Shadow on scanned image

[Polyfiller]

HP Photosmart C6180 All-in-One.

When scanning or copying, the output image has a soft-edged, grey shadow, about one inch wide and three inches long, running from the top edge of the page and centered about 2.5 inches from the right-hand edge of the page.  The printer has done 7,000 - 8,000 copies.

[Rainbow7000]

Hello there! Welcome to the forums @Polyfiller ,

I read your posts about the scanning and copying issues you're facing with your Photosmart C6180. For these concerns, I have some ideas that might help. As the issue is also with the copies shows signs of a hardware issue, so I would suggest troubleshooting that first before the scan to email problem.

1. Power reset the printer and ensure the printer is plugged in directly to the wall outlet, avoiding power bars and surge protectors. This ensures the printer is receiving full power and may help greatly.

Press the Power button to turn on the product.
With the product turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the product.
Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
Wait at least 15 seconds.
Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.
Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product.
If the product does not turn on by itself, press the Power button to turn it on.

If the copies then print out successfully without any issues, then move on to the scan to email problem.

HP Photosmart C6180 All-in-One

"If I scan an image and email it, the first time it works OK, but after scanning any further images and trying to email them results in an error message "An error has occurred saving the file because it could not be written to.  Check the properties for the file to make sure it is not read-only.”  To scan and email any further images, I have to close and re-open the scanning application."

1. Uninstalling the Printer Software
2. Restart your PC
3. Reinstall the printer (Click here and select your OS to find the driver download - HP Photosmart C6180 All-in-One Printer Drivers)

I hope that helps, have a wonderful day and thanks for posting in the community

[Rainbow7000]

HP Photosmart C6180 All-in-One

"If I scan an image and email it, the first time it works OK, but after scanning any further images and trying to email them results in an error message "An error has occurred saving the file because it could not be written to.  Check the properties for the file to make sure it is not read-only.”  To scan and email any further images, I have to close and re-open the scanning application."

1. Uninstalling the Printer Software
2. Restart your PC
3. Reinstall the printer (Click here and select your OS to find the driver download - HP Photosmart C6180 All-in-One Printer Drivers)

I hope that helps, have a wonderful day and thanks for posting in the community

[Polyfiller]

Thanks for ther replies, Rainbow7000.

(1) For the shadow on scanned image problem, your suggestions have certainly improved the image, but not fixed it altogether.  As the printer is some 7 years old, I dont think it will be worth spending money on sending it away for repair.

(2) For the failure to save or email scanned images, I now know there is a 35-page thread relating to this, over a period of about six months, about incompatibilities between Apple Mavericks (OSX10.9) and HP printer drivers.  As far as I can tell, HP have not resolved this for my Photosmart C6180.

If you are aware of this problem, do you know whether the OficeJet 8620 is similarly affected?  It is currently a Which? Best Buy.  Or what about the Photosmart 5525 (also a Which? BB)?

Thanks and regards  -  Polyfiller

[Rainbow7000]

Hello again!

There is not a full feature driver available for the Photosmart C6180 on Mavericks as it's a mixture of an older printer and newer OS X, which I am honestly unsure if this is causing the problem. However, you do still have other options for scanning that wouldn't hurt to try, to see if you can overcome the issue.

Here are some links to help out with that:

OS X v10.9 Mavericks: Installing and Using the Printer on a Mac

How to Scan: OS X v10.9

For the Officejet 8620 and Photosmart 5525, I have checked the drivers for those units and they both have supported and full drivers available on Mavericks. I have personally not heard of scanning problems with them on Mavericks.

I hope that gives you some insight and helps!

Hope you enjoy your Thursday

[ShadowGirl]

I have exactly the same shadow in the same place on photocopies and scans, but prints from Word and the internet are shadow-free. I think that it must be a dirt issue possibly. I have cleaned the top of the glass but it has made no differece, nor has the power reset suggested above. Please advise.

[Polyfiller]

Belatedly, thanks for your help.  I gave up in the end and found another machine capable of doing what I needed.  My 7-year-old printer is going downhill and I will probably move over to Canon now.

[Rainbow7000]

Hi @ShadowGirl 

Welcome to the community!

I read your post about the shadows you are seeing on photocopies and scans. Please let me know which printer you have and I will have a look for some troubleshooting steps for you!:)

How Do I Find My Model Number?

Take care:)

[ShadowGirl]

The printer is C6180. The shadow is exactly as described by the previous poster. Apart from that, it is working well, so I'd like to fix it.

Thanks for your help.

[Rainbow7000]

Hey there ShadowGirl,

Thank you for your printers info! Try the steps in this guide: Copying from the Control Panel is Too Slow

If the problem continues, please give us a call for your printer options with HP.

Please call our technical support at 800-474-6836. If you live outside the US/Canada Region, please click the link below to get the support number for your region. http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-phone-assist.html

Take care 🙂

[ShadowGirl]

Thanks. I had already tried the "inadequate power" and "dirty scanner" fixes. Your response implies that I cannot fix it myself and need to get HP UK to sort it out for me. Have I understood correctly?