Mimaki Test Print Problems & How to Fix Them

Mimaki test print problems almost always come down to a few causes: dried or clogged nozzles, a dirty wiper or cap, air in the ink path, a worn damper, or a head set too high. Print the test pattern (TEST PRINT / TEST DRAW on the printer menu), compare it with the fixes below, and work from the gentlest fix to the strongest. This guide applies to Mimaki eco-solvent (JV, CJV), UV (UJF, UJV, UCJV, JFX), textile (TS, Tx) and DTF (TxF) printers.

Read your test print: symptom, cause and fix

What the test print shows	Most likely cause	What to do
A few lines missing in one color	Dried ink on the nozzle plate, dirty wiper	Normal cleaning, then clean wiper and cap
Same nozzles missing after several cleanings	Clogged nozzle or air in the ink path	Hard cleaning or nozzle wash; check ink level and cartridge seating
Whole color missing or very faint	Empty ink, failed damper, or air in the line	Check ink, replace the damper, run an ink fill / head cleaning
Lines bent, doubled or blurry	Ink or dust on the head, head too high	Clean around the head; lower the head height for the media
Lines come and go between test prints	Worn cap not sealing, wiper not wiping	Replace the cap or wiper
Banding on prints but test print looks fine	Media feed correction or bidirectional (Dot Position) adjustment	Run media feed correction and drop position adjustment

Step-by-step: how to fix missing nozzles on a Mimaki

Print a test pattern and note which colors and nozzles are missing or bent.
Run a normal head cleaning from the CLEANING menu, then print the test pattern again. Do not run hard cleanings back to back; they use a lot of ink.
Clean the wiper and cap. Use the station maintenance menu to move the carriage out, then clean the wiper, cap rubber and the area around the head with a cleaning stick and Mimaki maintenance liquid made for your ink type. Never touch the nozzle plate itself.
Run a hard cleaning (or nozzle wash, if your model has it) for nozzles that are still out, then test print again.
Check the ink supply. Make sure cartridges or ink packs are not empty or expired and are seated correctly. A whole color dropping out usually points to ink supply, air or the damper.
Replace worn parts. A torn wiper, a cap that no longer seals or a dented damper will keep causing missing nozzles no matter how often you clean.
Use nozzle recovery on models that have it to cover a few dead nozzles while you wait for parts, and call us if a color will not come back.

Daily habits that prevent test print problems

Print a test pattern every morning and before long jobs.
Keep the printer powered on so its automatic maintenance can run.
Clean the wiper and cap on a schedule, and replace wipers and caps before they wear out.
Keep the room within the printer's temperature and humidity range; dry air dries nozzles faster.
Use genuine Mimaki ink and the matching maintenance liquid.

Mimaki parts and supplies for test print problems

Mimaki parts, printers and ink: wipers, caps, dampers, cleaning sticks and print heads by model and part number.
Mimaki flushing and maintenance liquid.
Mimaki eco-solvent ink (SS21, BS3, BS4, ES3), Mimaki UV ink (LUS, LH-100), Mimaki sublimation ink and Mimaki DTF ink.

Still missing nozzles? Buckets of Ink is an authorized Mimaki dealer. Send a photo of your test print and your model, or call 480-229-7806, and we will help you find the cause and the right part.

Mimaki test print FAQ

Why is my Mimaki test print missing lines?

Missing lines mean nozzles are not firing. The usual causes are dried ink on the nozzle plate, a dirty wiper or cap, air in the ink path, or a failing damper. Run a normal cleaning and print the test pattern again; if the same nozzles stay out, clean the wiper and cap, then try a hard cleaning.

Why are the lines on my Mimaki test print bent or doubled?

Bent (deflected) lines usually come from ink or dust built up around the nozzle plate, or a head height set too high for the media. Clean around the head with a cleaning stick and Mimaki maintenance liquid, check the head height, and print the test pattern again.

How often should I run a Mimaki test print?

Print a test pattern at the start of every work day and before any long or expensive job. Catching a missing nozzle on a test print costs a strip of media; catching it on a finished print costs the whole job.

When should I replace the wiper, cap or damper on my Mimaki?

Replace the wiper when it is torn, hard or no longer wipes cleanly, and the cap when its rubber lip is damaged or it stops sealing. Replace a damper when the same color keeps dropping out after cleanings or the damper looks dented or leaks. Call 480-229-7806 to match the part to your printer.

Can Buckets of Ink help me fix my Mimaki test print?

Yes. Buckets of Ink is an authorized Mimaki dealer. Send us a photo of your test print and your printer model and we will help you find the cause and the right part. Call 480-229-7806.