Too dark print on color laserjet M477

[Goran_Lindgren]

On my brand new M477, all pictures are too dark when printing. I have searched all support, read all manuals, gone through every setting, but nothing seems to help. For example, it says I can change the print density via the printer menus, but on that menu, all I can do is calibrate - no option to change the print density. I have tuned down all colours via the embedded web server in the printer, which helped some, but I still just want to make the entire picture lighter. I don't feel like starting making colour profiles, which seems to be overkill for a small problem. The driver used is the standard PCL6 driver that comes with the printer (and that I have updated from HP support site).

Please help!

[SHThompson]

I would download the PCL 5 version of the universal print driver and the PostScript version and try them and see if either one gives you better results.

[Goran_Lindgren]

I downloaded the PS universal print driver, which gave somewhat lighter pictures. But the support pages say that PCL 5 is not supported for this printer model and the universal print driver. Is there another driver I can test, even though it says the printer is not supported?

[RodSweeting]

Have you had any luck with this, as we are having the same issue?

I have tried printing from OSX and win 10 and my printouts they are both the same. If I print photos with bold colours they come out well. However as soon as there is any black/grey in an image the black completely overpowers the other colours. There is no detail in shadows as they just come out black.

I have tried getting help from HP support and whilst they were responsive and continued to try and help, they had absolutely no solutions.

[Ebuka]

Any luck with this issue? We are having same issue with out M477fdn printer.

All pictures are darker than on screen. When i print same document on a deskjet printer, it comes out more alive.

The black is just overwhelming on the Laserjet M477fdn

[Goran_Lindgren]

Quite honestly, I have not had the time to investigate further. I put the laserjet on hold and use my old inkjet, and will take up this subject again later.

I still am interested in any tips and tricks to get the images lighter... and I still have not heard anything about my question about other drivers that might work better.

[RodSweeting]

I have had not further luck.

It is possible to change print density by logging into the printers web interface, It is under system>print density. However whilst you can make changes and you can remove some of the darkness it doesn't really work that well. You would also have to change it for every image you printed out.

Whilst it is the only tool that appears to exist it is a very coarse harsh way of controlling it. It definately can't replace a properly written print driver.

I suspect until HP actually spend some time developing their drivers we will not be getting good quality images out of any of their printers. What annoys me is that it is a mid range printer, however the drivers would be a dissapointment on a $50 printer.

[Ulwembu]

Greetings!

I think I might have found a solution for you.  I've had exactly the same problem, and have tried everything in the book and everything NOT in the book, it seems.

I hit on something tonight for a 700-sheet printing job I need to do on it tomorrow.  The photos in the document were way too dark.

Try these steps...

1. In the control panel, go to devices and printers, then select this unit.

2. Click on Tool Box.

3. On the top portion, click on the second tab which is System.

4. Go down to Print Density.

5. This opens up a panel in which you can play with each color in 4 different areas.

In my case, the problem turned out to be in the two sections titled Highlights and Midtones.  I had tried all kinds of changes here that I could clearly see were working, but not giving me the results yet that I needed.  Finally, I dropped the black value the whole way down to -5 in those two areas.  That did the trick!

Having said that, I'm sure that each time I have a printing job that includes photos, I'll have to play with this to get the image I want.

Hope this helps!

[Cranberryman]

Hi there, I wondered if you are workin on a Mac, as I don't get the same dialogue "tool box" so can't adjust my black as you suggest. THIS IS A VERY FRUSTRATING PRINTER!

[dascoat4msu]

I went in through the Web Portal http://IPADDRESS of my printer and under system print density. I did the same thing -5 on black on higlights and midtones and my pictures look great.

If anyone has played with these I would love to hear how I can make them better.

Thanks,