4 Care and maintenance

Follow the guidelines in this section to extend the life span of the printer and printing supplies, and to ensure that the photos you print are always of the highest quality.

Leave the printer plugged in

HP recommends that you always leave the printer plugged in so that it can periodically perform self-servicing routines. If you leave the printer off for an extended period of time, you will experience a decline in print quality, automatic maintenance routines will need to be run, and you may have to replace one or more printheads.

NOTE: You may turn the printer off to conserve power; the printer will turn itself on when necessary to run the self-servicing routines as long as it is connected to power. If the printer is connected to a power strip, make sure the power strip remains on so that the printer can perform automatic maintenance periodically.

The printer performs a self-servicing routine if the printer is idle for 24 hours or more. The length of time it takes for the servicing routine to be completed depends on how long the printer has been idle. As part of the servicing routine, a nozzle health sensor checks the printhead nozzles for blockages, clears any blockages found, if possible, and substitutes nozzles as needed. For more information on cleaning the printheads, see Clean the printheads automatically.

NOTE: Ink in the cartridges included in the printer box is used for printer initialization. Ink from these cartridges, as well as from replacement cartridges, is also used to keep print nozzles clear and ink flowing smoothly.

Use the Toolbox (Windows) or HP Printer Utility (Mac)

The Toolbox (Windows) or HP Printer Utility (Mac) contain useful tools to enhance printer performance. Use the Toolbox or HP Printer Utility to do the following:

•Align the printheads

•Automatically clean the printheads

•Calibrate color

•Print a test page

•View estimated ink levels

To open the Toolbox (Windows) or HP Printer Utility (Mac) from the printer control panel

▲Press the button on the printer control panel to open the printer Toolbox (Windows) or HP Printer Utility (Mac).

Ink cartridge care

Follow these tips to help maintain HP ink cartridges and ensure consistent print quality:

•For information on installing the ink cartridges and printheads the first time after you purchase the printer, see the Quick Start Guide.

•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. Damage that results from the use of non-HP ink cartridges is not covered by the HP warranty.

•HP does not recommend modifying or refilling HP cartridges. Damage that results from modifying or refilling HP cartridges is not covered by the HP warranty.

•Keep all unused ink cartridges in their original sealed packages until they are needed. Store ink cartridges at room temperature (15–35 degrees C or 59–95 degrees F).

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Care and maintenance

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