Print quality troubleshooting | HP 6500A - E710a guide

Print quality troubleshooting

Use this section to solve these print quality problems:

•Wrong, inaccurate, or bleeding colors

•Ink is not filling the text or graphics completely

•The printout has a horizontal band of distortion near the bottom of a borderless print

•Printouts have horizontal streaks or lines

•Printouts are faded or have dull colors

•Printouts seem blurry or fuzzy

•Vertical streaks

•Printouts are slanted or skewed

•Ink streaks on the back of the paper

•Poor black text

•The printer prints slowly

•Printhead maintenance

Wrong, inaccurate, or bleeding colors

If your printout has one of the following print quality problems, try the solutions in this section for help.

•Colors look wrong

For example, green was replaced with blue in your printout.

•Colors run into each other, or look like they are smeared on the page. The edges might have a feathering appearance instead of being sharp and defined.

Try the following solutions if the colors appear wrong, inaccurate, or bleed into each other.

•Solution 1: Make sure you are using genuine HP ink cartridges

•Solution 2: Check the paper loaded in the input tray

•Solution 3: Check the paper type

•Solution 4: Check the ink levels

•Solution 5: Check the print settings

•Solution 6: Align the printhead

•Solution 7: Clean the printhead

•Solution 8: Contact HP support

Solution 1: Make sure you are using genuine HP ink cartridges

Solution: Check to see if your ink cartridges are genuine HP ink cartridges.

HP recommends that you use genuine HP ink cartridges. Genuine HP ink cartridges are designed and tested with HP printers to help you easily produce great results, time after time.

Print quality troubleshooting

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HP 6500A - E710a, 6500A Plus - E710n manual Print quality troubleshooting, Wrong, inaccurate, or bleeding colors

