MFC-6490CW
![]() |
FAQs & Troubleshooting |
![](/g/b/img/product/mfc6490cw_all.jpg)
MFC-6490CW
Date: 20/01/2014 ID: faq00002538_002
When I print photos, the color quality is not good.
When printing photos, there are five factors that can affect the quality of the printed image. The brand of paper, mixing color, generic ink supplies, driver settings and improper drying. The steps listed below will help to enhance the photos image quality .
StepA : Checking the print quality
-
Print a Print Quality Check Sheet.
-
Press Menu.(This step might be skipped in some models.)
-
Press Ink or Ink Management.
-
Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to choose Test Print. Press OK.
-
Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to chooses Print Quality. Press OK.
- Press Color (Colour) Start or Start. The machine begins printing the Print Quality Check Sheet.
-
Press Menu.(This step might be skipped in some models.)
-
Compare the print quality of Check Sheet you just printed with the examples listed below:
(A) Mixing colors
-
If Check Sheet is normal, go to the stepB. If your Check Sheet is mixing colors or missing colors, you need to clean print head. Please refer to "How can I improve poor print quality?"
If mixing colors or missing colors are improved in head cleaning, please print once and check printing quality.
If there is still a printing quality, go to the stepB.
- For Windows users
-
Open Printing Preference. (Click here to see the details of how to open Printing Preferences.)
-
On the Basic tab, you may adjust the following settings:
-
Media Type: To achieve the best print results, the media being printed on should be selected in the driver. The machine changes the way it prints depending on the selected media type.
-
Quality: The quality selection lets you choose the print resolution. As print quality and speed are related, the higher the quality, the longer it will take to print the document. The quality selections that are available will vary depending on the media type you choose.
-
Color Mode: Color is adjusted to get the closest color match with the PC monitor.
- Natural: Use for photographic images. The color is adjusted to print more natural colors.
-
Vivid: Use for business graphics such as charts, graphics and text. The color is adjusted to print more vivid colors.
-
Media Type: To achieve the best print results, the media being printed on should be selected in the driver. The machine changes the way it prints depending on the selected media type.
- Click Apply.
- Click on the Advanced tab.
-
Click Color Settings.
-
Check Color Enhancement (True2Life®) and then adjust color.
This feature analyzes your image to improve its sharpness, white balance and color density. This process may take several minutes depending on the size of the image and the specifications of your PC. With this option you may manually adjust the following settings:
-
Color Density: Adjusts the total amount of color in the image. You can increase or decrease the amount of color in an image to improve a washed out or weak looking picture.
-
White Balance: Adjusts the hue of the white areas of an image. Lighting, camera settings and other influences will affect the appearance of white. The white areas of a picture may be slightly pink, yellow or some other color. By adjusting the white balance you can adjust those white areas.
-
Brightness: Adjusts the brightness of the whole image. To lighten or darken the image, move the scroll bar to the right or left.
-
Contrast: Adjusts the contrast of an image. This will make darker areas darker and lighter areas lighter. Increase the contrast when you want an image to be clearer. Decrease the contrast when you want an image to be more subdued.
-
Red: Increases the intensity of Red in the image to make the image redder.
-
Green: Increases the intensity of Green in the image to make the image greener.
-
Blue: Increases the intensity of Blue in the image to make the image bluer.
-
Color Density: Adjusts the total amount of color in the image. You can increase or decrease the amount of color in an image to improve a washed out or weak looking picture.
- Click OK to close the windows.
- For Mac OS X users
- Open Print dialog. (Click here to see the details of how to open Print dialog.)
- In the Print dialog box choose Print Settings.
- Click the Advanced button.
-
Click the Color Settings button.
-
Check Color Enhancement and then adjust color.
For Photo printing from a memory card or USB Flash memory drive
-
Make sure you have put a memory card or USB Flash memory drive in the proper slot.
Press Photo Capture.
- Press the up or down arrow key to choose View Photo(s). Press OK.
- Press the left or right arrow key to choose your photo.
- Set the number of copies.
- Repeat step 3 and step 4 until you have chosen all the photos.
- After you have chosen all the photos, press OK.
- Press the up or down arrow key to choose Color Enhance or True2Life. Press OK.
- Press the left or right arrow key to choose On.
- Press the up or down arrow key to choose White Balance, Sharpness or Color Density.
- Press the left or right arrow key to adjust the degree of the setting. Press OK.
- Press Color (Colour) Start to print.
Recommended ink type
-
Brother strongly recommends that customers do not use generic ink or refill their Brother ink cartridges. Using non-Brother supplies may affect the hardware performance, print quality and machine reliability since the ink formulation in genuine Brother ink cartridges prevents smearing and clogging of the print head. The Brother limited warranty does not apply to any problem that was caused by the use of unauthorized third party ink and/or cartridges.
> Brother Genuine Supplies information
Paper types
- Print quality is also affected by the type and brand of paper used as well as the selected print or copy resolution. In order to achieve optimum print quality, Brother Paper is recommended, but other brands may work as well depending on the type of document you are printing.
Proper paper handling after page has been printed
- After the photo has finished printing, remove the photo immediately from the machine and place on flat surface to dry for 24 hours. Do not allow additional printed documents lay on top of the photo while in the machines paper output tray.
- Do not place anything on top of the photo until after 24 hours. This can cause the picture not to dry properly.
- Do not place a photo in a photo album or a picture frame until after 24 hours. This can cause the picture not to dry properly.
DCP-385C, DCP-585CW, MFC-490CW, MFC-6490CW
If you need further assistance, please contact Brother customer service:
Content Feedback
To help us improve our support, please provide your feedback below.
Step 1: How does the information on this page help you?
Step 2: Are there any comments you would like to add?
Please note this form is used for feedback only.