Scratches using old Premium Plus Photo Paper (C6831A)

[BCSF]

I still have some old HP Premium Plus Photo Paper--glossy (C6831A) that ALWAYS prints with "scratches" on the surface.  Exact same settings with regular printer paper is fine.  It appears as if ink is still wet as print goes through the rollers.  Any ideas to fix (I've tried several settings, but nothing seems to work).

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @BCSF 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for sharing this, and I’m really sorry you’re seeing scratches on your photo prints—it’s especially disappointing when you’re using high-quality paper and expecting crisp, glossy results.

This issue often stems from a mismatch between the paper’s coating and the ink drying time. Here are a few steps that may help improve the print quality:

 

Recommended Steps to Resolve Scratches on Glossy Photo Paper

 

1. Use the Correct Paper Type Setting

• On your printer’s control panel or in the print dialog box on your computer, select HP Premium Plus Photo Paper – Glossy as the paper type.
• This ensures the printer adjusts ink flow and drying time appropriately.

 

2. Print in Best Quality Mode

• In the print settings, choose Best or Maximum DPI.
• This slows down the printing process and allows more time for ink to dry before passing through the rollers.

 

3. Avoid Borderless Printing

• Borderless mode can increase ink saturation near the edges, which may lead to smearing.
• Try printing with standard margins to reduce ink pooling.

 

4. Use Fresh Paper

• If the paper has been stored for a long time, especially in humid or dusty conditions, the coating may degrade.
• Try a fresh sheet from a sealed pack if available.

 

5. Allow Extra Drying Time

• After printing, let the photo sit undisturbed for several minutes before handling.
• Avoid stacking or sliding prints immediately after output.

 

6. Clean the Rollers

• Ink residue on the rollers can cause smearing.
• You can clean the rollers using the printer’s maintenance menu or manually with a lint-free cloth and distilled water.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[BCSF · Accepted solution]

Thanks for replying.  I did all your suggestions before I even posted my problem.  I did find my problem and solution.  My photo paper (HP Premium Photo Glossy) is one of the the thicker papers and evidently the print heads were causing the scratches by not always clearing the paper during the printing.  The hint was that the scratches tended to be horizontal.  If scratches were vertical, rollers could be the problem.  The solution was to realign the print heads on my OJ8725 (Setup/Printer Maintenance/Align Printhead).  My printed images themselves did not show any misalignment but I read that the print head align also adjusts the clearance above the paper.

Again thanks for your help

[Hawks_Eye]

Thank you for following up—it's great to hear you identified the root cause and resolved it. 

Your observation about horizontal scratches pointing to print head clearance, and vertical ones suggesting roller interference, is spot-on and incredibly helpful for others facing similar issues.

Realigning the print heads via Setup → Printer Maintenance → Align Printhead was a smart move, especially since that process can subtly adjust the vertical clearance above thicker media like HP Premium Plus Photo Paper (C6831A). Even when alignment seems visually fine, those micro-adjustments can make all the difference in preventing contact during printing.

If you ever switch to other specialty papers or notice similar behavior again, running a fresh alignment is a great first step. Thanks again for sharing your solution—it adds real value to the conversation.

If you're all set, please mark this post as 'Accepted Solution' to help others find the answer!

If you need anything else, I'm all ears (or rather, all text). Just let me know! 

Stay fantastic, and have an amazing day ahead! 

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye