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- HP Community
- Printers
- Printer Ink Cartridges & Print Quality
- Ghosting when printing on cardstock

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1 REPLY 1
10-02-2025 10:34 AM
Hi @Gankai25Z,
Welcome to the HP Support Community.
Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.
If you’re seeing ghosting or smudging when printing on cardstock with an older macOS (Snow Leopard or earlier), the fix is to tell the printer you’re using heavy paper so it slows down and applies the right amount of heat and pressure.
How to Adjust Paper Type for HP Printers on macOS 10.6 and Older
- Open the Print Dialog
- From your app (Word, Preview, etc.), click File > Print.
- From your app (Word, Preview, etc.), click File > Print.
- Show Advanced Settings
- If you see a simple print window, click Show Details or Advanced.
- If you see a simple print window, click Show Details or Advanced.
- Select the HP Printer Driver
- In the dropdown that says Copies & Pages, choose your printer’s name or Printer Features.
- In the dropdown that says Copies & Pages, choose your printer’s name or Printer Features.
- Change Paper Type
- Look for Media Type or Paper Type.
- Select Cardstock, Heavy Paper, or Thick Paper (the exact wording depends on your printer model).
- Apply and Print
- This setting slows the rollers and increases fuser heat, reducing ghosting.
I hope this helps.
Take care and have an amazing day!
Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!
Regards,
VikramTheGreat
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