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HP Z3100 HP Designjet Z3100 Photo Printer Series - Users Guide - Page 136

General advice, Print quality troubleshooting wizard, Troubleshooting print, quality issues

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Troubleshooting printquality issues General advice When you have any print-quality problem: ● To achieve the best performance from your printer, use only genuine manufacturer's supplies and accessories, whose reliability and performance have been thoroughly tested to give trouble-free performance and best-quality prints. For details of recommended papers, see Order paper on page 107. ● Make sure that the paper type selected in the front panel is the same as the paper type loaded into the printer. To check this, use the View loaded paper key on the front panel. At the same time, check that the paper type has been calibrated. Also make sure that the paper type selected in your software is the same as the paper type loaded into the printer. CAUTION If you have the wrong paper type selected, you could experience poor print quality and incorrect colors, and perhaps even damage to the printheads. ● Check that you are using the most appropriate print-quality settings for your purposes (see Printing on page 41). You are likely to see lower print quality if you have moved the print-quality slider to the 'Speed' end of the scale, or set the custom quality level to Fast. ● Check that your environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) are in the recommended range. See Environmental specifications on page 170. ● Check that your ink cartridges and printheads have not passed their expiration dates: see Maintain the ink cartridges on page 101. ● Avoid touching the paper while printing is in progress. Print quality troubleshooting wizard The Print Quality Troubleshooting Wizard can help with the following problems: ● Horizontal lines across the image (banding) ● The whole image is blurry or grainy ● Lines are too thick, too thin, or missing ● Colors are inaccurate To start the wizard: ● From HP Easy Printer Care under Windows: go to the Support tab, and select Print quality troubleshooting. ● From HP Printer Utility under Mac OS: select Support, then Print quality troubleshooting. ● From the Mac OS Print dialog: go to the Services panel, select Device Maintenance, then select Print quality troubleshooting from the list of maintenance tasks. ● From the Embedded Web Server: go to the Support tab, select Troubleshooting, then select Print quality troubleshooting. 126 Chapter 12 Troubleshooting print-quality issues ENWW

