in charge of printing black (K). Check that the Cam edge is visible through
the opening (see illustration). If this is not the case, manually turn the Motor clockwise to find the right position.
With the side cover removed, we can see the corrective lens as well as the step motor.
(4/5)
iRC4580i-043
Keep in mind:
Swapping a Color Laser with a Black Laser:
Since the Color Laser is not in the middle position, it could impede the correct alignment of the other three when it is used
to replace the black one. If such is the case, please carry out the above procedure. Sometimes even doing this is not enough
and a Color Shift may still occur. You will then need to execute the following command:
In some cases, the Color Laser correction is such that the Cam can get blocked (hard point) and it becomes impossible
to obtain the correct Lens position automatically. We advise you then, to manually set each of the Laser Cams.
Note:
Enter the values for each laser in Service Mode 1 > ADJUST/LASER.
Do not rely on P Print or label values, rather enter the data from each laser unit label.
Validate the operation by carrying out an “Automatic Halftone Setting” in quick mode.
Then execute another PG-Type 6.
The setting is successful when the PG-Type 6 appears to have been done in monochrome black.
While doing these operations, we strongly advise you to not execute a “Clear DC Controller” operation, as it will
delete all the values entered for the Laser data. The effects of this clearing more often than not lead to more
confusion and problems, without resolving the fault in any way.
(5/5)