Printing to wrong tray

[ladb2019]

I am printing on 5x7 envelopes which I have placed (correctly oriented) in the main tray. I am printing from an word document. Both the word document AND the printer know the dimensions of the paper is 5x7, and in print setup I have manually chosen to print to "main tray". However, when I try to print, the printer tries to print from the photo tray and tells me to "load paper in the photo tray". No matter what I do, restart the computer, restart the printer, look at all the settings, etc., it will always try to go to the photo tray and I am not sure at this point how to get it to print from the main tray. Help please!

[Dragon-Fur]

@ladb2019 

Forgive errors - this message was typed "on the fly".

This printer's Specifications document is sufficiently vague to make it hard to know precisely what Media is supported, where (tray), and at what size.

The Product Detail > Specs sheet is a little better and mentions "cards" as a supported media, though it still does not indicate the exact "card" type (for example, "Index" is a particular type of manufactured paper), nor does it indicate the "card" weight limitations.

Why important?

Media type (kind of paper) is used to tell the printer about the paper you are using.

and 

Paper / Quality > Advanced > Paper Size (tells the printer more about that paper - for example, the "paper" is an envelope)

If the Source is left to "automatic", for example, Media that is of the same size as one of the photo papers, your paper might end up being identified as "photo paper".

If you have not done so, check / adjust the Media type (kind of paper) to define the paper.

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers > Right-Click on Printer > Printing Preferences

Select / adjust settings, including Media type and Paper Size.

Create (if available) a Custom Shortcut for your settings with "Save-As"

Examples
Media type = Plain paper 

This selection assumes the paper is indeed "plain paper" or if the paper will be further defined in Advanced > Paper Size as one of the supported envelopes.

What about Custom Paper Size Forms?

Creating Custom Paper Sizes

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers > Right-Click on Printer > Printing Preferences

Paper / Quality > Advanced > Paper Size

No "standard" envelope of your intended size in Advanced > Paper Size?

For example, if you do not find a 7x5 inch envelope in the list of available envelope sizes, you can create a Custom Paper Size form for your envelope.

1. Availability depends on printer model and software and Operating System / Version.
2. If the feature is at least partially supported the Custom Setup will be available in Devices and Printers OR in Printer Preferences.
3. If the feature is fully supported, the custom form can be created AND then used with the printer software.

• Devices and Printers > Print Server Properties

OR

• Printer Preferences > Print Dialog > Paper / Quality > Custom setting box

Example 1

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers >

Left-Click on your Printer one time to highlight >

Left-Click Print Server Properties (along the top ribbon)

Custom_Form_Envelope_7x5

Example 2

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers >

Right-Click on your Printer > If necessary, select printer from drop down menu / list

Printing Preferences > tab Paper/Quality > Custom

Depending on the printer software, "Custom" forms / sizes might be defined in Paper / Quality > Custom 

Printing_Preferences_Custom_Envelope_7x5

Depending on Printer Model / Software, changing the paper in the tray may require that the paper settings be adjusted on the printer control panel.  Note that particular forms or Custom size forms may not show up in the printer control panel.  This is normal behavior.

• Open Tray > Remove existing paper, load new Paper > Check printer control panel: “Modify” > select Paper Size or “Custom” > OK

Load the envelopes in the main tray, short ends front/back, flap left and (flap) facing up.

User Guide - Page 13

Remember to change the paper size / type on the printer control panel.

NOTE:  If you do not find the size you want on the printer control panel, select size "Custom"

Back in your Printing Preferences settings,

Select the Source as the Main Tray (do not leave as "Automatic" or similar).

Select your new Custom size envelope form in Paper/Quality > Advanced > Paper Size

Or

Select your new Custom size envelope form in Paper/Quality > Custom setup

Leave the selections highlighted and Apply the settings.

Remember:  If your software supports it, you can create a custom shortcut from your settings with "Save as".

Build the Envelope

Open new / blank Word document > Mailings > Envelopes

NOTE:  Make sure the margins are not too large (shoving the content or chopping the return address).

For example, in Word  > File > Print > Set margins to Narrow (Or set in Layout > Margins)

Open the Envelopes setup and build your envelope.

Remember:  If your envelope size is not in the list, use "Custom" and add the dimensions.

Example

NOTE:   The sample shows setup for an A9 Envelope - the essentials are the same with the exception of the dimensions entered to define the size of the envelope.  For example, your Envelope will be 7" width and 5" height.

Rabbits_and_Chickens_Test_Envelope_A9_2  

Reference and Resources – Places to find (more) help and learn about your Printer

Printer Homepage – “Things that are your printer”

Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, Videos, Bulletins/Notices, How-to, Troubleshooting, User Guides, Product Information, more

HP ENVY 7640 e-All-in-One Printer series

Printing Envelopes (Windows)

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[ladb2019]

This seems to be exactly what I need to fix the problem - however, when trying to create a new form, there is no option to customize the media. In the properties and preferences of the printer there is no option to do this, and there is no "form" tab. Just general, sharing, ports, advanced, color management, security, device settings in the properties options. 

In preferences > paper quality > advanced there is still no option to create a custom size, it just lets me choose existing sizes. 

Where can I find this??

[ladb2019]

OK somehow I got it to print to the right tray now..but it is not actually printing anything on the envelopes. It's sounding like it's printing text, but it's not. It did print on it one time in YELLOW very faint ink (what??!) but the rest of the test prints have nothing. The word document has always been black text. What is going wrong now?

[Dragon-Fur]

@ladb2019 

Honestly, I don't know what is going on.  Rats.

Assuming the printer is behaving normally for other jobs, (ink on paper, that sort of thing), then the one thing I can think of "off-hand" is that maybe your envelope does not like the font setting.  ??

Printing Envelopes in Options  > Envelope Options >

Click on Font (for example, next to the Delivery Address)

Change the Font  - be sure to select a standard True-Type font from the list (like Arial).

Font size could be anything  "reasonable", say size 14.

Bold might be a good option, depending on what you want to see on the envelope.

If the Custom Form selection was not picking up the right form,

If the printer control panel was not set to "Custom" size,

Then perhaps the printer thinks it is printing, but the content is printing "off the paper".

If I think of anything else that would help you find the right setup or combination of settings, I will post back.

Thank you for participating in the HP Community Forum.

We are a world community of HP enthusiasts dedicated to supporting HP technology.

Click Thumbs Up on a post to say Thank You!

Answered? Click post "Accept as Solution" to help others find it.

[ladb2019]

Thank you so much for your help. Somehow, I'm not sure how, I got it to work! Your guide definitely helped me, and it is much appreciated 🙂

[Dragon-Fur]

@ladb2019 

You are welcome.  Thanks for letting us know.

You may have finally found the right combination of setups and settings,

Or

Magic is a valid answer.  Smiling.

Happy Printing!

Thank you for participating in the HP Community Forum.

We are a world community of HP enthusiasts dedicated to supporting HP technology.

Click Thumbs Up on a post to say Thank You!

Answered? Click post "Accept as Solution" to help others find it.