Cannot print good quality grayscale text on my monochrome LaserJet MFP M442dn

[Soni44]

Hello! I'm trying to get my black and white Laser Jet MFP M442dn printer to print good quality text in grayscale but I am not having any success so far.

I tried to change the print quality settings both from the computer and the printer. 

Finally I ended up looking at ICC profiles but I'm not sure how they work.

Before buying the printer I was told it could print also in grayscale with a very good quality.

The gray text comes out "dotted" and the quality is nothing compared to the black text prints.

Can anyone help? thank you!

[Raj_05]

Hi @Soni44,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

The dotted, lower-quality gray text output on your HP LaserJet MFP M442dn is likely due to how grayscale tones are handled by monochrome printers. Monochrome laser printers typically achieve gray by varying the dot density (dithering), which can result in a dotted appearance, especially on text.

Here are some steps to improve your grayscale text quality.

• Switch to High-Quality Mode: Ensure that the print quality setting is set to "Best" or "High Quality." You mentioned adjusting settings, but double-checking this setting through both your computer's printer settings and the printer control panel can sometimes make a difference in grayscale rendering.
• Experiment with Brightness and Contrast: Adjusting these settings within the print dialog can sometimes improve text sharpness by emphasizing contrast, even for lighter grays.
• Change Text Color to Black Only: If possible, try converting your text to pure black (100% K) rather than shades of gray. Some applications like Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat offer text color adjustments, allowing you to change gray text to black.
• Consider Toner Density Settings: If the printer allows it, adjusting toner density (sometimes called "Toner Save" or "Economy Mode") can improve or worsen text clarity, so experiment with these settings to find the best result.
• ICC Profiles Limitations: ICC profiles are mostly used to manage color accuracy and quality in color printing. Since your printer is monochrome, ICC profiles won’t provide noticeable improvements for grayscale quality.
• Firmware or Driver Update: Check HP’s website for any firmware updates or driver improvements for the M442dn. Sometimes, updates can fine-tune how grayscale tones are processed.

If these adjustments still don’t yield the desired quality, your printer may be inherently limited in handling grayscale tones due to its monochrome design. For smooth gradients and fine gray text, color laser printers or inkjets with grayscale support tend to perform better because they can blend colors to create smoother grays.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support