all my prints have faint horizontal white lines or gaps in the color, especially cyan.

Diagnosis

The appearance of faint horizontal white lines or "banding" in the Canon PIXMA TS6520 is caused by partial obstructions in the microscopic nozzles of the printhead. Because this model uses a fine-nozzle inkjet system, even a tiny speck of dried ink or a trapped air bubble in the cyan channel will prevent a consistent stream of ink from hitting the page. As the printhead moves back and forth, these missing droplets create the characteristic gaps or streaks you see in the final image.

This most commonly occurs if the printer has sat idle for more than two weeks, allowing the ink at the nozzle interface to dehydrate and harden. It can also happen if you have recently replaced a cartridge and an air pocket was introduced into the ink delivery system. You can confirm this by printing a "Nozzle Check" pattern; if the cyan grid contains white gaps or missing segments, the issue is confirmed as a physical blockage rather than a software or driver setting.

How to Fix It

To clear these obstructions, you must perform a graduated cleaning process via the printer's OLED interface. Follow these exact steps:

1. Press the Setup button (represented by the pliers/screwdriver icon) on the printer's control panel.
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to Maintenance and press the OK button.
3. Select Cleaning and press OK. Select "All Colors" and let the process run for approximately 90 seconds.
4. Once finished, select Print Nozzle Check from the Maintenance menu. If the cyan lines still show gaps, you must escalate to a more aggressive clean.
5. Return to the Maintenance menu and select Deep Cleaning. This process uses a higher pressure of ink to force out stubborn clogs.
6. Wait for the Deep Cleaning cycle to complete fully. Do not power off the printer during this phase.
7. Print another Nozzle Check. If the lines are now solid, the issue is resolved. If they are still faint, repeat the Deep Cleaning one more time, but wait 24 hours between cycles to allow any trapped air bubbles to naturally rise and dissipate.

If That Didn't Work

If the software-based cleaning cycles fail to remove the banding, try these advanced recovery methods:

• Manual Printhead Priming: Remove the ink cartridges and check for any orange protective tape remnants that may be partially blocking the vents. If the cartridges are genuine Canon PG-260/CL-261, ensure the vents on top are completely clear. A blocked vent creates a vacuum that prevents ink from flowing, causing the "faint" look.
• The Damp Cloth Method: Power off the printer and open the scanning unit. Carefully remove the cartridges. Use a lint-free microfiber cloth dampened with distilled water (not rubbing alcohol) and gently dab the bottom of the printhead assembly where the ink exits. This can manually dissolve dried ink crusts that the internal pumps cannot reach.
• Print Alignment Calibration: Sometimes "lines" are actually misalignment issues rather than clogs. Navigate to Setup > Maintenance > Print Head Alignment. Choose "Auto Alignment." The printer will print a series of patterns and use the scanner to calibrate the head position, which often eliminates perceived gaps.
• Cartridge Replacement: If the cyan ink is specifically failing after a Deep Cleaning, the cartridge itself may have a faulty seal or a manufacturing defect in the ink delivery channel. Replace the CL-261 color cartridge with a fresh, genuine Canon unit to rule out a defective ink supply.

Heads Up

Keep these maintenance tips in mind to prevent future banding:

• Print Weekly: To prevent ink from drying in the nozzles, print at least one full-color page every 7 to 10 days.
• Avoid Third-Party Inks: Non-genuine inks often have different viscosities and surface tensions, which frequently lead to nozzle clogging and "faint" streaks on the TS6520 model.
• Power Down Correctly: Always use the power button on the panel rather than a power strip. This ensures the printhead parks in the "capped" position, sealing the nozzles from air.
• Ink Levels: Never let your ink levels drop to the "critical" empty mark. Running a cartridge nearly dry can suck air into the printhead, requiring multiple Deep Cleaning cycles to fix.