Solve Problems : Problems and Solutions

Image Quality Problems (quality problem appears on screen)
If a scanned image on your computer screen has a quality problem, check the solutions in this section.
If the image looks correct on screen but prints with poor quality, check for print quality problems.
Image Consists of a Few Dots Only
Line of Dots Appears in All Scanned Images
Straight Lines in Image Appear Crooked
Image Is Distorted or Blurry
Image Colors Are Patchy at the Edges
Image Is Too Dark
Back of Original Image Appears in Scanned Image
Ripple Patterns Appear in Image
Image Colors Do Not Match Original Colors
Scan Area Not Adjustable in Thumbnail Preview
Image Consists of a Few Dots Only
Make sure the document is placed on the document table with the side to be scanned facing down.
When scanning with the Black&White setting in Home or Professional Mode, adjust the Threshold setting.
Line of Dots Appears in All Scanned Images
If a dotted line appears in the image, clean the scanner glass with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth (paper towels are not recommended), or use a small amount of glass cleaner on a soft cloth, if necessary. Don’t spray glass cleaner directly on the glass.
Straight Lines in Image Appear Crooked
Make sure the document lies perfectly straight on the document table.
Image Is Distorted or Blurry
Make sure the document lies flat on the document table. Also make sure your document is not wrinkled or warped.
Make sure you do not move the document or the Epson Stylus CX8400 Series while scanning.
Make sure the Epson Stylus CX8400 Series is placed on a flat, stable surface.
Select Unsharp Mask in Epson Scan’s Professional Mode.
Adjust the Auto Exposure setting in Epson Scan’s Professional Mode.
Increase the Resolution setting in Epson Scan’s Home or Professional Mode.
Image Colors Are Patchy at the Edges
If your document is very thick or warped at the edges, cover the edges with paper to block external light as you scan.
Image Is Too Dark
Adjust the Auto Exposure setting in Epson Scan’s Professional Mode.
Check the Brightness setting in Epson Scan’s Home or Professional Mode, or adjust brightness using the Histogram in Professional Mode (see Epson Scan Help).
Back of Original Image Appears in Scanned Image
If your original is printed on thin paper, images on the back may be visible to the Epson Stylus CX8400 Series and appear in your scanned image. Try scanning the original with a piece of black paper placed on the back of it.
Ripple Patterns Appear in Image
A rippled pattern (called a moiré) may appear in a scanned image of a printed document. It is caused by interference from the differing pitches in the scanner’s screen and the halftone screen in your original. To reduce this effect:
Select the Descreening option in Epson Scan’s Home or Professional Mode.
Select a lower Resolution setting in Epson Scan’s Home or Professional Mode.
Image Colors Do Not Match Original Colors
Change the Image Type setting in Epson Scan’s Home or Professional Mode. Select different combinations of this setting and the others mentioned below.
Try selecting a different Tone Correction or Auto Exposure setting in Professional Mode.
Check the color matching and color management capabilities of your computer, display adapter, and software. Some computers can change the palette of colors on your screen. See your software and hardware manuals for details.
Printed colors can never exactly match the colors on your monitor because printers and monitors use different color systems: monitors use RGB (red, green, and blue) and printers typically use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black).
Scan Area Not Adjustable in Thumbnail Preview