My hp deskjet keeps printing the color on images all whacked up! Anybody know what I could do?

[Dobricko004]

 
Hello!

My HP Deskjet 3755 printer has had this problem for a while now where it will print things perfectly fine, but the color on them will turn out nightmarish and distorted, like something off of a damaged VHS recording. My ink cartridges seem to be full and not dry, so I’m confused as to what the problem could be, and how I could fix it. If anyone else has had a problem like this with their printer, I would appreciate any and all suggestions!👍

-Luke

[Dobricko004]

I've tried doing both levels of printerhead cleaning via hp smart, cleaning the actual ink cartridges themselves, resetting the printer, plugging it into a wall instead of an extension, nothing works and it still prints images out in a grainy almost 1970's style hyper harsh saturated color look with eyesore horizontal white lines like an old tv recording. Is there any report of something like this happening before? I'm beginning to feel convinced my printer is just broken at this point, any and all help would be appreciated, please!

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @Dobricko004,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand you are facing an issue with your HP DeskJet 3755 All-in-One Printer related to color calibration or printhead alignment, which can sometimes result in distorted or overly saturated images with lines and color shifts, similar to what you're describing. 

Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check for Driver or Firmware Updates Update the firmware on an HP printer User manual 

• macOS compatibility: Make sure your printer's driver is fully updated for macOS 10.15 Catalina. Sometimes older drivers can cause issues with print quality.
• Check HP's support website for any available firmware updates for the HP DeskJet 3755 that could fix print quality issues.

2. Run a Printhead Alignment

• If you haven’t already, try running a printhead alignment from the HP Smart app or the printer's control panel. A misaligned printhead could cause the kind of distortion you're describing.

Steps:

• Open HP Smart and select your printer.
• Go to Printer Maintenance and look for the option to align the printhead.

This process can help recalibrate how your printer lays down ink on the paper.
 

3. Adjust Color Settings

• Sometimes print quality issues stem from incorrect color management. Try adjusting the print quality and color profile in your printer settings:
  • Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners on your Mac.
  • Select your printer and click Options & Supplies.
  • Under Quality & Media (or a similar section), try setting print quality to Best and disabling any color enhancements.
  • You may also want to adjust the color settings for specific print jobs to ensure proper color output.

4. Run a Full Printer Reset

• Try resetting the printer to its factory defaults:
  • With the printer on, unplug it from the power source.
  • Wait for about 60 seconds.
  • Plug the printer back in and turn it on.

This can help reset any internal settings that may be causing printing issues.

5. Check for Paper or Ink Issues

• Use genuine HP ink cartridges: Non-HP cartridges or refilled ones can sometimes lead to poor print quality.
• Ensure you’re using the correct paper type setting in your printer (e.g., photo paper for high-quality image prints). Incorrect settings can cause colors to print incorrectly.

6. Clean Printhead Manually (if applicable)

• You can manually clean the printhead by gently wiping the ink nozzles on the cartridge with a lint-free cloth slightly moistened with distilled water. Be cautious and follow HP's guidelines for cleaning the printhead.

7. Print a Diagnostic Page

• Print a print quality diagnostic page to get more information about the issue. If the page shows any color distortions or missing lines, it may point to a hardware issue.
  • You can do this through the HP Smart app under the Diagnostic Tools section.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, there might be a hardware problem with the printer's printhead or cartridge system.
 

Refer to this document: HP DeskJet 3755 All-in-One Printer User manual 

HP DeskJet 3700 printers - No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issues
HP DeskJet 3700 Printers - Color or Black Ink Not Printing
 

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.