HP5520 is printing some parts in grey instead of full black

[John_doe_unknow]

Hi everyone,

I hope there will be here better than HP support ...

Since the last few months, I cannot print some documents (mainly PDF) as some parts of the doc will be printed in light gray instead of black. Such documents are not useable (like when you have barcode). 

I tried several parameters, remove/uninstall drivers but sometimes it will work for few weeks then next software update (driver, windows OS, application) will bring me back to bad situation.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @John_doe_unknow,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

If your HP OfficeJet 5520 is printing some parts of documents in gray instead of black, it indicates that there might be an issue with the print quality or settings. Here’s a comprehensive troubleshooting guide to help resolve the issue:

1. Check Ink Levels

• Check Ink Levels: Ensure that the black ink cartridge is not running low or empty. You can check ink levels from the printer's control panel or the HP Smart app.
• Replace Cartridges: If the black ink cartridge is low, replace it with a new one.

2. Clean Printheads

• Run Printhead Cleaning:
  1. From the Printer Control Panel: Go to Setup > Tools > Clean Printhead.
  2. From HP Smart: Open the HP Smart app on your computer or mobile device, select your printer, and go to Printer Maintenance > Clean Printheads.
• Perform Printhead Alignment: After cleaning, you may need to align the printheads to ensure proper print quality.

3. Check Print Settings

• Check Printer Settings:
  1. Open Printer Preferences: Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > right-click on your HP 5520 and select Printer Properties.
  2. Check Paper/Quality Tab: Make sure the Print Quality is set to Best or Normal and Paper Type matches the paper you are using.

4. Update or Reinstall Drivers:

1. Visit the HP Support website and search for your HP OfficeJet 5520.
2. Download and install the latest drivers and software for your operating system:
   1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
   2. Right-click on your printer and select Remove Device.
   3. Reinstall the printer using the latest drivers from HP's website.

5. Check for Firmware Updates

1. Go to the HP Support website and check if there is a firmware update available for your printer.
2. Follow the instructions to download and install any available updates.

6. Perform a Print Quality Diagnostic:

1. On the printer’s control panel, go to Setup > Tools > Print Quality Report.
2. Review the diagnostic page to see if there are any issues with the printhead or ink cartridges.

7. Check and Adjust Paper Handling

• Paper Quality: Use high-quality paper suitable for your printer to avoid issues with print quality.
• Paper Loading: Ensure paper is loaded correctly in the tray and that the paper guides are adjusted to the correct size.

8. Perform a Printer Reset

• Reset Printer:
  1. Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source.
  2. Wait for 60 seconds and then plug it back in and turn it on.
  3. Check if the issue persists after the reset.

9. Check for Software Conflicts

• Disable Conflicting Software: Make sure no other software is interfering with the print process. This includes third-party print management software.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support

[John_doe_unknow]

Hi Rachel,

First, thanks for the time you take to assist me!

I tried already all the actions you listed but gave it another try today. 

Problem is that, starting from cleaning the printhead, there's no black color already. Same when I'm trying the option "Clean Ink Smear". The black cartridge is new and full.

The weird part is that I found a way to print documents (setting "best" option, playing with the settings) but even that is not working this time. 

Any other idea?

Kind regards,

JDU

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @John_doe_unknow ,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand you've been dealing with an ongoing issue where your HP Photosmart 5520 e-All-in-One Printer is printing some sections of documents in gray instead of full black. This can be frustrating, especially when printing important documents like barcodes. 

Here are some steps you can take to try and resolve this issue:

 

1. Check Print Settings:

• Ensure that the printer is set to print in "Black and White" or "Grayscale" only, not "Color."
• If you're printing PDFs, check the print dialog box for options related to color or black-and-white printing. Make sure "Print as Image" is unchecked unless necessary.

2. Update Printer Driver:

• Uninstall the current printer driver completely.
• Download the latest driver directly from the HP Support website and install it.
• Restart your computer after installing the driver.

3. Check PDF Reader Settings:

• If you're printing from Adobe Acrobat or another PDF reader, ensure the application is fully updated.
• In Adobe Acrobat, go to Print > Advanced and check the "Print As Image" option. This can sometimes resolve issues with how PDFs render when printing.

4. Clean Printheads:

• Run the "Printhead Cleaning" utility from the printer's control panel or through the HP software on your computer. This can help if the issue is related to ink distribution.

5. Print in High Quality Mode:

• Try setting the print quality to "Best" in the printer settings. Lower quality modes might cause lighter prints.

6. Test with Different Applications:

• Print the same document from different applications (e.g., Word, Adobe Reader, browser) to see if the issue persists. This can help determine if it's a software-specific issue.

7. Check for Firmware Updates: Update the firmware on an HP printer

• Sometimes, the issue could be due to outdated firmware on the printer. Check HP's website for any available firmware updates for your printer model.

8. Reset the Printer:

• Perform a full reset of the printer to its factory settings. This can sometimes resolve persistent software glitches.

9. Test on Another Computer:

• If possible, try printing from a different computer to determine if the issue is specific to your system.

10. Use Generic Printer Driver:

• As a last resort, you can try using a generic HP printer driver, such as the HP Universal Print Driver, which might bypass any software-specific issues.

Refer to this document:  HP Photosmart 5520 e-All-in-One Printer series - HP Support User manual

HP Deskjet, Photosmart 5520 printers - No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issues 
 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.