Section	Page
Introduction	11
Safety precautions	12
HP Start-Up Kit	12
Using this guide	12
Introduction	12
Use and maintenance	13
Troubleshooting	13
Support, accessories, and specifications	13
Glossary	13
Index	13
Warnings and Cautions	13
The printer's main features	14
The printer's main components	14
Front view	15
Rear view	15
The front panel	16
Printer software	17
The printer's internal prints	17
Installing the software	19
Choose which connection method to use	20
Connect to a network (Windows)	20
Connect directly to a computer (Windows)	21
Printer sharing considerations	22
Uninstall the printer software (Windows)	22
Connect to a network (Mac OS)	22
Bonjour/Rendezvous connection	22
TCP/IP connection	24
Connect directly to a computer (Mac OS)	25
Sharing the printer	26
Uninstall the printer software (Mac OS)	26
Personalizing the printer	27
Turn printer on and off	28
Change the language of the front-panel display	29
Access HP Easy Printer Care (Windows) or HP Printer Utility (Mac OS)	29
Access the Embedded Web Server	29
Change the language of HP Easy Printer Care (Windows) or HP Printer Utility (Mac OS)	30
Change the language of the Embedded Web Server	30
Change the sleep mode setting	30
Turn the buzzer on and off	31
Change the front-panel display contrast	31
Change the units of measurement	31
Configure network settings	31
Change the graphic language setting	32
Paper handling	33
General advice	34
Choose which spindle to use	34
Load a roll onto the spindle	35
Load a roll into the printer	37
Easy loading procedure	37
Paper menu procedure	39
Unload a roll	40
Unload paper key procedure with paper on the roll	41
Paper menu procedure with paper on the roll	41
Roll out of paper procedure	41
Load a single sheet	41
Easy loading procedure	42
Paper menu procedure	43
Unload a single sheet	45
Unload paper key procedure	45
Paper menu procedure	45
View information about the paper	46
Paper profiles	46
Add a custom paper type	47
Maintain paper	48
Change the drying time	48
Turn the automatic cutter on and off	48
Feed and cut the paper	49
Printing	51
Select print quality	52
Select paper size	52
Select margins options	53
Print with shortcuts	53
Rescale a print	54
Change the treatment of overlapping lines	55
Preview a print	55
Print a draft	57
High-quality printing	58
If you have a high-resolution image	58
If you have printhead problems	58
If you are printing on photo paper	59
If you are printing on satin photo paper	59
Print in gray shades	59
Print with no margins	59
Reprint an old job	60
Use paper economically	61
Use ink economically	61
Color management	63
What is color?	64
The problem: color in the computer world	64
The solution: color management	66
Color and your printer	68
HP Embedded Spectrophotometer	68
A summary of the color management process	69
Color calibration	70
Color profiling	71
Create your own profile	71
Use a third-party profile	73
Profile your monitor	73
Advanced profiling	73
Color management options	73
Color adjustment options	74
Printing in color	74
Printing in grayscale	75
Color management scenarios	76
Print a color photo for an exhibition (Photoshop, Mac OS)	76
Print a black-and-white photo for an exhibition (Photoshop, Mac OS)	79
Print a digital album (Aperture, Mac OS)	83
Proof a press using the EFI RIP	86
Retrieving printer usage information	89
Get printer accounting information	90
Check printer usage statistics	90
Printer statistics with HP Easy Printer Care (Windows) or HP Printer Utility (Mac OS)	90
Printer statistics with the Embedded Web Server	90
Check ink and paper usage for a job	90
Ink and paper statistics with HP Easy Printer Care (Windows) or HP Printer Utility (Mac OS)	91
Printer statistics with the Embedded Web Server	91
Handling ink cartridges and printheads	93
About the ink cartridges	94
Check the ink cartridges status	94
Ink menu procedure	94
HP Easy Printer Care (Windows) or HP Printer Utility (Mac OS) procedures	94
Remove an ink cartridge	95
Insert an ink cartridge	96
About the printheads	97
Check the printhead status	98
Remove a printhead	98
Insert a printhead	101
Maintaining the printer	105
Check printer status	106
Clean the exterior of the printer	106
Replace the cutter	106
Maintain the ink cartridges	111
Move or store the printer	111
Update the firmware	112
Update the software	112
Printer maintenance kits	113
Accessories	115
How to order supplies and accessories	116
Order ink supplies	116
Order paper	117
Non-recommended paper types	121
Order accessories	121
Introduction to the accessories	121
Stand	121
HP-GL/2 upgrade	122
EFI Designer Edition RIP	122
HP Advanced Profiling Solution	123
Key features	123
HP Photosmart Pro print plug-in for Adobe Photoshop	123
Troubleshooting paper issues	125
The paper cannot be loaded successfully	126
Unsuccessful roll load	126
Unsuccessful sheet load	126
Paper loading error messages	127
The paper has jammed	128
Prints do not fall nicely into the basket	130
The sheet stays in the printer when the print has been completed	130
The paper is cut when the print has been completed	130
The cutter does not cut well	131
The roll is loose on the spindle	131
A strip stays on the output tray and generates jams	131
Recalibrate the paper advance	132
Recalibrating the paper advance procedure	132
Return to default calibration	133
Troubleshooting print-quality issues	135
General advice	136
Print quality troubleshooting wizard	136
Horizontal lines across the image (banding)	137
Lines are too thick, too thin, or missing	138
Lines appear stepped or jagged	138
Lines print double or in the wrong colors	139
Lines are discontinuous	139
Lines are blurred	140
The whole image is blurry or grainy	141
The paper is not flat	141
The print is scuffed or scratched	142
Ink marks on the paper	142
Horizontal smears on the front of coated paper	142
Ink marks on the back of the paper	143
Edges of objects are stepped or not sharp	143
Edges of objects are darker than expected	144
Bronzing	144
Horizontal lines at the end of a cut sheet print	144
Vertical lines of different colors	144
White spots on the print	145
Colors are inaccurate	145
Color accuracy using EPS or PDF images in page layout applications	145
The image is incomplete (clipped at the bottom)	146
The image is clipped	146
Some objects are missing from the printed image	147
A PDF file is clipped or objects are missing	147
The Image Diagnostics Print	147
Corrective action	150
If you still have a problem	151
Troubleshooting ink cartridge and printhead issues	153
Cannot insert an ink cartridge	154
Ink cartridge status messages	154
Cannot insert a printhead	154
The front-panel display recommends reseating or replacing a printhead	155
Clean the printheads	155
Clean the printhead drop detector	156
Align the printheads	158
Reinsert printheads procedure	159
Image Quality Maintenance menu procedure	159
Scanning errors during alignment	160
Printhead status messages	160
Troubleshooting general printer issues	161
The printer does not print	162
The printer seems slow	162
Communication failures between computer and printer	162
Cannot access HP Easy Printer Care (Windows) or HP Printer Utility (Mac OS)	163
Cannot access the Embedded Web Server	163
Automatic file system check	164
An AutoCAD 2000 memory allocation error	164
No output when printing from Microsoft Visio 2003	165
Unavailable driver features when printing from QuarkXPress	165
Printer alerts	165
Front-panel error messages	167
HP Customer Care	171
Introduction	172
HP Professional Graphics Services	172
Knowledge Center	172
HP Start-Up Kit	172
HP Care Packs and Warranty Extensions	172
HP Installation	173
HP Instant Support	173
HP Proactive Support	173
Contact HP Support	174
Telephone numbers	174
Printer specifications	177
Functional specifications	178
Physical specifications	179
Memory specifications	179
Power specifications	179
Ecological specifications	179
Environmental specifications	180
Acoustic specifications	180
Glossary	181

