Print alignment

[IMFrustrated2]

My HP Officejet 4500 Wireless G510n printer continues to print either color or black and white very well, but has started printing a shadow behind black type when printing anything that incorporates both color and black and white. (An example would be a color illustration supported by black text.) I've tried replacing both cartridges and realigning them to no avail; the printer always indicates that the alignment has been successful, but the problem remains.

[Jay_G24]

Hi @IMFrustrated2

Welcome to the HP Support Community. I'd be happy to assist you with the  "prints shadows" issue. 

Does this happen even when you make a copy using the printer?

While you respond to that, let's print a Print Quality Diagnostic page

1. Load plain, white paper into the input tray.

2. Press the Setup button on the printer control panel.

3. Press the Right Arrow button to select Print Report, and then press OK.

4. Press the Right Arrow button to select Print Quality, and then press OK.

Post the Print Quality Diagnostic page here so we can help you further. 

You may also refer to this document with steps to fix "Fixing Poor Print Quality" issue applicable for your printer - Fixing Poor Print Quality

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

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

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Have a great day!

[IMFrustrated2]

Thank you for your response.

No, the shadow doesn't appear behind the black text when making copies using the printer.

I was able to print the Print Quality Diagnostic Page, as directed, but I don't know how to post it.

I followed all the steps in "Fixing Poor Print Quality" before contacting you.

[Jay_G24]

Click on the camera icon to insert the image.

Were you able to try the suggested steps?

Does this happen even you make a copy using the printer?

What application are you printing from?

[IMFrustrated2]

Jpeg below.

As previously stated, I did try the suggested steps.

Also as previously stated, it does not happen when making copies.

Typically, the application used is QuarkXPress 9.

[IMFrustrated2]

Further information:

The text shadowing is happening in documents created in both QuarkXPress and Word, as well as in the pdfs made from the documents--even though both the original documents and the pdfs look great on screen, and the pdfs print properly on my clients' printers.

It happens only on text--whether the documents incorporate illustrations or not, and only when the printer employs both the color and black ink cartridges. It does not happen when printing text using the black cartridge alone. The illustrations are not affected; they continue to print perfectly well.

Also, on tests run just today, the printer has started occasionally printing a dark black line horizontally halfway across the page on those documents incorporating both text and color illustrations.

I'm working to deliver a project before the end of the day Monday, so am urgently in need of help.

[Jay_G24]

Try printing only with the color cartridge, seems like a cartridge issue. 

[IMFrustrated2]

Yay! Thank you! That worked to eliminate the shadow from the text! (Although I don't understand why, as one of the things I tried earlier was changing out the color cartridge. But, no matter.)

However, I'm still get the solid black bar printing horizontally about halfway across the page. If that could be eliminated, we'd be golden!

[Jay_G24]

Do you get the line even when you make a copy using the printer?

Try cleaning cartridges one more time- refer to the previously shared document.

[IMFrustrated2]

No, bar doesn't print when copying.

Have cleaned cartridges again.