If your Epson WorkForce WF-7720 is producing faded prints, you're dealing with one of the most common print quality issues affecting this wide-format all-in-one printer. Faded output typically stems from depleted ink cartridges, clogged print nozzles, incorrect print settings, or aging maintenance components. This troubleshooting guide walks you through proven printer repair steps to restore crisp, vibrant output from your WF-7720, whether you're printing documents or 13" x 19" borderless photos.
Quick Diagnostic Checks
Before diving into advanced troubleshooting, run these quick checks to isolate the cause of your faded prints. The WF-7720 uses four individual DURABrite Ultra ink cartridges (Black 252, Cyan 252, Magenta 252, Yellow 252). Low ink is the culprit in roughly 40% of faded print cases, but print head clogs and paper settings also play significant roles.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
1
Check Ink Levels and Replace Low Cartridges: Press the Home button on your WF-7720 control panel, navigate to Setup > Maintenance > Ink Levels. Look for any cartridge showing below 20% capacity. The WF-7720 will display a visual gauge for each of the four 252-series cartridges. Replace any critically low cartridge by opening the scanner unit, pressing the tab on the old cartridge, and inserting a genuine Epson 252 or 252XL high-capacity replacement. Third-party cartridges often cause inconsistent ink flow leading to faded output, so genuine Epson supplies are recommended for reliable printer support.
2
Run the Print Head Nozzle Check: From the control panel, go to Setup > Maintenance > Nozzle Check. Load plain letter-size paper and press Start. The WF-7720 will print a test pattern showing four color blocks and fine lines for each ink channel. Examine the output carefully—missing segments or faint lines indicate clogged nozzles. If you see gaps in any color block, proceed immediately to the print head cleaning cycle. Print head clogs are especially common if the printer sits idle for more than two weeks, as DURABrite ink can dry at the nozzle tips.
3
Perform Print Head Cleaning: Navigate to Setup > Maintenance > Head Cleaning on the touch panel. The WF-7720 will pump cleaning solution through the print head to dissolve dried ink. This process takes approximately two minutes and consumes a small amount of ink from all cartridges. After completion, run another Nozzle Check to verify improvement. Epson recommends no more than three cleaning cycles in succession—excessive cleaning wastes ink and can introduce air bubbles that worsen print quality. If three cleanings don't resolve faded prints, power off the printer for 24 hours to allow stubborn clogs to soften naturally.
4
Verify Print Settings and Paper Type: On your computer, open the print dialog and click Properties or Preferences. Confirm that Paper Type matches your loaded media—using "Plain Paper" settings with photo paper dramatically reduces ink density and causes faded results. For standard documents, select "Plain Paper/Bright White" and Quality set to "Standard" or higher. For presentation materials, choose "Presentation Paper Matte" and "High" quality. The WF-7720's automatic density adjustment can also be overridden here; ensure "High Speed" is unchecked if you need maximum density, as this mode uses bidirectional printing that can appear lighter.
5
Align the Print Head: Misalignment between color passes causes uneven, washed-out appearance that resembles fading. From the control panel, select Setup > Maintenance > Print Head Alignment. Choose "Auto" alignment first—the WF-7720 will print a series of patterns and use its internal sensor to correct registration. For persistent issues, run "Manual" alignment and select the best-looking pattern from each of the 16 printed rows. Proper alignment ensures Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black nozzles fire in precise registration, eliminating banding and color weakness that tech support teams frequently misdiagnose as simple fading.
6
Clean the Paper Path and Check Rollers: Over time, the WF-7720's paper feed rollers accumulate dust and paper fiber residue that affects media transport speed. Inconsistent paper movement causes variable ink density across the page. Power off and unplug the printer, then open the rear cover. Use a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water to wipe the gray rubber rollers visible in the paper path. Allow 10 minutes for complete drying before reconnecting power. Also inspect the output tray area for any torn paper fragments that might interfere with proper ejection timing.
⚠️ Important: Never use compressed air, alcohol, or ammonia-based cleaners on the WF-7720 print head or internal components. These substances can damage the delicate nozzle plate coating and dissolve lubricants in the carriage assembly. For stubborn clogs that resist standard cleaning, contact professional printer repair rather than attempting manual wiping of the print head, which carries high risk of permanent damage.
Still Need Help With Your Epson Printer?
If these troubleshooting steps didn't resolve the issue, our certified Epson printer technicians are standing by. Get expert support in minutes.
Why are my Epson WorkForce WF-7720 prints faded even with full ink cartridges?
Full cartridges don't guarantee proper ink flow. The most likely causes are clogged print head nozzles, incorrect paper type settings in the driver, or a failing print head after extended use. Run the nozzle check pattern first—if you see missing segments, perform head cleaning. Also verify you're not using "Draft" quality mode, which intentionally reduces ink density for faster output.
How often should I clean the print head to prevent faded prints?
Prevention is more effective than reactive cleaning. Print at least one color page weekly to keep ink circulating through the nozzles. If you won't use the WF-7720 for over a month, power it off using the proper shutdown sequence rather than unplugging it—this caps the print head properly. Only run cleaning cycles when nozzle checks show actual gaps; unnecessary cleanings deplete ink and can degrade long-term print head reliability.
Can third-party ink cause faded printing on the WF-7720?
Yes, significantly. Non-genuine 252 cartridges often use thinner ink formulations with different viscosity and pigment particle sizes. These variations can produce lighter output, inconsistent color matching, and increased clogging frequency. Additionally, some third-party chips don't communicate accurately with the WF-7720's monitoring system, causing the printer to apply incorrect voltage to the print head. For troubleshooting faded prints, switch to genuine Epson cartridges as an elimination step.