Black ink is faded when printing color, but looks fine when printing black & white

[PinkPianist]

Everytime I print a colored document with black in it as well, the black is quite faded, but when I print black and white, the black looks great.  I have printed this same document in the past from this same printer, and the black used to look much deeper.

I cleaned the cartridges, updated the printer software, and aligned the print heads, but none of that has helped.  This is very frustrating, because I am constantly wasting pages from my instant ink plan...

Also, yes, I have the setting for print quality set to the best quality level.  I am using the HP Smart printing app - which worked completely fine when I've printed this same document in the past.  I'm just very confused as to what is causing this.

..and NO, my cartridge is not running out of ink.  It is quite full.

[asmita6658]

Hi @PinkPianist

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

Appreciate you trying the steps. Please send us a private message with your Instant Ink account details or you may also respond to the private message I've sent out and I'll help you out, accordingly. Check next to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it. 

Let me know. 

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