Black Ink Misalignment with Color Printing on HP Printer

[Aley228]

Hello,

I have an issue with my HP printer where the black ink is printing approximately 1 mm higher than the color ink, causing the images to appear blurry. I've tried cleaning the printheads, but the problem persists. Here are the details:

• Printer Model: HP Officejet 100 Mobile Printer - L411a
• Issue: Black ink misalignment with color ink (about 1 mm higher)
• Symptoms: Blurry images when printing in color
• Troubleshooting Steps Taken:
  • Cleaned printheads
  • Checked for firmware updates

Can anyone suggest further steps to resolve this issue? Is there a specific calibration process I should follow to align the printheads correctly? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Aley228,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

Misalignment of the black ink with the color ink on your HP Officejet 100 Mobile Printer can indeed result in blurry images. Here are some detailed steps you can follow to try and resolve this issue:

1. Print a Diagnostic Page

Start by printing a diagnostic page. This will give you a clear picture of the alignment issue.

1. Turn on the printer and make sure it is connected to your computer.
2. Press and hold the Power button, and then press the Cancel button (X) once.
3. Release the Power button. The diagnostic page should print out.

2. Align the Printheads

Most HP printers come with a built-in tool to align the printheads. Here’s how to do it:

1. Load plain white paper into the input tray.
2. Open HP Printer Assistant on your computer.
   • If you don’t have it installed, you can download it from the HP website.
3. Navigate to the printer maintenance section. This is usually under Tools or Printer Maintenance.
4. Select "Align Printheads" or a similar option.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the alignment process.

3. Use the HP Print and Scan Doctor

HP provides a diagnostic tool called HP Print and Scan Doctor that can help identify and fix issues with your printer.

1. Download and install HP Print and Scan Doctor from the HP website.
2. Run the tool and follow the on-screen instructions to diagnose and fix issues.

4. Manual Printhead Cleaning and Alignment

If the automatic alignment doesn’t work, you can try manually cleaning and aligning the printheads.

1. Turn on the printer and open the cartridge access door.
2. Remove the printheads carefully.
3. Use a lint-free cloth moistened with distilled water to clean the printhead contacts.
4. Reinstall the printheads and close the access door.

5. Check for Firmware Updates

Ensure that your printer’s firmware is up to date. Sometimes, firmware updates can fix bugs and improve the performance of your printer.

1. Go to the HP Support website and enter your printer model.
2. Download and install any available firmware updates.

6. Check Paper Type and Print Settings

Sometimes, misalignment issues can be caused by incorrect paper settings.

1. Open the printer settings on your computer.
2. Check the paper type and print quality settings to ensure they match the paper you are using.

7. Reset the Printer

A hard reset of the printer can sometimes resolve alignment issues.

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Disconnect the power cord from the back of the printer while it is still on.
3. Wait for about 60 seconds.
4. Reconnect the power cord and turn on the printer.

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