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Troubleshooting Print Quality Issues

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Troubleshooting Print Quality Issues

Issue
The quality of the printout or printed image is not as expected.
Try the following solutions in the order presented to resolve the issue. When one of the solutions resolves the issue, there is no need to continue troubleshooting.
NOTE: Some of the following solutions require the full HP software. If you did not install the full software when you installed your product, click here to go to the software and drivers page , and then download and install the full feature software.
Solution one: Use genuine cartridges
HP recommends that you use genuine HP cartridges. Genuine HP cartridges are designed and tested with HP printers to help you easily produce great results, time after time. HP cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-HP supplies. Warranty does not cover product service or repairs required as a result of using a non-HP ink supply. HP recommends that you make sure that you are using genuine HP cartridges before continuing.
Solution two: Allow the All-in-One to rest
Sometimes, print-quality issues can be resolved during a period of inactivity. Consider waiting for about 40 minutes, and then try the print job again.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
  • If the issue persists , continue to the next solution.
Solution three: Check the paper
Use the following guidelines to make sure that the paper you are using is appropriate for the print job. If it is not, reload the product with an appropriate paper type.
  • Load the paper print side down in the input tray. Many papers have printing and nonprinting sides.
  • Do not use wrinkled or curled paper. Load only clean, wrinkle-free paper into the product.
  • Use the correct paper type for your project. For everyday text documents, plain paper works well. For documents with dense printing, such as high contrast graphics or photographs, use HP Advanced Photo Paper for the best results.
  • Store photo paper in its original packaging inside a resealable plastic bag. Store the paper on a flat surface in a cool, dry place. Load photo paper only when you are ready to print, and then put the unused paper back in the packaging.
  • Try using a different paper. Paper that does not accept ink well is also prone to print defects. HP designs ink and paper to work together.
NOTE: Inappropriate paper usually causes vertical streaks in printouts. Do not replace cartridges to fix vertical streaks. Instead, use the correct paper type as described above.
Figure 1: Vertical streaks in printout
Illustration of vertical streaks in printout.
If your printout contains horizontal streaks or print quality issues other than vertical streaks, continue to the next solution, or search for a document that covers this issue.
Figure 2: Horizontal streaks in printout
Illustration of horizontal streaks in printout.
Solution four: Check the print settings
Follow these steps to check the print settings to make sure that they are appropriate for your print job.
  1. In the software program you are trying to print from, click File , and then click Print . The Print dialog box opens.
  2. Select your product, and then click Properties . The printer Properties dialog box opens.
  3. Click the Printing Shortcuts tab.
  4. Under Printing shortcuts , click the type of job you are trying to print.
  5. Review the following options, and then make any necessary changes.
    • Paper sizes : Make sure that the selected option matches your paper size.
    • Paper type : If one of the options matches your paper type exactly, select that option.
    • Print quality : If you are dissatisfied with the quality of your printouts, increase the print quality.
  6. Click the Features tab.
  7. Under Color Options , make sure that Print in grayscale is not selected.
  8. Click OK , and then click OK again to start the print job.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
  • If the issue persists , continue to the next solution.
Solution five: Check ink levels and replace low or empty cartridges
Follow these steps to check the ink levels on your product, and then replace low or empty cartridges according to the results.
NOTE: Ink level warnings and indicators provide estimates for planning purposes only. When an indicator shows low ink levels, consider having a replacement ink cartridge available to avoid possible printing delays. Print quality deteriorates as cartridges run out of ink.
  1. Open HP Solution Center:
    • Windows XP: Click Start , click All Programs , click HP , and then click HP Solution Center .
    • Windows Vista: Click the Windows icon ( ), click All Programs , click HP , and then click HP Solution Center .
    HP Solution Center opens in a new window.
  2. Click Settings ( ).
  3. In the Print Settings area, click Printer Toolbox . The printer Toolbox opens.
  4. Click the Estimated Ink Levels tab. The estimated ink levels display in a graphic on the computer.
    Figure 3: Estimated ink level graphic in the Toolbox - Black ink slightly lower than color ink
    Illustration of estimated ink levels
    The colored bars represent the estimated ink levels in the corresponding cartridge. Full color bars represent high ink levels, while color bars that approach the bottom of the bar represent low ink.
Solution six: Print and evaluate a print quality diagnostic report and troubleshoot defects
Follow these steps to print, and then evaluate a print quality diagnostic report.
Step one: Print a print quality diagnostic report
  1. Make sure that unused, plain white paper is loaded in the input tray.
  2. Press and hold the Power button ( ) on the product control panel.
  3. Press the Resume button ( ) three times.
  4. Release both buttons. The print quality diagnostic report prints.
Step two: Determine which cartridges printed which areas of the print quality diagnostic report
The cartridges print different areas of the print quality diagnostic report. Use the following steps to determine which cartridge printed which areas.
Example print quality diagnostic report
Example

