Print is in uneven and blurry

[Jenn61]

Black Ink print is uneven color on page and blurry.  I've tried 2 new ink cartridges.  It worked great for about 8 months and then started this problem .. 

[OsSt]

Have you tried to clean the printheads?

HP ENVY 7100, 7800 Printers - Black or Color Ink Not Printing, Other Print Quality Issues

This document is for HP ENVY Photo 7120, 7130, 7134, 7155, 7158, 7164, 7820, 7830, 7855, 7858, and 7864 All-in-One printers.

The quality of a printed document or photo is not as expected. The procedures in this document should help with streaked or faded printouts, color or black ink not printing, documents with blurred or fuzzy text, ink streaks or smears, and other print quality problems.

Step 1: Reinstall the print driver (Windows only)

If you cannot print color from a Windows computer, uninstall and reinstall the printer software. Skip this step if your printer is able to print in color.

1. Remove the printer from the devices list.
   For steps on removing the printer from the devices list, go to Uninstalling the Printer Software (Windows).
2. Go to HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads, and then install the latest software for your printer.

Try to print. If these steps resolved the issue, you do not need to continue troubleshooting.

Step 2: Use genuine HP ink cartridges

HP recommends that you use genuine HP ink or toner supplies. HP cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-HP or refilled cartridges. If you do not use genuine HP cartridges, the steps in this document might not resolve the issue. To check the authenticity of your cartridges, go to the HP anti-counterfeit webpage (in English).

Purchase replacement cartridges and other supplies from the HP Store or local retailers.

NOTE: 

Rough handling at the store or during installation can cause print quality problems with newly installed ink cartridges. If you see print problems with newly installed ink cartridges, wait for a few hours for the automatic servicing routine to complete, and then try to print again.

If installing genuine HP ink cartridges resolved the issue, you do not need to continue troubleshooting.

Step 3: Check for ink smears on the back of printouts

If there are smears of ink on the back of your printouts, use the automated tool to resolve the issue.

1. Load plain white paper in the input tray.
2. On the printer control panel, swipe down to open the Dashboard, and then touch the Setupicon.
3. Swipe up on the display, touch Printer Maintenance, and then touch Clean Smear.
   The printer feeds one page slowly. The printer might make some noise for approximately one minute.
4. Wait until the page is out of the printer before you remove it.

After cleaning ink smears, try to print. If the print quality is unacceptable, continue to the next step.

Step 4: Make sure you are using the appropriate paper for your print job

Using incorrect paper for the print job might cause warping, lines, or streaks. Refer to the following guidelines to make sure the paper you are using is appropriate. If it is not, reload the printer with an appropriate paper type.

• Load the paper print side down in the input tray. Many papers have printing and nonprinting sides, such as photo paper and envelopes. Usually, the smoother side is the "print side," and sometimes the non-print side has a logo of the paper manufacturer on it.
• Do not use wrinkled or curled paper. Use only clean, wrinkle-free paper.
• Use the correct paper type for your project.
  • For everyday text documents, plain paper with ColorLok technology works well. Paper with ColorLok technology is industry-standard paper that works well with HP ink.
  • For documents with dense printing, such as high contrast graphics or photos, use HP Advanced Photo Paper for best results.
  • Some paper might not absorb ink as well as others. If your prints smear easily, make sure you are using a recommended paper.
• Store photo paper in its original packaging inside a resealable plastic bag. Store the paper on a flat surface in a cool, dry place. Load 10-20 sheets of photo paper only when you are ready to print, and then put the unused paper back in the packaging.
• Try using a different paper. This determines if the problem is related to the paper.

Try to print again. If the print quality is unacceptable, continue to the next step.

Step 5: Check the print settings

Check the print settings and make sure they are appropriate for your print job. Read the section that matches your operating system.

Print settings in Windows

Print settings in Mac

After making any needed changes to the print settings, try to print again. If the print quality is unacceptable, continue to the next step.

Step 6: Check the estimated ink levels

Low ink levels can impact print quality. Replace any ink cartridges that are low or empty.

NOTE: 

Ink level warnings and indicators provide estimates for planning purposes only. When an indicator shows low ink levels, consider having a replacement ink cartridge available to avoid possible printing delays. You do not need to replace ink cartridges until print quality becomes unacceptable.

On the printer control panel, swipe down to open the Dashboard, and then touch the Ink icon.

The control panel displays estimated ink levels. The amount of color shown within a column represents how much ink remains in the ink cartridge of that color.

• If none of the ink cartridges are low on ink, you do not need to replace them yet. Skip to the step to print a Print Quality Diagnostic page.
• If any of the ink cartridges are low on ink, continue to the next step.

Step 7: Replace any low or empty ink cartridges

Replace any critically low or empty ink cartridges, and then try to print again.

   CAUTION: 

To avoid print quality issues and dried out ink cartridges, do not leave any ink cartridges outside the printer for longer than 30 minutes.

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Load plain white paper in the input tray.
3. Open the ink cartridge access door.
4. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before you continue.
5. Lightly press down on the ink cartridge to release it, and then pull the ink cartridge out of its slot.
6. Remove the new ink cartridge from its package. Be careful to only touch the black plastic on the ink cartridge.
7. Remove the plastic tape.

      CAUTION: 

   Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or the ink nozzles. Do not replace the protective tape on the contacts. Handling these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.

8. Hold the ink cartridge by its sides with the contacts toward the printer, insert the ink cartridge into its slot, and then gently push the ink cartridge until it snaps into place.

   NOTE: 

   Install the color ink cartridge on the left and the black ink cartridge on the right.

9. Repeat these steps to install the other ink cartridge, if necessary.
10. Close the ink cartridge access door.
    The printer starts an initialization process. It is normal for the printer to make noises during this process. After the process completes, the printer prints an alignment page.

After replacing any low or empty ink cartridges, try to print again. If the issue persists, continue to the next step.

Step 8: Print a Print Quality Diagnostic page

Print a Print Quality Diagnostic Report, and then evaluate the results.

1. On the control panel, swipe down to open the Dashboard, and then touch the Setupicon.
2. Swipe up on the display, touch Reports, and then touch Print Quality Report.
   A Print Quality Diagnostic page prints.

Step 9: Examine the color blocks for defects

Examine the color blocks on the Print Quality Diagnostic page to make sure the color blocks do not show white lines, and are not faded or missing.

• If the color blocks do not show white lines, and are not faded or missing, skip to the step to check the alignment lines.
• If any of the color blocks show white lines, are faded, or are missing completely, continue to the next step.

Step 10: Clean the ink cartridges

Use the automated tool to clean the ink cartridges.

NOTE: 

To avoid issues that require cleaning, always turn the printer off with the Power button.

1. On the control panel, swipe down to open the Dashboard, and then touch the Setupicon.
2. Swipe up on the display, and then touch Printer Maintenance.
3. Touch Clean Cartridges, and then touch Continue.
   A Print Quality Diagnostic page prints.
4. Examine the Print Quality Diagnostic page.
   • If the print quality is unacceptable, touch Clean Again to continue the next level of cleaning. Repeat these steps for the third cleaning stage, if necessary.

     NOTE: 

     If the printhead is badly clogged, it might require another cleaning cycle. If so, wait 30 minutes before you perform both levels of cleaning again.

   • If the print quality is acceptable, touch Done. You can stop troubleshooting.