Print quality or paper output is not as expected.
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Sample issue
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Symptom
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Blurry, fuzzy, or dark print
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Crooked or skewed output
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Creased or wrinkled paper
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Curled or wavy paper
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Character shadows
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Distorted characters
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Dropped-out text
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Dropped edges
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Dull, faded, or light print
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Gray shading or background
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Repetitive toner marks
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Streaks or vertical lines
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Streaks or vertical lines (photos)
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Toner smears
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Toner smears easily when touched
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Specks or other marks
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Vertical white stripes
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Water droplets on the printed page
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Marks repeatedly appear at even intervals on the unprinted side of the page
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Solid black image at the top of the page repeats farther down the page in a gray field
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Sample issue
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Symptom
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Document prints black when it should print color
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One or more colors do not print, or are inaccurate
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A color prints inconsistently after installation of new print cartridge
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Colors on printed page do not match colors on the screen
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Inconsistent finish on the printed color page
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note:If you are familiar with the HP Toolbox that comes with the HP software, you can use it to troubleshoot print quality issues in addition to trying the solutions listed in this document.
caution:Do not touch the imaging drum on the bottom of the print cartridge. Fingerprints on the imaging drum can cause print quality issues.
note:Extreme temperatures or humidity can directly affect paper quality. If you live in an area with extreme conditions, protect your paper supply by storing it in a plastic airtight container.
note:A small amount of skew is normal and might be noticeable when using preprinted forms. Largely crooked or skewed printouts can result if the guides are not fit snugly against the paper.
note:Small amounts of toner scattered on the paper is normal for laser printing. If large amounts of toner scatter occur, the paper might be resisting the toner. Some paper manufacturing processes can cause paper to reject toner.
note:This solution might require the full HP software. If you did not install the full software when you installed your product, right-click the following link to go to the Software and Drivers page to download and install it now.
note:If the wrong printer driver is selected during software installation, toner marks or smears might show on the printed page.
TIP
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HP does not recommend the use of heavily textured paper, extremely thin paper, or paper with a basis weight heavier than 90 g/m2 (24 lb).
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TIP
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Unlike ink printers, laser printers use heat to fuse a plastic toner to the surface of the
paper. Make sure that you use heat-resistant paper, and labels and envelopes that use adhesives compatible
with the heat and pressure of the product’s fusing process.
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Example of how the color alignment bars look when the calibration is correct
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Example of how the color alignment bars look when the calibration is incorrect
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note:Calibration might take 2 to 3 minutes. Do not turn the product off during calibration.
Symptom
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Causes
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Character shadows
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Paper quality is poor
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Product is not connected directly to computer or wall outlet
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Crooked or skewed output
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Paper fed incorrectly due to paper type or poor paper quality
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Media guides are too tight or too loose
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Color does not print at all
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Color mode is not selected in the software program or printer driver
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Correct printer driver is not selected in the software program
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Product not correctly configured
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Colors not printing or inaccurate
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Sealing tape still on the print cartridges
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Print cartridge is damaged
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Paper quality is poor, likely due to extremely high or low humidity
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Color printing inconsistently after installing new cartridge
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The product is set to override the Replace <Color> Cartridge message and to continue printing
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Another print cartridge is damaged
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Colors on the printed page do not match the colors on the screen
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Colors on the computer monitor might differ from the product output
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Software program might interpret extremely light colors as white or extremely dark colors as black
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Paper quality is poor
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Curled or wavy paper
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Paper quality is poor
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Paper is too thin
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Fuse temperature is too high
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Toner fuse setting needs adjusting
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Distorted characters
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Paper quality is poor
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Paper is too glossy or too textured
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Product is not connected directly to computer or wall outlet
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Dropped edges
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Paper quality is poor
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Dropped out text
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Paper quality is poor
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Paper is too thick or too glossy and is resisting the toner
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Print cartridge is almost empty
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Print cartridge is damaged
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Paper path is dirty
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Dull, faded or light text
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Paper quality is poor
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Paper is too thick or too glossy and is resisting the toner
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Print cartridge is almost empty
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Print cartridge is damaged
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Print settings need adjusting
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Paper path is dirty
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Finish on the printed color page is inconsistent
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Paper path is dirty
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Paper too rough
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Fuzzy, blurry, or bold areas
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Paper quality is poor
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Extreme humidity conditions
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Product is exposed to environmental conditions
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Product is not connected directly to computer or wall outlet
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Print settings need adjusting
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Print cartridge is damaged
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Gray shading or background
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Paper quality is poor, likely due to extremely high or low humidity
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Paper tray is not correctly in place
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Product is not connected directly to computer or wall outlet
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Print settings need adjusting
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Print cartridge is damaged
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Marks repeat on unprinted side of page
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Paper path is dirty
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The fuser might be damaged or dirty.
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Toner smears
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Paper is too glossy and is resisting the toner
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Print cartridge is damaged
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Toner specks
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Paper is too thick or too glossy and is resisting the toner
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Print cartridge is damaged
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Paper path is dirty
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Streaks or vertical lines
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Print cartridge is almost empty
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Print cartridge is damaged
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Paper path is dirty
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Streaks or vertical lines (photos)
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Print cartridge is almost empty
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Print cartridge is damaged
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Product is not connected directly to computer or wall outlet
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Repeating image
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Software settings need adjusting
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Power surge might have affected the product
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Order of images printed might affect printing
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Repetitive marks at even intervals
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Paper path is dirty
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Product is not connected directly to computer or wall outlet
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Vertical white stripes or banding
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Print cartridge is almost empty
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Print cartridge is damaged
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Scanner is dirty
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Water droplets on the printed page
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Extremely high humidity
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Wrinkled or creased paper
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Paper fed incorrectly
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Media guides are too tight or too loose
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Paper type is too thin, too textured, or too moist
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Media path is obstructed
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