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220-1201 Practice Question: That their inkjet printer prints colors that are…
A user reports that their inkjet printer prints colors that are significantly different from what appears on the screen. The printer uses cyan, magenta, yellow, and black cartridges. What should the technician do first to resolve this issue?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Run the printer's color calibration utility
Color mismatch between screen and print is often due to lack of color management. The printer and monitor use different color spaces (CMYK vs. RGB). Calibrating the monitor and using ICC profiles ensures consistent color reproduction. This is the first step before replacing hardware.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace all ink cartridges with new ones
Why it's wrong here
Replacing ink cartridges is generally indicated for depleted ink levels, dried-out ink, or specific cartridge defects causing missing colors or streaks. Since the printer is producing colors, albeit incorrect shades, the ink itself is likely present and functional. The issue points to a color management or interpretation problem rather than a physical deficiency of the ink supply, making new cartridges an ineffective solution for color accuracy.
- ✓
Run the printer's color calibration utility
Why this is correct
A color calibration utility adjusts the printer's internal color tables and profiles to ensure that the colors it prints accurately match the intended input. This process typically involves printing a test pattern and using a sensor (or user input) to fine-tune the color output, correcting discrepancies in hue, saturation, and brightness. It directly addresses issues where colors are present but appear with incorrect shades or tints, aligning the printer's output with standard color profiles.
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Clean the printhead
Why it's wrong here
Cleaning the printhead is a maintenance procedure designed to clear clogged nozzles, which typically manifest as missing lines, streaks, or entirely absent colors in the printed output. While crucial for print quality, it does not adjust the color balance or the printer's interpretation of color values. If all colors are present but merely incorrect in shade, the nozzles are likely functioning, and cleaning would not resolve the underlying color accuracy problem.
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Change the paper type to photo paper
Why it's wrong here
While changing to photo paper can significantly alter the appearance of printed colors due to its specialized coating and ink absorption properties, it is not a solution for fundamental color accuracy issues. Photo paper is designed to prevent ink bleed and enhance vibrancy, but if the printer's internal color profiles are misaligned, the colors will still be incorrect, just potentially more vivid or saturated. The root problem lies in the printer's color rendering, not the medium itself.
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Hardware and Components
Key term
Red-Green-Blue
Red-Green-Blue (RGB) is a color model that combines red, green, and blue light to create a wide range of colors, primarily used in digital displays and imaging systems.
Key term
Inkjet printer
An inkjet printer is a computer peripheral that creates printed documents or images by spraying tiny droplets of liquid ink onto paper.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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