Ink dots showing!

[madmardle]

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum but here goes anyway. I use a Canon Pixma iP 4500, and I am experiencing two problems. Whenever I attempt to print a photo containing black it comes out purple, but worse than that, all the individual ink dots show. To give an example, I downloaded a batch of photos from facebook of my granddaughter modeling clothes, and the ones where she was wearing plain black dresses, on my prints she looked as if she was wearing ribbed dress material, but it only shows on the black. I took the memory card to Max Speilman and the prints came out fine. Anyone have any idea what the problem might be please?
Before anyone asks, I don't use Canon inks as I simply can't afford them, however, the shop where I get the ink from also uses the same model printer and obviously he uses his own refills.
If the printer is cream crackered, any suggestions on a reasonably priced printer? I can't seem to find just a printer, they all seem to be all-in-ones now, and as I have a scanner I don't really need an all in one.
Apologies if this is in the wrong forum.

 

[Nod]

I would say it could well be an ink problem. Genuine inks aren't cheap but if your prints are no good, every one you do is a waste of ink (cheap as it may be, it's not free!) and money. The shop have probably taken the time to get their printer profile correct for their inks which would explain why their prints look OK. I would be very surprised if they were as good as genuine ink prints after a few weeks in the open air.

 

[mho]

but worse than that, all the individual ink dots show. To give an example, I downloaded a batch of photos from facebook

Is is caused by the low quality and very small size of the image from facebook, and your printer just hasn't got the information it needs to give you a quality print, when you print it at MS the kiosk printer has an advanced hardware / software routine it uses to make the image larger, plus it will be a dye-sub printer so wont use ink cartridges.

Using a higher pixel count image will combat this problem.

 

[zednini]

Have you tried printing a nozzle check. Sounds as if one of the blacks is partially clogged.

 

[madmardle]

OK thanks for the replies, I've just tried a couple of prints taken with a nikon compact and had the same trouble so it looks as if it is the printer rather than the small images, I'll try printing an image taken with my D90 and I'm also expecting a D7100 next week so I'll also try some from that. ( I've tried the nozzle check) Any thoughts on a replacement printer?
Cheers,
Ken