What Is Toner Blasting?

Toner blasting creates a gray background around printed images.

Copy machines and laser printers use toner, a type of electrically charged ink, to print text and images on paper. Toner blasting can occur during this process, and it can negatively affect print quality.

Definition

Toner blasting is an effect caused by the saturation of excess toner around images or graphics printed on paper. Toner blasting also is called background graying, because unwanted ink appears in the white space around letters or images, giving printed objects a gray background.

Causes

Thicker media, such as heavy paper or thick envelopes, can cause toner blasting. Toner is transferred to the printer or copier drum through a charge applied to the paper by a roller device. Thicker media can interfere with the charge transfer, which can result in excess toner detaching from the drum. Thick media also can rub against the drum with greater pressure than standard weight paper. This pressure causes the media to pick up extra toner, causing the toner blasting effect.

Solutions

Using standard weight paper and other media typically can solve toner blasting issues. Adjusting the density setting on the printer device causes more toner to remain on the roller instead of the drum, limiting excess toner on the drum and decreasing the toner blasting effect on the printed media.

References

• Toner Refills: Blasting
• "Fix Your Laser Printer and Save a Bundle"; Paul Lapsansky; 2005

Resources

• "Troubleshooting and Repairing Computer Printers"'; Stephen J. Bigelow; 1996