Printing Recipe Cards on 4 x 6 index cards

[OldWyo]

I have been unsuccessful at printing out recipe cards that I have created in Microsoft Word 2007.  My operating system is Windows 8 (64 bit) and the printer is the C8180 All-In-One.  I continually get a Paper/Printing mismatch error.  The index cards are loaded into my photo tray and the printer option is checked to use that source when printing (there is no way to load them into the main tray).

I have used all of the various combinations of printing paper, photo paper and every other option available in the printer menu.  I have tried creating a new 4 x 6 paper form as suggested in the HP help but to no avail.  When the printer does actually print on the index card from the photo tray, it always prints in portrait mode, whether I have the landscape mode selected or not, resulting in the recipe printing crossways only on the top half of the card.

Any suggestions?

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

OldWyo

Welcome to the HP Community Forum.

I would say the problem is with the surface of the cards themselves except you can get the cards to print, albeit with an incorrect orientation.  That means the printer is at least capable of printing on the cards -- something that the User Guide does warn about for certain paper types.

The following might be helpful...

You are using Word; you can try the following (free) software from Avery:

Avery Wizard for Microsoft® Office

The Wizard installs right into Word and just sits there until you want to use it. 

There is a 4X6 template you can use -- #2228 -- be sure to switch the orientation to Landscape on that first page when you select the Template number and THEN click Next.

NOTE:  Each time you use the Wizard it creates a nice .doc / .docx Word file -- no proprietary file formats.

Once the template is created, you could copy and paste the contents from an existing recipe file into the new file.    Create a separate template / file for each recipe file.

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You might be able to print the file right from Word.  Do save the job first!

Word > File > Print Preview should allow you to Click over to Printer Properties and from there you can adjust the Printing Preferences necessary to tell the printer how you want to print the document.

Remember to adjust the Media for paper thickness; select Brochure matte or something as close that that as your printer software has available.  This sets the rollers farther apart and adjusts the ink and drying time, too.

General Example or Printing Preferences:

Paper Size and Media Type are selected in Printing Preferences:

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers > Right-Click your Printer >

Printing Preferences > tab Paper / Quality >>

Select Paper Source > Photo Tray (as available for the job / printer)

Select Paper Size > 4X6

Select Media > Brochure Matte

NEXT

tab Layout >>

Select Orientation > Landscape

Select Print on Both Sides > as desired and available for the job / printer

Select Page Order > Front to Back OR Back to Front

OK

Click the Kudos Thumbs-Up to show you appreciate the help.

Click Accept as Solution when the Answer provides a Fix or Workaround!

Although I strive to reflect HP's best practices, I do not work for HP. 

[OldWyo]

The work around in MS Word didn't do the trick but the Avery Template download seems to be the answer I was looking for.  Thanks a million.

[Dragon-Fur]

OldWyo,

You are very welcome.

Happy Printing!

Click the Kudos Thumbs-Up to show you appreciate the help.

Click Accept as Solution when the Answer provides a Fix or Workaround!

[Gary-J]

Why is it that HP can't simply fix the printer driver so the printer will be able to do what the sales literature says it is supposed to do?   I've spent more time fighting with my HP printer than using it.   Work-arounds are only a temporary solution until the design defect is fixed.