Contents

Officejet 6500A Page HP Officejet 6500A E710 e-All-in-One series Acknowledgements Safety informationCopyright information Hewlett-Packard Company notices Contents Scan CopyFax Work with ink cartridges Web Solve a problem Solve copy problems Technical information HP supplies and accessories Additional fax setupNetwork setup Printer management tools Mobility AccessibilityGet started Visual Eco-Tips Understand the printer partsFront view Back view Printing supplies area Overview of buttons and lights Use the printer control panel Icon Purpose Control-panel display icons To change settings for a mode Change printer settingsSelect the mode To select a different mode HP Digital Solutions Finding the printer model numberSelect print media Recommended papers for printing and copying HP Photo Value Packs Recommended papers for photo printingHP Advanced Photo Paper HP Everyday Photo Paper Tips for selecting and using media Load an original on the scanner glassTo load an original on the scanner glass To load an original in the document feeder tray Load an original in the automatic document feeder ADF Load media Load standard-size mediaTo load media Load media To load cards and photo paper Load envelopesLoad cards and photo paper To load envelopes To load transparencies Load transparencies Insert a memory card Load custom-size mediaTo insert a memory card To install the duplexer Install the accessories some models onlyInstall the duplexer Turn on accessories in the printer driver Maintain the printer Clean the scanner glassClean the exterior To clean the scanner glass To clean the rollers or separator pad Clean the automatic document feeder ADF Chapter Turn off the printer Print documents Print Print brochures Windows Print brochuresPrint documents Windows Print documents Mac OS Quality Normal or Best Print on envelopesPrint brochures Mac OS Print on envelopes Windows Print photos on photo paper Mac OS Print photosPrint on envelopes Mac OS Print photos on photo paper Windows Print photos from a memory device Quality Best or Maximum dpiTo print selected photos To print camera-selected photos using the Dpof standard Print on special and custom-size paperPrint Dpof photos Select Manage Custom Sizes in the Paper Size pop-up menu Set up custom sizes Mac OSPrint borderless documents Print on special or custom-size paper Mac OS Click Print Borderless from the Borderless Printing option HP ePrintPrint borderless documents Windows Print borderless documents Mac OS To print automatically on both sides of a page Windows Print on both sides duplexingGuidelines for printing on both sides of a Perform duplexing Print on both sides duplexing Scan Scan an originalScan to a computer Touch Start Scan Scan using WebscanTo scan using Webscan Scan to a memory card Make sure the text on the document is clear Make sure the scanner glass or ADF window is cleanScanning documents as editable text Make sure the document is loaded correctly To copy documents Change copy settingsCopy Copy documents To change copy settings for a single job Fax Send a faxSend a standard fax Send a standard fax from the computer To send a standard fax from the printer control panelWindows Send a fax manually from a phone Mac OSTo send a fax manually from an extension phone Send a fax from memory Send a fax using monitor dialing Schedule a fax to send later Send a fax to multiple recipients Send a fax in Error Correction Mode Receive a fax Receive a fax manuallyTo receive a fax manually Reprint received faxes from memory Set up backup faxTo set backup fax from the printer control panel On Error Only Forward faxes to another number Poll to receive a fax Set the paper size for received faxes Set automatic reduction for incoming faxesTo set automatic reduction from the printer control panel Block unwanted fax numbers Receive faxes to your computer Fax to PC and Fax to Mac To modify settings from the printer’s control panel To set up Fax to PC WindowsTo set up Fax to Mac Mac OS Modify Fax to PC or Fax to Mac settings Turn off Fax to PC or Fax to Mac Set up speed-dial entriesSet up and change speed-dial entries To set up speed-dial entries To change group speed-dial entries Set up and change group speed-dial entriesTo set up group speed-dial entries Delete speed-dial entries Print a list of speed-dial entries Change fax settingsConfigure the fax header Set the answer mode Auto answer To set the number of rings before answering To set the answer modeSet the number of rings before answering Change the answer ring pattern for distinctive ring To set the dial type Set the dial typeSet the redial options To change the answer ring pattern for distinctive ring Set the fax speed Set the fax sound volume Fax over Internet Protocol Fax and digital phone services To enable fax confirmation Use reportsPrint fax confirmation reports Print fax error reports Print and view the fax logClear the fax log Print the details of the last fax transaction Print a Caller ID ReportView the Call History HP Apps Web Marketsplash by HP Information on ink cartridges and the printhead Work with ink cartridges Check the estimated ink levels Replace the ink cartridgesRelated topics To replace the ink cartridges Replace the ink cartridges Usage information collection Store printing supplies To turn off usage information collection Solve a problem If you have a problem, follow these stepsHP support Obtain electronic support HP support by phoneBefore you call Phone support period Telephone support numbers $OJ«ULH General troubleshooting tips and resources Troubleshooting topicsAfter the phone support period Printer takes a long