Oversaturated photos, OfficeJet 5200 series

[d_bec]

My photo prints have become oversaturated, and no amount of editing the photos (I use Photoshop) seems to help. (In fact, even when I desaturated the image in PS, the printout was as oversaturated as the unedited image.) The problem here is not with the images themselves since I printed the same files previously without problems. I am using HP photo paper and HP ink cartridges. I have also followed all steps re. aligning and cleaning printheads etc. Any ideas as to how to fix this issue would be greatly appreciated.

[Dragon-Fur]

@d_bec 

Edits - Update Content

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It sounds like a massive failure of the printer, yes?

That said, can you print one of these "known to be decent" photo images on plain paper?

For those reading:

Known solutions - presented in the order to be completed / considered

Black or Color Ink Not Printing, Other Print Quality Issues

Printer  Home Page - References and Resources – Learn about your Printer  - Solve Problems

 “Things that are your printer”

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories:  Alerts, Access to the Print and Scan Doctor (Windows), Warranty Check, HP Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, Lots of How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, User Guides / Manuals, Product Information (Specifications), more

When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

HP OfficeJet 5200 All-in-One Printer series 

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[d_bec]

"That said, can you print one of these "known to be decent" photo images on plain paper?"

No. Pictures are oversaturated on any kind of paper (different kinds of photo paper as well as plain paper). 

[Dragon-Fur]

@d_bec 

I re-read the original question...

There are a few more considerations that might help determine whether the printer is capable of printing correctly.

➡️  Can you print using another application (for example HP Smart for Windows)?

Print a photo with which you have not had issues in the past.

➡️  More importantly, what were the results of your Print Quality Diagnostic Page?

 Printing Self-Test Pages

Section:  Print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page

Reminder to those reading

Where available, for example, the printer is on your network,

Access Printer Reports (Self-Tests) using the Embedded Web Server (EWS)

Open your favorite browser > type / enter Printer IP address into URL / Address bar

Tab Tools > Reports > Printer Reports

➡️  Have you tried reloading the Full Feature Software?

If not, please do so - basic instructions here:

Adobe Reader DC – Needed Whether You Use It or Not

If you have not done so,

➡️  Reinstall / Update your PDF Reader (Adobe Reader DC /Optional  Foxit Reader)

HINT:  Watch out for and UNCHECK unwanted extra software

NOTE:  Adobe Reader DC software should be installed even if you do not normally open / view / print PDF files directly from the Adobe Reader DC software.

The Basics - Standard - Reinstall Full Feature Software

• Uninstall the existing printer software from Programs and Features
• Restart the computer and log in
• Download-and-Save the printer software (Full Feature Software / HP Smart / Easy Start)

HP Easy Start Printer Setup Software 

• Right-Click on the downloaded package and "Run as Administrator" to start the installation
• Reminder:  If using Easy Start, select the Full Driver

About 2/3 of the way through the setup, you will be given the opportunity to select the software - select the "Full" driver set (as opposed to the basic driver).

NOTE

• Toward the very end of the installation you might see the opportunity to print a Test Page -

Please click Yes and check the results.

Depending on the version of the software, the test photo may look similar to the following image.

Test_Photo_Image_1

• After the software is installed, Restart the computer and log in

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

The Community is a separate wing of the HP website - We are not a business group of HP..

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You.

Question Resolved / Answered, Click "Accept as Solution" .

[d_bec]

I have tried all that, to no avail, unfortunately. (I've tried printing from PhotoShop, Acrobat, Windows Image Viewer, and the HP app itself.) I've even tried switching between printer-managed vs. application-managed color management (in PS), which also didn't solve the problem. 

The print quality test page came back just fine -- and interestingly, it didn't seem like using more ink than intended, either. 

Un- and re-installing the drivers also didn't work. 

[Dragon-Fur]

@d_bec 

Well, I don't know.

For the moment, I'm out of ideas. 🤔