Blue tint when printing grayscale

[Hub6]

I purchased a new black ink cartridge for this printer. When I print in grayscale, images come out with a bluish tint. How can I fix this?

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Hub6 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I understand how disappointing it feels to see a bluish tint when you expect clean grayscale output, especially after installing a new cartridge. 

You’ve already taken the right step by replacing the black ink, so let’s go through a sequence of actions that can help restore crisp black‑and‑white printing.

 

Check print settings in Windows

• Open the document you want to print.
• Go to Print → Printer Properties.
• Under “Color Options,” select “Print in grayscale” and ensure “Black Ink Only” is chosen rather than “High Quality Grayscale.”
• This forces the printer to use only the black cartridge instead of mixing color inks.

Run a printhead cleaning

• On the printer’s control panel, go to Settings → Maintenance → Clean Printhead.
• Run the cleaning cycle and then print a test page.
• If the tint persists, repeat the cleaning up to two more times.

Align the printhead

• From the printer’s menu, select Settings → Maintenance → Align Printhead.
• Proper alignment ensures the black cartridge is used correctly without blending with color inks.

Check cartridge seating

• Open the cartridge access door.
• Remove the black cartridge and reinsert it firmly until it clicks into place.
• Ensure no protective tape remains on the cartridge.

Update printer firmware

• Install the latest firmware for your printer to ensure accurate ink usage:
  Update the firmware on an HP printer | HP® Support

Test with HP App

• Open the HP App on Windows 11.
• Select your printer → Print Settings → Preferences.
• Choose “Black Ink Only” and print a sample document to confirm the output.

For more guidance on improving print quality, you can refer to:
Troubleshooting print-quality issues | HP® Support

By adjusting the print settings to “Black Ink Only,” cleaning and aligning the printhead, and ensuring the cartridge is seated properly, the bluish tint should disappear and you’ll get sharp grayscale prints again.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye