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Ink is smearing
Check print settings
■ When you print documents that use much ink, allow more time to dry before handling the
printouts. This is especially true for transparencies. In the printer driver, select the Best print
quality.
■ Color documents that have rich, blended colors can wrinkle or smear when printed using the
Best print quality. Try using the other print mode such as Draft to reduce ink, or use
HP Premium Paper designed for printing vivid color documents. See
Changing print settings.
Check the media type
Some types of media do not accept ink well. Ink will dry more slowly and smearing may occur. See
Selecting print media.
Check the margin settings
■ If you are using a computer running Windows, make sure the Minimize Margins option is not
selected. See
Changing print settings.
NOTE You can also access this feature from the Printing Shortcuts tab. Open the
printer driver, select the Printing Shortcuts tab, and select the feature from the What do
you want to do? drop-down list.
■ Increase the margins in your document. For more information, see the documentation included
with your software application.
Ink is not filling the text or graphics completely
The printer may be in Ink-backup Printing Mode
The printer enters Ink-backup Printing Mode when one of the print cartridges is empty or removed.
Replace the missing print cartridge with a new one (see
Installing or replacing the print cartridges).
Verify the ink levels of the print cartridges
One of the print cartridges may be low on ink. To view the ink levels, print a diagnostics page (see
Printing a diagnostics page). If the Toolbox is installed, you can find ink-level information by clicking
the Estimated Ink Level tab. If the print cartridge is low on ink, replace it (see
Installing or replacing
the print cartridges).
The print cartridges may need to be cleaned
Perform the auto-clean procedure (see Cleaning the print cartridges).
Check the media type
Some types of media do not accept ink well. Ink will dry more slowly and smearing may occur. See
Selecting print media.
Poor print quality and unexpected printouts 101