poor color print quality

[jldnmr]

Photo color quality  is horrible and unusable.

[Rachel571]

Hi @jldnmr

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

Poor color print quality, especially for photos, can be caused by a variety of issues ranging from printer settings to hardware problems. If your photo color quality is horrible and unusable, here are a series of troubleshooting steps to help you get better results:

1. Check Printer Ink/Cartridges

• Ink Levels: Ensure that the ink levels in your printer are not low. Low ink can cause faded or inaccurate color prints.
• Genuine Ink: Always use genuine cartridges from your printer manufacturer. Third-party or refilled cartridges can sometimes cause poor print quality, particularly for photos.
• Check for Dried or Clogged Cartridges: Sometimes, inkjet printers (especially those used infrequently) can have dried ink, which can clog the printhead and cause poor color prints. Many printers have a self-cleaning function that you can run through the printer’s control panel or software.

2. Run the Printhead Cleaning/Alignment

Many printers have a built-in utility for cleaning or aligning the printheads, which can improve print quality.

How to Clean the Printheads (depending on your printer model):

1. Go to Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click on your printer and select Printing Preferences.
3. Look for a Maintenance or Tools tab, and choose Clean Printhead or Align Printheads. Follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Print a test page afterward to check the results.

Printhead Alignment: This can also be found in the printer settings, and it's a good idea to align the printhead if you’re seeing color misalignment (e.g., colors overlapping or banding).

3. Check Your Printer Settings

• Paper Type: If you're printing photos, ensure that you’ve selected the correct paper type in your printer settings (e.g., “Photo Paper,” “Glossy,” or “Matte”). Using the wrong paper setting can result in poor color reproduction.
• Print Quality Settings: Set your printer to high quality for photo printing:
  • Go to Printing Preferences or Advanced Settings and select Best Quality or Photo Quality.
  • Paper Size: Ensure that the paper size is correctly set to match the paper you're using.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support