time to print Solve printing problemsPrinter shuts down unexpectedly Alignment fails Print troubleshooting Something on the page is missing or incorrectEnvelopes print incorrectly Borderless printing Solution 1 Load the stack of envelopes correctlySolution 2 Check the envelope type Solution 3 Tuck the flaps to avoid paper jams Solution 1 Turn on the printer Solution 2 Load paper in the input traySolution 3 Select the correct printer To check the printer driver status Solution 4 Check the printer driver statusSolution 6 Remove all cancelled print jobs from the queue Solution 7 Clear the paper jam Solution 8 Make sure the print carriage can move freely Order Printer prints meaningless characters Solution 3 Load the stack of paper correctly Solution 1 Check the printer marginsTo check your margin settings Solution 2 Verify the paper size setting To preview the print layout Solution 1 Check the margin settingsSolution 2 Check the layout of the document Text or graphics are cut off at the edge Solution 3 Load the stack of papers correctly Solution 4 Try printing with bordersBlank page came out while printing Paper is not picked up from the input tray Solution 3 Check the ink levelsSolution 4 Clean the printhead Solution 5 Load paper in the input tray Solution 3 Check the print settings Solution 2 Make sure the paper is loaded correctly Solution 4 Clean the rollers Solution 5 Check for a paper jamSolution 6 Service the printer Wrong, inaccurate, or bleeding colors Print quality troubleshooting Solution 3 Check the paper type Solution 2 Check the paper loaded in the input tray Solution 4 Check the ink levels Solution 5 Check the print settingsSolution 6 Align the printhead Solution 7 Clean the printhead Solution 8 Contact HP supportInk is not filling the text or graphics completely Solution 4 Check the paper type Solution 2 Check the ink levels Solution 5 Clean the printhead Solution 6 Contact HP supportSolution 1 Check the paper type Solution 2 Use a higher print quality setting Solution 3 Rotate the imagePrintouts have horizontal streaks or lines Solution 1 Make sure the paper is loaded correctly Solution 2 Check your print settingsSolution 4 Align the printhead Solution 1 Check the print settings Solution 2 Check the paper typePrintouts are faded or have dull colors Solution 5 Contact HP support Solution 2 Use a higher quality image Solution 3 Print the image in a smaller sizePrintouts seem blurry or fuzzy Vertical streaks Printouts are slanted or skewedPrintouts have vertical streaks Ink streaks on the back of the paper Solution 2 Make sure only one type of paper is loadedSolution 1 Print on a page of plain paper To remove excess ink using plain paper Solution 3 Align the printhead Solution 2 Wait while the ink driesSolution 1 Wait before you attempt to reprint Solution 2 Use TrueType or OpenType fonts Printer prints slowly Solution 1 Use a lower print quality setting Printhead maintenance Solution 3 Contact HP supportClean the printhead Print and evaluate a print quality report To clean the printhead from the control panelAlign the printhead To align the printhead from the control panel Ink Levels To evaluate the Print Quality Diagnostic Good color bars Ragged, irregularly streaked, or faded barsCartridge color Solve a problem Bar colors are not uniform Regular white streaks in the bars Alignment Patterns Large Black Font Text If you see no defects Advanced printhead maintenance To reinstall the printhead Chapter To clean the printhead Chapter Advanced ink cartridge maintenance Clean the sensor windows on the ink cartridgesTo clean the sensor window on the ink cartridges To remove the ink cartridges Solve paper-feed problems Media is not supported for the printer or trayMedia is not picked up from a tray Multiple pages are being picked up Solve copy problemsMedia is not coming out correctly Pages are skewing No copy came out Copies are blankDocuments are missing or faded Size is reduced Copy quality is poorCopy defects are apparent Incompletely filled text or graphics Solve scan problemsPrinter prints half a page, then ejects the paper Paper mismatch Scanner did nothing Scan takes too longCheck the HP software Part of the document did not scan or text is missing Text cannot be editedCheck the originals Original is a second-generation photo or picture Error messages appearImage quality is better when printed Scanned image quality is poor Scan defects are apparent Solve fax problems Fax test failed Fax Hardware Test failed Solution Solve fax problems 133 Back view of the printer Phone Cord Connected to Correct Port on Fax test failed Dial Tone Detection test failed Solution Fax Line Condition test failed Solution Display always shows Phone Off Hook Printer is having problems sending and receiving faxes Solution Printer is having problems sending a manual fax Solution Printer cannot receive faxes, but can send faxes Solution Solve fax problems 141 Printer cannot send faxes, but can receive faxes Solution Fax tones are recorded on my answering machine SolutionPhone cord that came with my printer is not long enough Computer cannot receive faxes Fax to PC and Fax to Mac Solve problems using HP Web sites and servicesTo extend your phone cord Color faxes do not print Printer cannot read the memory card Solve photo memory card problemsSolve problems using HP Web services Solve problems using HP Web sites Check the memory card slot Solve wired Ethernet network problemsGeneral network troubleshooting Printer cannot read photos on the memory card Restart components of the wireless network Solve wireless problems some models onlyBasic wireless troubleshooting