L26500 printing black problems

[hotmetalcomp]

Hi I have an HP L26500 which has a very low 'mileage' but worked well until a couple of days ago. The printhead alignment function shows all heads in good condition although out of warranty. I use two Onyx RIP test images across 1370mm banner vinyl immediately after the printhead alignment and very quickly the black ink starts to deteriorate to the point that it disappears completely. As the printer has two printheads containing black and yellow I am assuming there is not a problem with the printheads. The black ink cartridge is almost full. When I removed the cartridge to verify that there was ink in the cartridge the front panel requested I re-insert it . No matter how many times I tried, this error would not clear until I turned the machine off and then back on. Voila! Cartridge OK but printing problems exactly the same. I tried a syringe to draw ink through the pipes in case there was an air lock somewhere but to no avail. Anyone have any ideas? Bearing in mind the age of the machine I don't wan't to spend money on it really. Thanks in advance for your help.

[BongChaGomez]

Hello @hotmetalcomp,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

We are sorry for the trouble that you are having. If you are experiencing problems with black ink on your HP Designjet L26500 printer, there are a few common troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue:

1. Check Ink Levels: Ensure that the ink cartridges have sufficient levels of black ink. If the cartridge is low or empty, replace it with a new one.

2. Printhead Check and Cleaning: The printer's printhead might need to be cleaned or aligned. You can perform a printhead cleaning routine via the printer's control panel to ensure that the nozzles are not clogged, which might affect black ink output.

3. Substrate Settings: Make sure that the correct substrate type is selected in the RIP software and that it matches the media type loaded in the printer. Incorrect substrate settings can affect print quality, including black reproduction.

4. Calibration: Ensure the printer is properly calibrated. Calibration can often resolve color consistency issues, including problems with black ink. The HP Designjet L26500 printer has a built-in spectrophotometer that helps in automatic color calibration.

5. Environmental Factors: The environment, such as humidity and temperature, can impact ink performance. Ensure your printer is in an environment that meets the specified operating conditions.

6. Software and Drivers: Make sure that all printer software and drivers are up to date. Sometimes, outdated or incorrect drivers can lead to printing issues.

7. Profiling and Color Management: Verify that the correct color management settings are applied in your RIP software. Incorrect ICC profiles might lead to improper color reproduction.

For detailed steps on calibration and color management, refer to the comprehensive guide for the HP Designjet L26500 provided by HP.

If the issue persists despite these troubleshooting steps, consider contacting HP support for further assistance.

Sources

1. HP Designjet L25500 and L26500 Printer Series - Color matching between the HP Designjet L25500 and L...