My Printer is Printing to Postcards Off by an Inch

[CaliJoe]

I'm having trouble getting my HP OfficeJet Pro 8028e to print postcards correctly.

I'm using the latest version of Pages on an MacAir with MacOS Sonoma14.6.1, which is the latest version of MacOS for my MacAir. The firmware on the printer is also the latest.

I've already tried playing with some of the settings to no avail.

The document in the Pages application has been set to Postcard, and then to the dimensions which closer correspond to the paper I'm using (100cm x 148cm), I've tried changing the paper configuration on my HP from 4x6 to "Hagaki" which is the Japanese word for postcard. I've also indicated within Pages that I'm using heavyweight paper. On the HP Smart application, I've also tried the "Plain Paper, thick" setting. The result is the same; the printer is printing on the paper off by an inch, causing what I'm trying to print to appear only partially.

I should say that the postcard paper I'm using is slightly thicker.

What am I doing wrong?

[Sneha_01]

Hi @CaliJoe 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It seems like you're having an issue where your HP OfficeJet Pro 8028e is printing on postcards incorrectly, shifting the print by about an inch. Since you’ve already adjusted a number of settings, there are a few things we can troubleshoot further to ensure everything is set up correctly for printing on postcards, especially with the thicker paper.

Troubleshooting Steps for Correct Postcard Printing

1. Check the Paper Size and Settings in Pages

Since you've already set the document to Postcard size (100mm x 148mm), make sure that this setting matches both the printer and the application settings:

Ensure Custom Paper Size in Pages:

• In Pages, go to File > Page Setup.
• Make sure you have selected the correct paper size (100mm x 148mm) under Paper Size.
• If using a custom size, verify that the dimensions are correct in the Page Setup dialog.
• Set the orientation to Landscape or Portrait based on your paper alignment.

Margins:

• Check if your document has extra margins that might be causing the content to shift.
• In Pages, you can go to File > Page Setup and adjust the margins, ensuring they fit within the printable area of your postcard paper.

2. Adjust the Printer Paper Size Settings

Even though you've tried selecting 4x6 and Hagaki sizes, ensure the printer is set to exactly match the Postcard dimensions:

Set Paper Size in Printer Settings:

• Open System Preferences on your Mac, then go to Printers & Scanners.
• Select your HP OfficeJet Pro 8028e and click on Options & Supplies.
• Check if the printer settings in your print dialog on your Mac show the correct paper size (100mm x 148mm).

Use Custom Paper Size in Printer Settings:

• In the Print dialog (when you go to print from Pages), click on Paper Size and check if there's an option for a Custom Size.
• Set the custom paper size exactly to 100mm x 148mm and adjust the margin settings accordingly.

3. Paper Type and Thickness

The thickness of your postcard paper could also be affecting the print positioning, especially if it's a heavier or specialty paper type.

Paper Type in Printer Settings:

• In HP Smart, ensure that you have selected a paper type that suits the thicker postcard paper. Try selecting a heavier paper option like Photo Paper, Glossy or Thick Paper to ensure it prints properly. You can also try the "Plain Paper, Thick" setting as you mentioned, but it might help to switch between different thickness settings.

Use of Plain Paper vs. Postcard Paper:

• If the postcard paper is thicker than plain paper, using a photo paper or heavyweight paper setting in the printer might better accommodate the thicker cardstock.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Rachel571

HP Support