Trying to print business cards

[Freddo]

I have just bought a HP Photosmart C4480 All-in-One. I have been trying to print business cards using the stock perforated sheet type (equivalent to Avery L7414).

I can't line up the top margin so that the printing starts within the perforated area. If I use plain paper it lines up correctly. When I use the card stock I keep getting different top margins even though I do not change the setting. It is like as though the card is slipping in the printer after it gets taken up by the rollers and before the printing commences. Any tips please on what to try as a solution?

[radiodave2]

Thanks for the post, Freddo. I have the same problem and hope we can find an answer.

One thing I tried which helped a lot was cleaning the black rubber rollers. See Multiple Pages Feed Through the Printer:

"Remove the rear-access door (if applicable) and clean the internal rubber rollers with a soft lintfree cloth moistened with distilled water. Wait until the rubber rollers dry and replace the rear access door." I also cleaned the front rollers the same way, though I had to force them to turn. Before cleaning, the top margin changed on every sheet. Now it is OK on maybe 3 out of 4 sheets.

The problem, as you say, is that the top margin keeps changing. The result is many (expensive) sheets of card stock are wasted (not to mention ink), since the graphics don't line up with the preforations. I am using a one year old HP Deskjet D4260 and Avery 8870 matte card stock. I have also tried Avery 8879 glossy card stock. Both are made for ink jet printers. 

I contacted Avery tech support and here's what they said:

"The alignment problem that you have is what your printer manufacturer refer to as printer creep or non-uniform misalignment. Since your projects print fine on a regular sheet of paper, we suggest changing the paper type setting of your printer to card stock/s. It would be best to call your printer manufacturer for assistance on how to do this since we only have limited information regarding printer settings. They would also be able to inform the best settings to use when printing business cards. You may contact HP at (800) 474-6836."

My printer properties screen doesn't have a selection for thick paper, nor am I aware of any adjustments on the printer itself. I was having a problem with a light black horizontal bar, I fixed that by changing the paper type from Plain Paper to HP Photo Cards, since that seemed the closest to card stock. But that didn't help the ever-changing top margin.

So now it's up to HP to offer a solution. I wait to see if anyone responds here before I try calling.

[econobiker]

This looks like a systemic HP problem with printing the perforated business cards.

[blobbo]

I have a Photosmart c4650 that wouldn't print business cards either. I read in a forum that someone had played with margins to no avail. I bumbled into this: in the Print dialog box, "Change Copies Per Sheet" button and change "Top Margin" from .5" to .8" and the cards came out perfectly!

[econobiker]

Again do any of HP's so called "Printer experts" have a solution to this problem other than to abandon HP products for a competitors?

Printer experts bring it on. Video the solution and post it on youtube for all to see. I want you to print 20 business card sheets in a row from one of the models of printers or all in ones listed without the printer/all in one or card screwing up.

Sorry folks but HP and Avery business cards ABSOLUTELY DO NOT EVER WORK CONSISTENTLY.

HP blames Avery and Avery blames HP.

Bring it on Printer Experts for 4-20 to 4-21 Printer Expert Day. I Double Dog Dare Ya!!!!!!!!

[radiodave2]

I like the idea of posting videos on You Tube. If HP doesn't read their own Support Forum, maybe they will respond if we make enough noise all over the Internet.

I did change the margins as  blobbo suggests. I also had to change the row spacing. Now once in a while I get a good sheet of cards. But the problem isn't this one-time setting. The problem is the printer feeds inconsistently, so whatever setting I use may work for one sheet but on he next sheet the printing will be off again. It is random and unpredictable. It is frustrating and expensive to print 10 sheets (100 cards) to get maybe 15 usable cards. 

Meanwhile, I bought an the cheapest Dell color laser printer I could find (1320c for $199) and it works great. Perfect registration every time, no wasted sheets.

[econobiker]

radiodave,

I had to go with a print through Epson as the all in one HP 5500 I had never would print the business cards correctly.

This wandering margin error or issue still is being posted by new users October 2010.

[kkcb9395]

You might try changing the media type setting from automatic to plain paper in the printer properties.  This has resolved a number of issues for forum users who were having problems with the top margin on labels.

[denture59]

I have the same problem with any business card stock I use ~ Avery, Decadry, W H Smith own brand. It seems that the rollers just don't pull the card in far enough and thats why it gets different results each time. I have a Photosmart 4580 and have the printer properties as ~ General Everyday Printing, A4, HP Premium Photo Papers, Best quality. This seems to work most times and I also help the card into the feeder, not pushing it just making sure that it goes when it should. Hope this helps anyone that needs it.

[swalter10]

I recently developed this same issue.

I'm usiing an HP Officejet J4580 All-in-One.

My thoughts were it was related to two different types of Staples card stock. May still be. For simplicity we'll identify them as the blue box and purple box since I don't have the numbers in front of me.

I was using the blue box with success and ran out at the end of my project. When I started a new project I could only find the purple box. That is when the alignment trouble began for me.

Began a search and landed here. I saw lots of great info.

I started scrolling thru the paper settings (I've always used the 8.5 x 11 to print my card stock) and found a borderless 8.5 x 11 sheet. What the heck I'll try it.

So far it is working with out issue.

Swalter10