PRINTER DOESN'T PRODUCE ACCURATE COLORS

[sbman]

HP 6968 printer does not produce accurate colors.  How can I adjust printer to get accurate reproduction?

[Max3Aj]

@sbman, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
To fix inaccurate color reproduction on your HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 All-in-One Printer, follow these steps:

Step 1: Run a Print Quality Diagnostic

1. On the printer's touchscreen:
   • Go to Setup > Printer Maintenance > Print Quality Report.
2. Review the report:
   • Look for missing colors, streaks, or color misalignment.

If issues appear, continue with cleaning and alignment below.

Step 2: Clean and Align Printheads

1. Go to Setup > Printer Maintenance.
2. Select:
   • Clean Printhead
   • Then Align Printer

This clears up nozzle clogs and improves color accuracy.

Step 3: Check Print Settings on Your Computer

Before printing:

1. Open the document/image.
2. Click Print > Printer Properties or Preferences.
3. Under Color Options:
   • Choose Color (not grayscale).
   • Select Print in Max DPI or Best quality if available.
   • Set Paper Type accurately (e.g., Photo Paper vs Plain Paper).

Step 4: Turn Off "HP ColorSmart" (If Using Photoshop or Similar Apps)

For accurate photo reproduction:

• In print settings, disable HP ColorSmart or color management if your software handles it.
• Let your design software (e.g., Photoshop, Lightroom) manage color.

Step 5: Use Genuine HP Ink

• Non-genuine cartridges often cause color drift or inaccurate tones.
• If you're using third-party ink, switching to HP ink may resolve the issue.

Step 6: Update Printer Driver and Firmware

1. Go to HP Software & Driver Downloads.
2. Enter your model: HP OfficeJet Pro 6968.
3. Download the latest:
   • Printer driver
   • Firmware update

You may refer to this document - HP OfficeJet 6900, 8010, 8020, 8030 printers - No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issue...
 

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. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support