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Nozzle Check Printer Test Page
A nozzle check is the fastest way to find out whether an inkjet printhead has clogged nozzles. Print this page and read the gaps.
Set scaling to 100%. Choose Actual Size in the print dialog, never Fit to page — scaling distorts every measurement on this sheet. The Download PDF button hands you that same sheet as a ready-made file, so there is no scaling decision to get wrong.
How to print the Nozzle Check Printer Test Page
- Load plain white paper. Glossy paper and photo modes change how ink lays down and can hide gaps.
- Open this page on the computer or phone connected to the printer.
- In the print dialog choose Best or High quality and colour mode. Leave draft/eco off.
- Set scaling to Actual Size / 100%.
- Print, then compare each row against the table below.
- Run one cleaning cycle, wait five minutes, and reprint to confirm improvement.
Reading the result
| Every row is solid | All nozzles are firing. If your print still looks wrong, the problem is elsewhere — check the paper type setting, the print quality mode, or run the alignment page. |
| Small gaps in one colour | Early-stage clog in that channel only. Run one head cleaning cycle from the printer utility, wait five minutes, and reprint this page. |
| A whole colour row missing | That channel is not firing at all. Check the cartridge is seated and has ink, then run a deep clean. On Epson models with permanent heads, a missing channel often means air in the line rather than dried ink. |
| Gaps in every row | The head is broadly blocked, or the printer is in a degraded mode. Confirm you are printing in Best/High quality with colour mode enabled — draft mode skips nozzles by design and will show false gaps. |
| Gaps persist after two cleanings and a rest | Stop cleaning. Repeated cleaning wastes ink and can damage the head. Leave the printer powered on overnight so ink can rehydrate, then test once more before considering a replacement head. |
Also check
- Gradient and banding page — Gaps in a nozzle check mean nozzles are not firing at all. Stripes in a gradient mean they fire only at certain densities. Printing both separates a full blockage from a partial one.
- Colour test page — Once every row is solid, this page confirms the channels still blend correctly. A head can pass a nozzle check and still deliver uneven colour on the page.
- Alignment page — If the rows are solid but edges look doubled or text is crooked, the fault is head position rather than ink delivery, and cleaning will not help.
Related test pages
- Alignment printer test page — If lines that should be straight come out crooked, or text looks doubled, the printhead is out of alignment. This sheet measures it.
- Banding printer test page — Solid bars hide banding. Gradients expose it. This page prints both, side by side, for each channel.
- CMYK printer test page — Separating the four process channels makes it obvious which ink is underperforming — and by how much.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I print a nozzle check?
Only when you suspect a problem, or after the printer has sat unused for two weeks. Routine nozzle checks waste ink — cleaning cycles triggered unnecessarily are the single biggest cause of premature cartridge replacement.
Can I use a nozzle check on a laser printer?
No. Laser printers have no ink nozzles; they fuse toner onto the page. Use the black and white or gradient test page instead.
Why do only some colours show gaps?
Each colour has its own nozzle plate section. An isolated failure usually means that one cartridge is empty, mis-seated, or its channel has dried — not a whole-head failure.
Why does the nozzle check look perfect but my document still prints badly?
Because most document faults are not ink delivery. Banding comes from density, doubling from head position, and colour shift from the paper-type setting. Once the rows are solid, move to the gradient and alignment pages instead of cleaning again.
Should I print a nozzle check after refilling a cartridge?
Yes, once. Refilling introduces air into the line, which shows up as a partial row rather than a full one. A single check immediately after the change tells you whether the refill seated correctly before you start a real job.