Printer Nozzle Check
This is a nozzle check pattern for inkjet printers: one tightly spaced comb of horizontal lines per ink channel (black, cyan, magenta, yellow), similar in purpose to the nozzle check your printer's own utility software can print. Gaps or breaks in a line mean nozzles for that color aren't firing correctly.
If the button doesn't work, press Ctrl+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+P (Mac) to open your browser's print dialog.
This is an on-screen preview. Your printer, paper, ink or toner level, and print driver settings all affect the final physical result.
How to use this printer test
- This test is for inkjet printers. If you have a laser printer, use our Black & White or Color test instead.
- Set color mode to "Color" in your print dialog so all four line combs print with their correct ink.
- Print at 100% scale on plain paper.
- Hold the page at arm's length in good light and check each colored line comb from top to bottom.
What should the printed page look like?
Continuous lines
Every line in every color comb should run unbroken from left edge to right edge.
Gaps or breaks
A short blank segment in one or more lines means the nozzles responsible for that section aren't dispensing ink.
Faint or thin lines
A line that's consistently lighter than the others in the same color suggests a partially, rather than fully, clogged nozzle.
One color completely blank
If an entire color's comb is missing, that cartridge is likely empty rather than clogged — check ink levels first.
Common printer problems
Small gaps in one or two lines of a single color
Likely cause: A small number of nozzles for that ink are clogged with dried ink, common after the printer sits unused for a while.
How to fix it: Run your printer's standard nozzle cleaning cycle once, reprint this test, and repeat up to two or three times if needed.
Large gaps across most lines of one color even after cleaning
Likely cause: A more stubborn clog, or that specific print head/cartridge nearing end of life.
How to fix it: Try your printer's "deep cleaning" option if it has one, or remove and reseat that cartridge. If gaps persist after several cleaning cycles, the cartridge or head may need replacing.
All colors show gaps in the same position
Likely cause: A paper feed or head alignment issue rather than a clogged nozzle, since a true clog is usually color-specific.
How to fix it: Check for paper dust or debris on the print head rail, and run our Print Head Alignment test to rule out a mechanical cause.
Frequently asked questions
How do I print a nozzle check?
Print this page in color at 100% scale, then check each of the four line combs — black, cyan, magenta and yellow — for gaps or breaks from left to right.
What should a nozzle check look like?
A healthy nozzle check shows four solid, evenly spaced combs of horizontal lines with no gaps, breaks, or noticeably faint sections in any color.
How many cleaning cycles should I run for a clogged nozzle?
Most manufacturers recommend running the standard cleaning cycle once, reprinting the test, and repeating up to two or three times — running many cycles back-to-back can waste ink without further improvement.
Does this work for laser printers?
No. Nozzle clogging is an inkjet-specific issue. For laser printers, use our Printer Test Page or Black & White Test to check toner distribution instead.