Match case Limit results 1 per page

General advice

When you have any print-quality problem:

●

To achieve the best performance from your printer, use only genuine manufacturer's supplies and

accessories, whose reliability and performance have been thoroughly tested to give trouble-free

performance and best-quality prints. For details of recommended papers, see

Order paper

on page

107

●

Make sure that the paper type selected in the front panel is the same as the paper type loaded into

the printer. To check this, use the

View loaded paper

key on the front panel. At the same time,

check that the paper type has been calibrated. Also make sure that the paper type selected in your

software is the same as the paper type loaded into the printer.

CAUTION

If you have the wrong paper type selected, you could experience poor print

quality and incorrect colors, and perhaps even damage to the printheads.

●

Check that you are using the most appropriate print-quality settings for your purposes (see

Printing

on page

). You are likely to see lower print quality if you have moved the print-quality

slider to the 'Speed' end of the scale, or set the custom quality level to

Fast

●

Check that your environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) are in the recommended range.

See

Environmental specifications

on page

170

●

Check that your ink cartridges and printheads have not passed their expiration dates: see

Maintain

the ink cartridges

on page

101

●

Avoid touching the paper while printing is in progress.

Print quality troubleshooting wizard

The Print Quality Troubleshooting Wizard can help with the following problems:

●

Horizontal lines across the image (banding)

●

The whole image is blurry or grainy

●

Lines are too thick, too thin, or missing

●

Colors are inaccurate

To start the wizard:

●

From HP Easy Printer Care under Windows:

go to the

Support

tab, and select

Print quality

troubleshooting

●

From HP Printer Utility under Mac OS:

select

Support

, then

Print quality troubleshooting

●

From the Mac OS Print dialog:

go to the

Services

panel, select

Device Maintenance

, then

select

Print quality troubleshooting

from the list of maintenance tasks.

●

From the Embedded Web Server:

go to the

Support

tab, select

Troubleshooting

, then select

Print quality troubleshooting

126

Chapter 12

Troubleshooting print-quality issues

ENWW

Troubleshooting print-

quality issues