H Smart Tank 6001 Black Ink Issues on PDF files.

[FL-Bob]

The printer prints text files in black in fine.  When printing a PDF file, the page starts out printing fine, then the black ink fades and skips lines.

[Hawks_Eye · Accepted solution]

Hi @FL-Bob 

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

Here are the steps you can follow to resolve the black ink issue when printing PDF files on your HP Smart Tank 6001. 

Since text files print fine, the issue is likely related to how the PDF is processed or how the printer driver handles it.

Check Ink Levels and Quality

• Open the HP App on your Windows computer.
• Verify that the black ink level is sufficient.
• Run a print quality diagnostic to confirm the nozzles are not clogged.

Clean Printhead

• In the HP App, go to Printer Maintenance.
• Select Clean Printhead and follow the on-screen instructions.
• If the issue persists, perform a second-level cleaning.

Update Printer Driver

• Open Device Manager on Windows.
• Expand Printers and right-click on your HP Smart Tank 6001.
• Select Update driver and allow Windows to search for the latest version.

Change Print Settings for PDF

• Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader or another PDF viewer.
• Go to Print → Advanced Settings.
• Enable Print as Image and try printing again.
• This bypasses complex rendering that can cause fading or skipping.

Check Paper Type and Quality

• Ensure you are using plain, good-quality paper.
• Avoid damp or curled sheets, as they can affect ink distribution.

Run Alignment

• In the HP App, select Printer Maintenance → Align Printhead.
• Print the alignment page and follow instructions to complete the process.

Test with Another PDF

• Try printing a different PDF file to confirm if the issue is file-specific.
• If only certain PDFs show fading, the problem is related to how those files are encoded.

By following these steps, you should be able to isolate whether the issue is hardware-related (printhead, ink flow) or software-related (PDF rendering, driver settings). If the problem continues after all steps, it indicates a deeper hardware issue that may require service.

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Regards, 

Hawks_Eye