HP Smart Tank 5106 Red print comes out as Brown

[AnthonyFrampton]

When printing Colour the red comes out as brown,  this is the same when using the printer as a copier so its defiantly a printer related issue. 

I did suspect Ink problem and have emptied, flushed and refiled the magenta reservoir,

but when making a test Print all 4 colour blocks colours seem to come out ok.

Please can anyone advise. 

[Garp_senchau]

@AnthonyFrampton, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

It sounds like you're encountering a color issue where red is printing as brown, even though your test print shows all four color blocks correctly. Since you've already flushed and refilled the magenta reservoir, that rules out a simple ink problem. Here are a few steps you could try to further troubleshoot:

Check the Color Calibration and Alignment

Sometimes the printer may need a recalibration to correct color output. HP printers typically perform automatic color alignment. You can check your printer’s settings or run a calibration test directly from the printer menu (on the printer itself or via HP Smart software).

Go to the printer's settings or use the HP Smart software to align the cartridges manually. Misalignment can sometimes cause color shifts, including strange hues.

Perform a Deep Clean

Deep Cleaning: Since a basic flush didn’t resolve the issue, try performing a deeper cleaning of the print heads. You can usually do this through the HP Smart app. This can help clear any blockages in the nozzles that may be causing inaccurate color mixing.

Check for Software/Driver Issues

Driver Update: Sometimes, issues can be caused by outdated or corrupted printer drivers. Make sure your printer driver is up to date. You can download the latest drivers from the HP website.

Print Settings in Software: Check if the software you are printing from (Word, Photoshop, etc.) has color settings that might be affecting the output. Sometimes the software can apply color profiles that override the printer settings.

Run HP Print and Scan Doctor (Windows only):

• Download and run the HP Print and Scan Doctor tool. Follow the prompts to diagnose and fix common printing issues.

Update Printer Firmware (Update the firmware on an HP printer | HP® Support)

• Go to the HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads page. Enter your printer model number and search for the latest firmware update. Follow the instructions to download and install the firmware update.

Color Management Settings

In some cases, the problem could be related to how Windows is managing color. Go to your printer's properties in Windows, and make sure that the "Color Management" settings are set to the default or the right color profile.

Also, you can refer to this guide: HP Smart Tank 210 and 500 series printers - Color or black ink not printing, other print quality iss...

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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