HP F4240, F4280, F4235 manual Wrong, inaccurate, or bleeding colors

Troubleshooting

Chapter 12

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 different than what you expected.

For example, the colors in your graphic or photo look one way on your computer screen but print out differently, or magenta was replaced with cyan 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: HP recommends using genuine HP print cartridges

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

•Solution 3: Check the paper type

•Solution 4: Check to see if the product is in ink-backup mode

•Solution 5: Check the print settings

•Solution 6: Clean the print cartridges

Solution 1: HP recommends using genuine HP print cartridges

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

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

NOTE: HP cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-HP supplies. Printer service or repairs required as a result of using a non-HP supply will not be covered under warranty.

If you believe you purchased genuine HP print cartridges, go to:

www.hp.com/go/anticounterfeit

Cause: Non-HP ink was being used.

If this did not solve the issue, try the next solution.

Solution 2: Check the paper loaded in the input tray

Solution: Make sure the paper is loaded correctly and that it is not wrinkled or too thick.

•Load paper with the side you want to print on facing down. For example, if you are loading glossy photo paper, load the paper with the glossy side down.

•If the paper is too close to the print cartridge during printing, the ink might be smeared. This can happen if the paper is raised, wrinkled, or very thick, such as a mailing envelope. Make sure the paper lays flat in the input tray and is not wrinkled.

102 Troubleshooting