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How-To: Print a Nozzle Check (SG500/1000)

A nozzle check is a quick diagnostic test that prints a pattern for each colour channel, allowing you to verify that every print head nozzle is firing correctly. If your prints contain missing lines, gaps, banding, incorrect colours, or other print quality issues, printing a nozzle check should always be the first step in the troubleshooting process.

This guide explains how to print a nozzle check from either the printer's control panel or Sawgrass Print Utility, and how to interpret the results. By reviewing the printed pattern, you can determine whether any nozzles are clogged and identify which print head requires maintenance.

If the nozzle check shows missing or broken lines, begin by performing a Print Head Cleaning. If the nozzle check does not improve after 2–3 head cleaning cycles, perform a Head Flush.

Important: A healthy nozzle check should display complete, unbroken lines for every colour. For printers using the VersiFlex ink set, the E channel is not displayed on the nozzle check pattern and this is expected behaviour.

 

Printing a Nozzle check from the Printer

  1. Press the [Menu] button.
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  2. Press the [▲] or [▼] button to display [Printer Features], and then press the [OK] button.
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  3. Press the [▲] or [▼] button to select [List/Test Print], and then press the [OK] button.
     
  4. Press the [▲] or [▼] button to display [Nozzle Check Pattern], and then press the [OK] button.
     
  5. Press the selection button for [Print].
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    A test pattern is printed.
     
  6. Check the printed test pattern. Note that with the VersiFlex ink set, the E channel will not show on the test pattern.

    Sublijet/Chromablast/Siser Test Pattern
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    VersiFlex Test Pattern. (See Printer Maintenance Using VersiFlex)

    Using the test pattern, check for print head clogging and the number of the clogged head.
    The number appearing above each color in the test pattern is the number of the print head.

    The print head for Cyan and Black is [Head 1].
    The print head for Yellow and Magenta is [Head 2].

    Check which print head is clogged by referring to the following illustration.

    Perfect Nozzle Check
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    When print heads are clogged
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If the print head is clogged, perform Head Cleaning.
If the problem persists, perform Head Flushing.

 

Printing a Nozzle check from Sawgrass Print Utility

  1. Open Sawgrass Print Utility.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Select Devices.
  4. Select your Sawgrass printer from the list of available devices.
  5. Click Printer Utilities.

  6. Select Nozzle Check.