Print quality troubleshooting

HP OfficeJet 6600
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Print quality troubleshooting

Print quality troubleshooting

Try the solutions in this section to resolve print quality problems in your printout.
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Solution 1: Make sure you are using genuine HP ink cartridges

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Solution 2: Check the ink levels

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Solution 3: Check the paper loaded in the input tray

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Solution 4: Check the paper type

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Solution 5: Check the print settings

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Solution 6: Print and evaluate a print quality report

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Solution 7: Contact HP support

Solution 1: Make sure you are using genuine HP ink cartridges

Solution: Check to see if your ink cartridges are genuine HP ink cartridges.
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.

Print quality troubleshooting

NOTE: HP cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-HP supplies.
Printer service or repairs required as a result of using a non-HP supply are not
covered under warranty.
If you believe you purchased genuine HP ink cartridges, go to:
www.hp.com/go/anticounterfeit

Cause: Non-HP ink cartridges were being used.
If this did not solve the issue, try the next solution.

Solution 2: Check the ink levels

Solution: Check the estimated ink levels in the ink cartridges.

NOTE: Ink level alerts and indicators provide estimates for planning purposes
only. When you receive a low-ink alert, consider having a replacement cartridge
available to avoid possible printing delays. You do not need to replace the ink
cartridges until prompted to do so.

NOTE: The printer can operate with one or more depleted cartridges.
However, printing with depleted cartridges slows the printer and affects the
quality of printed documents. If the black cartridge is depleted, blacks are not as
dark. If a color cartridge is depleted, output is in grayscale. When possible,
replace the depleted cartridge. Do not remove the depleted cartridge until you
have a new ink cartridge available to replace. For information about how to
install new cartridges, see Replace the ink cartridges.

CAUTION: While ink cartridges are not damaged when left outside of the
printer, the printhead does need to have all cartridges installed at all times after
the printer is set up and in use. Leaving one or more cartridge slots empty for
an extended period may lead to print quality problems and possibly damage the
printhead. If you have recently left a cartridge out of the printer for an extended
period, or if you have had a recent paper jam, and have noticed poor print
quality, clean the printhead. For more information, see Clean the printhead.

For more information, see:
Check the estimated ink levels
Cause: The ink cartridges might have insufficient ink.
If this did not solve the issue, try the next solution.

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Solution 3: Check the paper loaded in the input tray

Solution: Make sure the paper is loaded correctly and that it is not wrinkled or
too thick.
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Load paper with the print side facing down. For example, if you are loading
glossy photo paper, load the paper with the glossy side down.

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Make sure the paper lays flat in the input tray and is not wrinkled. If the paper is
too close to the printhead during printing, the ink might be smeared. This can
happen if the paper is raised, wrinkled, or very thick, such as a mailing
envelope.

For more information, see:
Load media
Cause: The paper was loaded incorrectly, or it was wrinkled or too thick.
If this did not solve the issue, try the next solution.

Solution 4: Check the paper type

Solution: HP recommends that you use HP papers or any other paper type with
ColorLok technology that is appropriate for the printer. All papers with the ColorLok
logo are independently tested to meet high standards of reliability and print quality,
and produce documents with crisp, vivid color, bolder blacks and dry faster than
ordinary plain papers.
Always make sure the paper you are printing on is flat. For best results when
printing images, use HP Advanced Photo Paper.
Store specialty 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 prevents the photo paper from curling.

NOTE: For this issue, there is not a problem with your ink supplies. Therefore,
replacing the ink cartridges is not necessary.

For more information, see:
Select print media
Cause: The wrong kind of paper was loaded in the input tray.
If this did not solve the issue, try the next solution.

Print quality troubleshooting

Solution 5: Check the print settings

Solution: Check the print settings.
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Check the print settings to see if the color settings are incorrect.
For example, check to see if the document is set to print in grayscale. Or, check
to see if advanced color settings such as saturation, brightness, or color tone,
are set to modify the appearance of colors.

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Check the print quality setting and make sure it matches the type of paper
loaded in the printer.
You might need to choose a lower print quality setting if colors are running into
each other. Or, choose a higher setting if you are printing a high-quality photo,
and then make sure photo paper such as HP Advanced Photo Paper is loaded
in the input tray.

NOTE: On some computer screens, colors might appear differently than they
do when printed on paper. In this case, there is nothing wrong with the printer,
print settings, or ink cartridges. No further troubleshooting is required.

For more information, see:
Select print media
Cause: The print settings were set incorrectly.
If this did not solve the issue, try the next solution.

Solution 6: Print and evaluate a print quality report

Solution:

To print a print quality report
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Control panel: Touch (right arrow), touch Setup, touch Reports, and then
touch Print Quality Report.

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Embedded web server: Click the Tools tab, click Print Quality Toolbox
under Utilities, and then click the Print Quality Report button.

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HP Utility (Mac OS X): In the Information And Support section, click Print
Quality Diagnostics, and then click Print.

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If defects are seen on the Print Quality Diagnostic report, follow the steps below:
1. If the lines in Test Pattern 1 are not straight and connected, align the printer.

For more information, see Align the printhead.

2. If you see white lines in any of the color blocks in Test Pattern 2, clean the

printhead. For more information, see Clean the printhead.

3. If you see white or dark lines where the arrows are pointing in Test Pattern 3,

align the printer. For more information, see Align the printhead.

Cause: Print quality problems can have many causes: software settings, a poor
image file, or the printing system itself. If you are unhappy with the quality of your

Print quality troubleshooting

prints, a Print Quality Diagnostic page can help you determine if the printing system
is working correctly.

Solution 7: Contact HP support

Solution: Contact HP support for service.
If prompted, choose your country/region, and then click Contact HP for information
on calling for technical support.

TIP: If you are using a computer running Windows, you can visit the HP online
support website at www.hp.com/go/customercare. This website provides
information and utilities that can help you correct many common printer
problems.

Cause: There was a problem with the printhead.

Printhead maintenance

If you are experiencing problems with printing, you might have a problem with the
printhead. You should perform the procedures in the following sections only when
directed to do so for resolving print quality issues.
Performing the aligning and cleaning procedures unnecessarily can waste ink and
shorten the life of the cartridges.
This section contains the following topics:
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Clean the printhead

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Align the printhead

Clean the printhead
If your printed output is streaked or has any incorrect or missing colors, the printhead
might need to be cleaned.
There are two stages of cleaning. Each stage lasts about two minutes, uses one sheet
of paper, and uses an increasing amount of ink. After each stage, review the quality of
the printed page. You should only initiate the next phase of cleaning if the print quality
is poor.
If print quality still seems poor after you complete both stages of cleaning, try aligning
the printer. If print quality problems persist after cleaning and aligning, contact HP
support. For more information, see HP support.

NOTE: Cleaning uses ink, so clean the printhead only when necessary. The
cleaning process takes a few minutes. Some noise might be generated in the
process. Before cleaning the printhead, make sure you load paper. For more
information, see Load media.
Not turning the printer off correctly can cause print quality problems. For more
information, see Turn off the printer.

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To clean the printhead from the control panel
1. Load Letter, A4, or Legal unused plain white paper into the main input tray. For