LaserJet prints greys too dark

[JR_JR]

I suspect this may happen to many HP Laser Jet printers.

Even when I print a C=0, M=0, Y=0, K=10 grey (a setting that makes the grey barely distinguishable on screen) over black the black is very difficult to read in printout. The grey is simply too dark.

I've searched far and wide and most people's complaints regarding gray printing have to do with grey printing too light. This is NOT my problem.

I've upgraded drivers with no luck.

I'm hoping there's some sort of software solution that will allow me to recalibrate the greys my HP prints.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[John_Getzke]

At first I would suspect a print cartridge problem.  One of them may be misfiring and applying too much toner to the paper resulting in poor results.  The printer should have a demo page or some kind of a color test report.  See if you cna find one and print it out.  Review the results to see if anything is unusual without involving any kind of software from your PC.

The next step would be to check and see if the problem is application based or not.  Try printing the same or similar documents from other applications and compare the results.

[JR_JR]

Thanks for your reply.

It’s always been a problem with this printer through many print cartridges. And the problem is not application-based. I just hoped desperately I might find a solution through this (forum) avenue.

I can instruct the printer to print out a test sheet but the test sheet only contains text. (I was surprised also.) To address the issue I have created Adobe Illustrator files containing many gray scale “swatches” and gradations but they’ve always confirmed the problem.

I wonder if the printer might have come with a piece of HP software (I don’t remember because I have used so many printers) that allows the user to print out greyscale swatches and adjust the printer accordingly. If this sort of software does exist I would imagine HP would produce a version that would work across its printer line.

[John_Getzke]

> allows the user to print out greyscale swatches and adjust the printer accordingly

Like a calibration utility?

LaserJet 1300 may not be specfic enough to find the drivers and download page for your model.  You might have to find the specific device number instead of the generic model number to find the software options available for your OS from http://support.hp.com.  This number should be available from the configuration report you attempted to print off before.

If there isnt a utility available for your OS, you could try an earlier OS and complete the calibration from that enviornment instead.

You might have more luck calibrating your monitors to match the output of the printer instead of the other way around.

> If this sort of software does exist I would imagine HP would produce a version that would work across its printer line.

There is no universal calibration utility from HP.  Each model has its own calibration software and utilties for each OS.  Often times families of products have similar troubleshooting tools but as time goes on HP updates and retires old software as it feels necessary.

[JR_JR]

Yes, LIKE a calibration utility.

I’m encouraged to read that [Quote] “Each model has its own calibration software and utilities for each OS. …”

Since most software programs are at least compatible with XP, Vista, Win7, and Win8 (even Win10, if Microsoft is to be believed) I would expect that calibration software for any of these OS’s could be used for Win7.

What would be required to get any of these pieces of software?

Also you suggest that

[Quote] "You might have to find the specific device number instead of the generic model number to find the software options available for your OS from http://support.hp.com. This number should be available from the configuration report you attempted to print off before."

Here are most of the results of (Printer) Properties/Print Test Pages:

                …

Printer name: hp LaserJet 1200 Pcl5

Printer model: hp LaserJet 1200 Pcl5

                Data format: RAW

.               …

                Driver name: UNIDRV.DLL

                Data file: HPMCPM25.GPD

                Config file: UNIDRVUI.DLL

                Help file: UNIDRV.HLP

Driver version: 6.00

                Environment: WINDOWS X64

Additional files used by this driver… (I’ll be happy to type in all of these (30) if it will help)

Where in this is the specific device number and how do I use it to find the software?

As to your other suggestions:

[Quote] "If there isnt a utility available for your OS, you could try an earlier OS and complete the calibration from that environment instead."

                Forgive me, but, I can’t believe that anyone would suggest one reformat one’s computer environment just to use software (one doesn’t have) to calibrate a printer; then go through the reformat process again just to see if this (currently non-existent) software has done anything.

[Quote] "You might have more luck calibrating your monitors to match the output of the printer instead of the other way around."

                If I were to (if it were possible to!) calibrate a monitor so that 20% grey appears black (since 20% currently prints black). It would do nothing to improve printouts and professional software would have to contend with the following resultant settings (approx.: 0% = white; 5% = 25% grey; 10% = 50% grey; 15% = 75% grey); just because the printer can’t be calibrated. I’d doubt gradations would even be possible. In fact, the result would probably be unusable software as well as unusable printouts.

[John_Getzke]

> I would expect that calibration software for any of these OS’s could be used for Win7.

There might not be a version for Win7 though. What is important to take away from that comment is that every application is different and developed for a certain OS.  Just because there is a calibration or configuration utility for WinXP does not mean it was migrated and supported on a newer OS.  We see this all the time with HP scanning software developed for and old printer on an old OS.  Moving to newer OSs you will likely only recieve basic driver support, not any of the additional applications.

> What would be required to get any of these pieces of software?

