Epson ET-2850 printout is blurry or smeared
Cause 1 of 5The paper is damp, curled, old or loaded incorrectly. Source: Solving Problems: Blurry or Smeared Printout, p. 223
First checkUse paper that meets the product specifications, make sure the printable side is correct, and slide the edge guides to the edges of the paper.
Causes and checks
The paper is damp, curled, old or loaded incorrectly. Source: Solving Problems: Blurry or Smeared Printout, p. 223
- Use paper that meets the product specifications, make sure the printable side is correct, and slide the edge guides to the edges of the paper.
Sheets pile up in the output tray, or glossy paper is handled right after printing. Source: Solving Problems: Blurry or Smeared Printout, p. 223
- Remove each sheet from the output tray as it prints, and avoid handling glossy printouts until the ink has set.
Both sides of a sheet are printed, and smudges appear on the reverse side of heavily saturated images. Source: Solving Problems: Blurry or Smeared Printout, p. 223
- Print the side with the lighter image or text first, and make sure the ink has dried before reloading the paper to print on the other side.
The ink levels may be low or the nozzles clogged. Source: Solving Problems: Blurry or Smeared Printout, pp. 223-224
- Check the ink levels visually and refill if needed. See Refill the ink tanks.
- Run a nozzle check and clean the print head if necessary. See Run a nozzle check from the control panel.
You printed when the ink level was too low to see in the ink tank windows. Source: Solving Problems: Blurry or Smeared Printout, p. 224
- Refill the ink tanks to the upper lines, run the Power Cleaning, then run a nozzle check. See Run a Power Cleaning from the control panel.
All 5 causes checked. Contact Epson Support: (562) 276-4382.
Service
If the checks above do not clear it, contact Epson Support: (562) 276-4382, epson.com/support. United States; Canada (905) 709-3839. 6 AM to 8 PM Pacific Time Monday to Friday and 7 AM to 4 PM Saturday. Source: Solving Problems: Where to Get Help, pp. 238-239
Other ET-2850 problems
- Product does not turn on or off2 causes in the manual. First: the power cord is loose, or the power button was not held long enough.
- Paper does not feed or several sheets feed at once4 causes in the manual. First: paper does not feed for printing.
- Paper does not eject fully or comes out wrinkled3 causes in the manual. First: the wrong paper size is set, so the paper does not eject fully.
- White or dark lines across the printout6 causes in the manual. First: print head nozzles are clogged.
Sources
- User's Guide, ET-2850. Epson America, Inc. Document CPD-60206, revision CPD-60206R1, 259 pages, en-US. files.support.epson.com (PDF). Listed on the manufacturer's support page. Retrieved 13 November 2026.
Page numbers are the numbers printed in the manual. Where this page and the manual differ, follow the manual.