no color in greeting card print and words are hard to read

[Marie1941]

Printer Ink Cartridges & Print QualityPrinter-Ink-Cartridges-and-Print-Quality

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @Marie1941,

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 Officejet Pro 8620 e-All-in-One Printer is not printing color on your greeting card and the text appears hard to read, 

here are several steps you can take to resolve the issue:

1. Check Ink Cartridges

• Low or Empty Ink: Ensure that the color cartridges have enough ink. You can check the ink levels on the printer display or through the HP Smart app on your computer.
• Genuine HP Cartridges: Ensure you are using genuine HP cartridges, as third-party cartridges can sometimes cause print quality issues.
• Reinstall or Replace Cartridges: Remove the color ink cartridges, clean the contacts gently with a lint-free cloth, and reinstall them. If they are empty or damaged, replace them.

2. Clean the Printhead

• If the ink levels are fine but the printer is still not printing color properly or the text is faint, the printhead may need cleaning.
• You can clean the printhead by going into the printer settings:
  • Go to the printer control panel or HP Smart app.
  • Look for Tools or Printer Maintenance.
  • Choose Clean Printhead and follow the instructions.
• After cleaning, print a test page to check if the issue is resolved.

3. Check Printer Settings

• Color Printing Settings: Ensure that the printer settings are configured to print in color. Sometimes, the printer may be set to grayscale (black and white) or draft mode, which can affect print quality.
  • In Windows, open the document, go to File > Print, select your printer, and then click on Printer Properties or Preferences. Ensure that Print in Color is selected.
• Print Quality Settings: Set the print quality to Best instead of Normal or Draft for higher-quality text and images.

4. Run a Print Quality Diagnostic

• Run a diagnostic test to check for any print quality issues.
  • On the printer control panel, go to Settings > Tools > Print Quality Report.
  • The report will show if there are any alignment or ink quality issues that need addressing.

5. Printer Firmware and Driver Updates Update the firmware on an HP printer

• Ensure that your printer's firmware and drivers are up-to-date. You can download the latest drivers from HP’s support website and install them.

6. Paper Quality

• Make sure you are using the correct type of paper for the greeting card. The wrong paper type can affect ink absorption and print quality.
  • If using glossy or card stock, ensure the printer is set to match the paper type in the Printer Preferences.

7. Check for Clogged Nozzles

• If you frequently print documents, the color nozzles could be clogged. Running a printhead cleaning cycle should help clear the nozzles.

Refer to this document: HP Officejet Pro 8620 e-All-in-One Printer series User manual 

HP OfficeJet 8600, Pro 8600 Printers - Color or black ink not printing, other print quality issues
 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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