HP 3830 print quality

[MrComputerMan]

Trying to print some nice Christmas photos, 4x6 glossy, and the colors seem slightly "muddy", not at all crisp like in  my photo editor. Photos came from cellphone camera, but look quite good in any program on this HP laptop, a Pavilion x360 m3. I'm not sure when it may have started, but I wanted these pics to be real sharp and crisp. There are no lines or anything noticeable in the pic except the slight "muddy" look. Wondering about a bad  batch of ink, maybe? My ink is HP on the "instant ink" program...

[MrComputerMan]

A little more info, I sent the photo via computer to Walgreen for Christmas cards, they are beautiful! So it's something in this printer, ink, driver... I really can't say whether it began with the latest Instant Ink cartridges. My wife uses it mostly to print embroidery designs before stitching them out, so it wouldn't have been obvious. Suggestions welcome.

[TEJ1602]

@MrComputerMan, Welcome to HP Support  Community!

To assist you better, I'd like to know the following-

What is the Operating System installed on your computer?

Which application are you trying to print from?

Do the normal documents print fine?

What happens when you make photocopies using the glossy paper?

Meanwhile, refer to the document HP Printers - How to Print Photos (Windows)  for help.

Keep me posted for further assistance.

[MrComputerMan]

OS is Win10, v. 1909; printing from Corel Paint Shop Pro X9. "Normal documents" for us would be my wife's embroidery pattern previews (plain paper) so there's not a good comparison here. Printing from a scan (good sharp color) results in slightly "muddy" color. It's not extremely bad but enough to throw off the true color. Actually I suspect small ink color variation, maybe green. Thanks for reply.

[TEJ1602]

@MrComputerMan

Thanks for replying!

I would recommend you follow the steps from the document Black or Color Ink Not Printing, Other Print Quality Issues for help.

Also, if the issue persists share the image of the printed document for further isolation of the issue.

 Keep me posted. 

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[MrComputerMan]

I tried comparing a printed photo on the HP with a drugstore print. Noticeable difference, but it's not something that I could send as an attachment. Taking a picture of a picture has too many variables, even the ambient light will affect it. I did run the Print Quality Diagnostic, and there's one white line in the magenta blocks. Two clean cycles did not remove the white line. I think we will just use the drugstore prints for cards and such; my wife mostly prints out embroidery designs to test the layout of a finished product. Thanks.

[rrrussl]

I have the same problem.  Photo prints are so dark making that capability almost useless.  Most other $50-$100 printers are able to print photos with acceptable quality. 

[MrComputerMan]

Mine are not that dark, but in comparison to the drugstore prints, they just don't have the same level of clarity...call it "sparkle". Hard to describe except the color is slightly "muddy".