Lexmark C/XC61xx, CS/X82xx, and XC81xx: Washed-out or Non-existent Shades of Gray when Copying

Single-Function: C6160, CS820, CS827

Multifunction: CX820, CX825, CX827, CX860, XC6152, XC6153, XC8155, XC8160, XC8163

When copying, the copy results in grayscale elements either missing, greatly muted, or washed out.

Sample good copy

Sample copy with washed out grayscales

The Background Removal feature detects lighter shades of gray as possible discolorations (non-white tints) in the media and removes them. The intention is to clean-up copies and scans when originals comprise dirty media, special media, or media using low-grade paper fiber.

Unwanted activation of this feature can occur should the scanner register light colors surrounding the perimeter (edge) of the page.

Any one of these remedies may improve grayscale performance when making copies.

Remedy 1. Set Background Removal to a value of -2

For the current job:

1. Touch Copy.



2. Touch Scan Quality.



3. Touch Background Removal.



4. Move the slider to -2.

For subsequent jobs and a semi-permanent setting change:

1. Touch Settings.



2. TouchCopy.



3. TouchAdvanced Imaging.



4. TouchBackground Removal.

Or, you can make this change remotely using the Embedded Web Server (EWS):

1. Obtain the printer's IP address.



2. Enter this address into your web browser; i.e., http://_IP_address, and hit Enter.



3. Under Settings, click Copy, and Advanced Imaging, and then scroll down to Background Removal.



4. Move the slider to -2.



5. Click Save.

   Click here

   for EWS illustration

Remedy 2. Set Content Type to Photo

For the current job:

1. Touch Copy.



2. Touch Content.



3. Touch Content Type.



4. Select Photo.

For subsequent jobs and a semi-permanent setting change:

1. Touch Settings.



2. Touch Copy.



3. Touch Content Type.



4. Touch Photo.

Or, you can make this change remotely using the Embedded Web Server (EWS):

1. Obtain the IP address of the printer.



2. Enter this address into your web browser, i.e., http://_IP_address, and hit Enter.



3. Under Settings, click Copy, and select Photo next to

   Content Type.



4. Click Save.

   Click here

   for EWS illustration.

Note: N

ote that using the Photo setting causes the scanning process to run at half of the rated speed.

Determine which color is having the issue by printing the “Print Quality Samples”. To do this from the Control Panel, navigate through: Settings > Report > Print Quality Pages.

Remedy 3. Load page upside down

If the bottom has a 1/2 inch (12mm) of bottom margin, then you can rotate the original 180 degrees.

Remedy 4. Modify top margin

If you can modify the original, then you can try to modify the top margin (white space) such that it is at least 1/2 inch or greater.

Have the following available when calling Lexmark Technical Support;

• Printer model(s)

• Printer serial number

LEGACY ID: SO8000