Illustration of the print quality report		Which cartridges printed which areas
Illustration of the areas printed by the cartridge
1 - Printed by the black cartridge
2 - Printed by the tri-color cartridge
Step three: Check the print quality diagnostic report for defects
In general, if the product and its cartridges are working correctly, all the color bars should be present, unstreaked, and uniform in color across the width of the page. The black text on the page should not show ink streaks.
Use the following table for examples of defects that can exist on the print quality diagnostic report. The following examples are not inclusive, but tend to represent the most common issues.
Examples of defects on the print quality diagnostic report
DefectExample
Irregularly streaked or faded color barsIllustration of streaked or faded color bars
Ragged color barsIllustration of ragged color bars
The color bars are streaked with another colorIllustration of streaked color bars
The color blocks have regular white streaksIllustration of white streaks in the color bars
Jagged alignment patternsIllustration of jagged alignment patterns
Track marks or smears in the textIllustration of track marks or smears in the text
  • If you see no defects on the print quality diagnostic report , the print mechanism and ink supplies work correctly. If printouts are still unsatisfactory, try these general print-quality guidelines, and then do not continue the troubleshooting steps in the remainder of this document:
    • Make sure that the image you are printing has sufficient resolution. Images that have been enlarged too much might appear fuzzy or blurry.
    • If the problem is confined to a band near the edge of a printout, use the software you installed with the product, or another software program to rotate the image 180°. The problem might not appear on the other end of the printout.
    • Avoid leaving unprotected cartridges out of the product for an extended period of time.
    • Always use the power button to turn the product off. This protects the cartridges from exposure to air.
  • If you see one or more of these defects on the print quality diagnostic report , continue to the next steps.
Step four: Clean the cartridges using an automated utility
Follow these steps to run a utility to clean the cartridges if you found defects on the print quality diagnostic report.
  1. Open HP Solution Center:
    • Windows XP: Click Start , click All Programs , click HP , and then click HP Solution Center .
    • Windows Vista: Click the Windows icon ( ), click All Programs , click HP , and then click HP Solution Center .
    HP Solution Center opens in a new window.
  2. Click Settings ( ).
  3. In the Print Settings area, click Printer Toolbox . The printer Toolbox opens.
  4. On the Device Services tab, click Clean the Print Cartridge(s) ( ).
  5. Click Clean to begin the process.
    NOTE: Mechanical noises during the cleaning process are normal. A test page prints when the cleaning process finishes.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , there is no need to continue troubleshooting.
  • If the issue persists , see the next step.
Step five: Align the printer
Follow these steps to open the printer toolbox and align the printer, if you found defects on the extended self-test report.
  1. Make sure that unused, plain, white paper is loaded in the input tray.
  2. Open HP Solution Center:
    • Windows XP: Click Start , click All Programs , click HP , and then click HP Solution Center .
    • Windows Vista: Click the Windows icon ( ), click All Programs , click HP , and then click HP Solution Center .
    HP Solution Center opens in a new window.
  3. In HP Solution Center, click Settings ( ).
  4. In the Print Settings area, click Printer Toolbox . The Printer Toolbox opens.
  5. Click the Device Services tab.
  6. Click Align the Print Cartridges ( ).
  7. Click Align . The product prints a page of patterns.
    Figure 4: Example of the alignment page
    Image of the alignment page.
  8. Review the page of patterns, and then answer the questions that display on the computer.
NOTE: For best print quality, HP recommends that you align the cartridges each time you install a new cartridge.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , there is no need to continue troubleshooting.
  • If the issue persists , see the next step.
Step six: Clean the area around the ink nozzles
Follow these steps to clean the area surrounding the ink nozzles on the cartridges. You need to complete these steps only if you noticed track marks or smears in the text on the print quality diagnostic report as described earlier in this document.
  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.
  2. Open the cartridge door.
    The carriage moves to the center of the product. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before continuing.
    Figure 5: Open the cartridge door
    Illustration of opening the cartridge door
  3. Press down on the problem cartridge to release it, and then pull it out of its slot.
    CAUTION: Do not remove both cartridges at the same time. Do not leave a cartridge outside the product for more than 30 minutes.
    Figure 6: Remove the cartridge
    Illustration of removing a cartridge
  4. Place the cartridge on a piece of paper with the ink nozzles facing up.
  5. Lightly moisten a clean, foam-rubber swab with distilled water.
  6. Clean the face and edges around the ink nozzle with the swab.
    CAUTION: Do not clean the ink nozzle plate.
    Figure 7: Clean the area around the ink nozzle
    Illustration of the nozzles
    1 - Nozzle plate - DO NOT CLEAN
    2 - Area surrounding ink nozzle - Do clean
  7. Either let the cartridge sit for 10 minutes to allow the cleaned area to dry, or use a new swab to dry it.
  8. Hold the cartridge by its sides with the nozzles toward the product, and then slide the cartridge into its color-coded slot until it snaps into place. Make sure that the icon on the cartridge matches the icon on the slot.
    Figure 8: Example of inserting the tri-color cartridge
    Illustration of inserting a cartridge
  9. Close the cartridge door.
    Figure 9: Close the cartridge door
    Illustration of closing the cartridge door
  10. Try printing again.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
  • If the issue persists , continue to the next solution.
Solution six: Replace the problem cartridge
Follow these steps to replace the problem cartridge if you saw defects on the print quality diagnostic report. These steps are only basic instructions for installing a new cartridge. If you prefer detailed steps, click for here for step-by-step instructions on replacing the cartridges (c01665149) (in English).
  1. With the product on, remove the old cartridge.
  2. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging.
  3. Remove the pink pull-tab from the new cartridge.
    CAUTION: Do not touch the copper-colored electrical contacts or the ink nozzles on the print cartridge. Doing so can cause bad electrical connections, clogged ink nozzles, or poor print quality.
  4. Hold the cartridge by its sides with the nozzles toward the product, and then slide the cartridge into its color-coded slot until it snaps into place. Make sure that the icon on the cartridge matches the icon on the slot.
    • Insert the tri-color cartridge in the slot on the left.
    • Insert the black cartridge in the slot on the right.
  5. Follow the steps in Step 5 of this document to align the product.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
  • If the issue persists , continue to the next solution.
Solution seven: Service the All-in-One
If you have completed all the steps listed above and are still experiencing a problem, service the product.
  • The product still does not work. It requires service. Show me what support solutions HP has to offer me.


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