Printouts seem blurry or fuzzy
Try the following solutions if your printout is not sharp or unclear.
NOTE:
For this issue, there is not a problem with your ink supplies. Therefore,
replacing the ink cartridges or printhead is not necessary.
TIP:
After reviewing the solutions in this section, you can go to HP's Web site to see
if there is additional troubleshooting help. For more information, go to:
www.hp.com/
support
.
•
Solution 1: Check the print settings
•
Solution 2: Use a higher quality image
•
Solution 3: Print the image in a smaller size
•
Solution 4: Align the printer
Chapter 5
48
Solve a problem
Solve a problem
Solution 1: Check the print settings
Solution:
Check the print settings.
•
Check the paper type setting to make sure it matches the type of paper loaded in
the input tray.
•
Check the print quality setting and make sure it is not set too low.
Print the image with a high print quality setting, such as
Best
or
Maximum dpi
.
Cause:
The paper type or print quality settings were set incorrectly.
If this did not solve the issue, try the next solution.
Solution 2: Use a higher quality image
Solution:
Use a higher resolution image.
If you are printing a photo or graphic, and the resolution is too low, it will be blurry or
fuzzy when printed.
If a digital photo or rasterized graphic has been resized, it can be blurry or fuzzy when
printed.
Cause:
The resolution of the image was low.
If this did not solve the issue, try the next solution.
Solution 3: Print the image in a smaller size
Solution:
Reduce the size of the image and then print it.
If you are printing a photo or graphic, and the print size is set too high, it will be blurry
or fuzzy when printed.
If a digital photo or rasterized graphic has been resized, it can be blurry or fuzzy when
printed.
Cause:
The image was printed in a larger size.
If this did not solve the issue, try the next solution.
Solution 4: Align the printer
Solution:
Align the printer.
Aligning the printer can help ensure excellent print quality.
To align the printer from the HP Photosmart Software
1.
Load letter, A4, or legal unused plain white paper into the input tray.
2.
In the HP Solution Center, click
Settings
.
Print quality troubleshooting
49
Solve a problem
3.
In the
Print Settings
area, click
Printer Toolbox
.
NOTE:
You can also open the
Printer Toolbox
from the
Print Properties
dialog box. In the
Print Properties
dialog box, click the
Features
tab, and
then click
Printer Services
.
The
Printer Toolbox
appears.
4.
Click the
Device Services
tab.
5.
Click
Align the Printer
.
The product prints a test page, aligns the print head, and calibrates the printer.
Recycle or discard the page.
Cause:
The printer needed to be aligned.
Printouts have vertical streaks
Solution:
HP recommends that you use HP papers or any other paper type that is
appropriate for the product.
Always make sure the paper you are printing on is flat. For best results when printing
images, use HP Advanced Photo Paper.
Store photo media in its original packaging inside a resealable plastic bag on a flat
surface in a cool, dry place. When you are ready to print, remove only the paper you
plan to use immediately. When you have finished printing, return any unused photo
paper to the plastic bag. This will prevent the photo paper from curling.
For more information, see:
•
Load media
•
Recommended papers for printing
Cause:
The wrong kind of paper was loaded in the input tray.