HP Envy 6055e cannot print to 3x5 cards

[kaltimus]

Since this forum does not include all Mac Operating Systems in the dropdown beyond Monterey: OS: Sonoma 14.4.1 (23E224)

The product page for my print CLEARLY states that it supports 3x5 printing.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/details/hp-envy-6000e-all-in-one-printer-series/2100187510

• Media sizes supported: Letter, 4 x 6 in, 5 x 7 in, 8 x 10 in, No. 10 envelopes
• Media sizes, custom: Simplex:3 x 5 to 8.5 x11.7 in; Duplex:3 x 5.5 to 8.5 x 11.7 in
• Borderless printing: Yes (up to 8.5 x 11 in, 216 x 297 mm)

I have made a pdf that is 3x5, and it will NOT print. I took the paper out of the main tray, put the 3x5 cards in, and slid both sliders in to support it.

When I print directly from preview OR chrome, the smallest paper in the list is 3.5 x 5, so I created a custom size of 3" x 5". However, when I try to print it, the printer flashes "E1" (which seems to be "An E1 or E2 error indicates the paper size setting does not match the paper size loaded in the input tray").

I tried to print directly from the HP Smart app, but that literally only had 8.5 x 11 paper as an option, and no option to add custom sizes.

If I put 3x5 cards in the tray, and a handwritten 3x5 card on the scanner, and use the copy button to make a copy of a handwritten card, it will print that card, but the print is offset by 3/4". So if I move the handwritten card down, then it prints lined up.

So...what do I need to change for both of these to work correctly? Or is the product page listing the supported custom sizes incorrectly?  For now, I am going to try to print the 3x5 card on an 8.5x11 paper, cut out 3.75 x 5, and try scanning them to make copies....but this is a ridiculous workaround. Please help!

[kaltimus]

---

I forgot to add the following:

When I create the custom size paper, if I leave the "Margins" field to say "HP Envy 6000 Series", it lets me put the margins to 0, however if I try to put the size to 3", it comes up with the error:

This value is not supported by the selected printer.

The page size limits as defined by the PPD are a minimum width of 3.5 in. and a maximum width of 8.5 in.

Resetting to valid value.

So...can I update the PPD somehow? Is the PPD specs incorrect? Or the product details page incorrect???

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @kaltimus ,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand there’s a discrepancy between the specifications listed on HP's product page and what your HP Envy 6055e printer actually supports, especially given the constraints you’re experiencing when setting up a 3x5 custom size. Let's go through some possible solutions:
 

1. Update or Modify the Printer PPD (PostScript Printer Description)

The PPD file is what defines the supported page sizes and other printer capabilities in macOS. To adjust this, you might need to edit the PPD file manually, though this is somewhat advanced:

• Find the PPD file: Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, then right-click on it and choose Show in Finder. You should see a .ppd file for your printer.
• Edit the PPD: Open the PPD file in a text editor (like TextEdit, in plain text mode) and search for the sections defining media sizes. Adjust these to allow 3 inches in width if possible.
• Reinstall the Printer: After editing, you’ll need to delete the printer from Printers & Scanners and re-add it to load the updated PPD.

Note: Editing the PPD file can sometimes be finicky, and the printer driver or macOS may reset these changes.

2. Try an Alternate Driver

If modifying the PPD seems too complex or doesn’t work, you might try installing a generic HP printer driver that allows more flexible page sizes:

• Remove the current printer, then go to Printers & Scanners > Add Printer.
• Choose Generic PostScript Printer or Generic PCL Printer when adding the printer again, which sometimes has broader paper size support.

3. Use HP Smart to Print on Larger Paper and Resize

Since HP Smart only shows 8.5x11 as an option, you could try printing on this size, then use the following approach:

• Print on 8.5x11, but select a smaller “actual print area” by choosing your custom dimensions in the print dialog.
• Scan and copy with adjustments: As you mentioned, this workaround involves cutting, scanning, and copying, but it could help in the interim.

4. Confirm if Sonoma Compatibility is Affecting HP Smart 
printer support macOS 14

Since you’re using macOS Sonoma, ensure that HP Smart is up-to-date and compatible with this version. Some functionality may still be rolling out for Sonoma users, so checking for updates might unlock additional features.
 

Refer to this document:  HP ENVY 6055e All-in-One Printer User manual 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.