some models only Make sure the wireless 802.11 light is turned on Run the Wireless Network Test Advanced wireless troubleshooting Make sure that the printer is connected to your network To check a wireless connection Network Status Check to see if you can access the EWSTo access the EWS Make sure the printer is on the network Make sure the printer is online and ready Add hardware addresses to a wireless access point WAP Configure your firewall to work with printers Ports are used for the following functions Printing Solve printer management problemsAdvanced firewall information Incoming UDP ports 137, 138, 161 Check your Web browser Check your network setupEWS cannot be opened Check the computer Hardware installation suggestions Troubleshoot installation issues HP software installation suggestions Verify installation preliminariesCheck the computer system To reset the printers network settings Solve network problemsGeneral network troubleshooting Problems connecting to a wired network Printer Status Report Understand the Printer Status Report Understand the network configuration Chapter Clear jams Clear paper jamsTo clear a jam To clear a paper jam in the automatic document feeder ADF Avoid paper jams Technical information Warranty information HP product Duration of limited warranty Hewlett-Packard limited warranty statement Ink cartridge warranty information Printer specifications Physical specificationsPrinter features and capacities Processor and memory specifications Network protocol specificationsSystem requirements Embedded Web server specifications Media specificationsUnderstand specifications for supported media Cards Media size Input tray Duplexer someModels Envelopes Photo media Other media Tray Type Weight Capacity Set minimum marginsMedia Left Right Top Bottom Margin Print resolution Copy specificationsGuidelines for two-sided duplex printing Fax specifications Electrical requirements Scan specificationsHP Web site specifications Operating environment Sound pressure bystander position Acoustic emission specificationMemory card specifications Sound power Regulatory information Vcci Class B compliance statement for users in Japan FCC statement Geräuschemission Noise emission statement for Germany Regulatory information 181 Appendix a Regulatory information for wireless products Australia wired fax statement Exposure to radio frequency radiation Regulatory model number European Union regulatory notice EMC Declaration of conformity Regulatory information 187 Environmental product stewardship program Environmental product stewardship program 189 Power consumption LICENSE.expat-mit--expat Third-party licensesHP Officejet 6500A E710 e-All-in-One series LICENSE.aes-pubdom--crypto LICENSE.openssl--openssl Third-party licenses 193 Possibility of Such Damage LICENSE.zlib--zlib LICENSE.sha2-bsd--noscrypto Appendix a Freely, subject to the following restrictions Ink cartridges HP supplies and accessoriesOrder printing supplies online Supplies HP media Set up faxing parallel phone systems Additional fax setup USA Choose the correct fax setup for your home or office DSL PBX Case a Separate fax line no voice calls received To set up the printer with a separate fax line To set up the printer with DSL Case B Set up the printer with DSL Case D Fax with a distinctive ring service on the same line Case E Shared voice/fax line To set up the printer with a distinctive ring service Case F Shared voice/fax line with voice mail To set up the printer with a shared voice/fax line To set up the printer with voice mail To set up the printer with a computer dial-up modem Set up the printer with a computer dial-up modem Example of a parallel splitter Set up the printer with a computer DSL/ADSL modem To set up the printer with a computer DSL/ADSL modem Case H Shared voice/fax line with computer modemShared voice/fax with computer dial-up modem Back view of the printer Shared voice/fax with computer DSL/ADSL modem Case I Shared voice/fax line with answering machine Page Phone port on your computer Page Set up faxing parallel phone systems 217 Obtain a DSL/ADSL filter from your DSL/ADSL provider Back view of the printer Serial-type fax setup To test fax setup via the printer control panel Test fax setup View and print network settings Network setupChange basic network settings Change advanced network settings Reset network settings Set up the printer for wireless communicationView IP settings Change IP settings Understand 802.11 wireless network settings Communication modeNetwork name Ssid Data encryption Test the wireless connectionSecurity settings Change the connection method To change the connection method Mac OS Guidelines for ensuring wireless network securityTo add hardware addresses to a WAP Other guidelines Uninstall and reinstall the HP software Guidelines for reducing interference on a wireless networkTo uninstall from a Windows computer, method To uninstall from a Macintosh computer, method Embedded Web server Printer management toolsHP printer software Windows HP Utility Mac OS To open the embedded Web server About cookies How do I? Errors Windows Fax Memory FullPrinter Disconnected Printhead Problem Cartridge ProblemInk Alert Solution 2 Install the ink cartridges correctly Solution 3 Clean the electrical contactsSolution 4 Replace the ink cartridge Printer is out of paper Paper MismatchCartridge cradle cannot move Paper Jam Door or cover open General printer errorPreviously used ink cartridge installed Document failed to print Index Symbols/NumericsPage Page OCR Page Page Twain 244 Page Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P