Visit the downloads and drivers page for your printer model and OS.  Review the options that are available.  If there are none, like i suspect there arent for your OS, then you will have to consider other options for calibration.

> Where in this is the specific device number and how do I use it to find the software?

Here is a sample configuration report from one of my printers:

Product Name:HP Color LaserJet M553

Device Name:HP Color LaserJet M553

Model Number:B5L24A

DC Controller Version:4.130

Optional Trays Version:3.102

...

You can find this information either by printing off a configuration report (see the users guide) or by navigating to the printers Embedded Web Server and viewing the report through a web browser (network connections only).

The data we are looking for is the Model Number - B5L24A.  Enter this number into the search bar at http://support.hp.com to find specific results for your printer instead of whatever are the default results for a search on "laserjet 1300".  I suggest searching for the specific model because the picture HP loaded for the 1300 was the generic "this printer is too old for us to keep stock picture" picture when searching for it before.  Anytime I recieve that image I want to make sure we are viewing the correct results, searching for model number is the best way to garuntee that.

> Forgive me, but, I can’t believe that anyone would suggest one reformat one’s computer environment just to use software (one doesn’t have) to calibrate a printer

I didnt suggest you to reformat your PC.  I suggested using a different OS, perhaps from a freind or a side machine that happens to have an older OS on it.  This isnt a viable option for some but its worth mentioning if you happen to have access to alternative enviornments.

[JR_JR]

You seem to have found a good place to get the information you say I need.

In order to get to my [Print Test Page] I navigated to Control Panel/Hardware and Sound/Devices and Printers//General Tab [Print Test Page].

Where do you go to access your Print Test Page? (Alternatively, where can I go to find out the Model Number.)

Thanks

[John_Getzke]

> Alternatively, where can I go to find out the Model Number

Since I cannot seem to find the actual user guide on HPs support site I had to do a little googlin'.

http://www.manualslib.com/manual/72212/Hp-1150-1300-1300n.html?page=66#manual

Configuration page

The Configuration page lists current settings and properties of the printer. It also contains a status log report. You can print a Configuration report from the printer, the embedded web server, or the HP Toolbox.

To print the Configuration page from the printer, press Go for 5 seconds when the printer is in the

ready state. When the Go light turns on, release the Go button

[JR_JR]

Great! A manual (I’ve googled for many manuals but never got one that wasn’t either a .pdf download or a pay to download item.)

There’s some things on page 66 I don’t understand yet, like:

“To print the Demo page, press G    O when the printer is ready.” (Pressing G on a keyboard doesn’t send a command to the printer)

“Configuration page …You can print a Configuration report from the printer…, or the HP Toolbox.

To print the Configuration page from the printer, press Go for 5 seconds when the printer is in the ready state. When the Go light turns on, release the Go button. Note You can also get the information contained in the Event log and the Configuration page through the HP Toolbox without printing the pages. See 58 Chapter 5 when the printer is ready (Ready light on) and not printing” (I don’t know where Go is located on the printer)

Maybe the manual will tell me where I can find the hp toolbox. Maybe the hp toolbox is the utility to change printer calibration (hope, hope)

I’ll double click my way through the rest of the manual before getting back, but I’m encouraged and excited.

Thank you...

[JR_JR]

Downloaded the manual.

Ran the Self Test/Configuration

Now I know:

• Product Name/Device Description: hp LaserJet 1300
• Formatter Number: BY4NE9R
• Product Serial Number: CNCK151277
• Product Number (directly from machine) Q1334A
• Service ID, Firmware Date4code,
• Total Memory: 16 Mb
• Available Memory 5.6 Mb
• …
• Max Print Quality: ProRes 1200

Throughout its entire life, only 14 pages were jammed in the printer!

Seems like having the hp toolbox might be nice (but not immediately relevant).

But the printout

• Still does not print a grayscale.
• Does not provide information or mention calibrating the unit.
• Very little info about printer drivers (the host-based printer driver which optimizes performance only applies to hp LaserJet 1150 printers)

Manual recommends for support http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/psi/home/?sp4ts.oid=238320&ac.admitted=14420845979... and allows me to enter the product serial number.

Unfortunately, when I do so HP returns the message: “This product cannot be identified by serial number alone. Please enter a product number below or edit the serial number above.”

It now requires a product number. Watch a video on where to find the product number. Find the product number but not where the video describes. Enter product number. Redirected to http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/psi/home/?sp4ts.oid=238320&sp4ts.sn=CNCK151277&sp4...

Press link for drivers and get the following:

Downloads for this product are not available through this website.

For Enterprise products you may find US-English downloads at the HP Software Depot.

For HP Home and Home Office products, visit HP Customer Care.

If you need additional help, you can contact your local HP representative for information on the specific update methods available for this product.

You may Contact HP at any time for additional support.

Pressing the Contact HP Link returns me to a page allowing me to link to this forum.

This is terribly frustrating.