HP 3840 User Manual

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

1 HP Deskjet 3840 series printer

To find an answer to a question, select one of the following topics:

• Notices

• Special features

• Getting started

• Connecting to the printer

• Printing photos

• Printing other documents

• Printing tips

• Printer software

• Maintenance

• Troubleshooting

• Specifications

• Supplies

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

2 Notices

• Notices and acknowledgements

• Terms and conventions

2.1 Notices and acknowledgements

Hewlett-Packard company notices

Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without prior written permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the copyright laws.

The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

Acknowledgements

Apple, the Apple logo, AppleTalk, ColorSync, the ColorSync logo, Finder, Mac, Macintosh, MacOS, Powerbook, Power Macintosh, and Quickdraw are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

TrueType is a U.S. trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

2.2 Terms and conventions

The following terms and conventions are used in the user's guide.

Terms

The HP Deskjet printer may be referred to as the HP printer or printer.

Cautions, warnings, and notes

A Caution indicates possible damage to the HP Deskjet printer or to other equipment. For example:

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

Caution: Do not touch the print cartridge ink nozzles or copper contacts. Touching these parts will result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.

A Warning indicates possible harm to you or to others. For example:

Warning: Keep both new and used print cartridges out of the reach of children.

A Note indicates that additional information is provided. For example:

Note: For great results use HP products.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

3 Special features

Congratulations! You have purchased an HP Deskjet printer that is equipped with several exciting features:

• Brilliant photo-quality printing: Great printing performance with the black and tri-color print cartridges installed.

• Six-ink upgradeable printing: Enhance photo printing with a photo print

cartridge (purchased separately).

• Borderless printing: Print 4 x 6 inch photos to the edges of the paper by using the borderless printing feature.

• User friendly: Easy to install and operate.

• Cancel button: Save paper and ink by cancelling print jobs quickly and easily with the Cancel button.

• Ink level indicator: Know the approximate ink level of each print cartridge with the onscreen ink level indicator.

• Compact: Small, lightweight, and easy to set up, store, or carry.

• Quality: Built to give you the best results for your printing needs.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

4 Getting started

For an overview of the printer features, see the printer features page.

Click the appropriate topic for a description of a printer feature:

• Buttons and light

• Paper trays

• Print cartridges

• Ink-backup mode

4.1 Printer features

The HP printer has several features to make printing easier and more efficient.

1. Buttons and light

2. Paper trays

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

1. Print cartridges

2. Ink-backup mode

1. USB port

4.2 Buttons and light

Use the printer buttons to turn the printer on and off and to cancel a print job.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

1. Power button and light

2. Print Cancel button

Power button and light

The Power button turns the printer on and off. After you press the Power button, a few seconds might elapse before the printer turns on.

The light on the Power button gives you visual cues about the status of the printer. When the Power light is on and not flashing, the printer is either printing or ready to print. When the Power light is flashing, the printer cover is open or a problem might

exist.

Caution: Always use the Power button to turn the printer on and off. Using a power strip, a surge protector, or a wall-mounted switch to turn the printer on and off can cause printer failure.

Print Cancel button

Pressing the Print Cancel button cancels the current print job.

4.3 Paper trays

The printer has a fold-up paper tray that contains an In tray and an Out tray.

For information about the paper trays, select one of the topics below:

• Unfolding the paper trays

• In tray

• Out tray

• Folding the paper trays

Unfolding the paper trays

Follow these steps to unfold the paper trays:

1. Raise the printer cover.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

2. Lower the In tray

3. Lower the Out tray

4. Pull out the Out-tray extension, and then unfold the Out-tray extension stop.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

5. Lower the printer cover and turn on the printer.

In tray

The In tray holds paper and other media to be printed.

1. In tray

Print on different sizes of media by sliding the paper guide to the right or to the left.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

1. Press and slide the paper guide

Out tray

Printed pages are deposited in the Out tray.

1. Out tray

Raise the printer cover and the Out tray to load paper.

Lower the printer cover and the Out tray before printing.

To prevent paper from falling out of the tray, pull out the Out-tray extension, and then unfold the Out-tray extension stop.

1. Out-tray extension and Out-tray extension stop

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

Folding the paper trays

Follow these steps to refold the paper trays:

1. Remove the paper or other media from the paper trays, and then turn off the

printer.

2. Raise the printer cover.

3. Fold the Out-tray extension stop, and then push the Out-tray extension into the Out tray.

4. Raise the Out tray.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

5. Raise the In tray.

6. Reach underneath the In tray, and then lift the tray until it locks into place.

7. Lower the printer cover.

4.4 Print cartridges

Three print cartridges are available for use with the printer.

1. Tri-color print cartridge

2. Black print cartridge

3. Photo print cartridge

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

Using print cartridges

Everyday printing

Use the black and tri-color print cartridges for everyday print jobs.

Quality color photos

For more vibrant colors when printing color photographs or other special documents, remove the black print cartridge and use a photo print cartridge in combination with the tri-color print cartridge.

Replacing print cartridges

When buying print cartridges, look for the print cartridge selection number.

You can find the selection number in these places:

• Selection number label: Look at the label on the print cartridge that you are replacing.

1. Selection number label

• Printer documentation: For a list of print cartridge selection numbers, see the reference guide that came with the printer.

• HP Inkjet Toolbox: Open the HP Inkjet Toolbox, and then select the Supplies panel.

If a print cartridge runs out of ink, the printer can operate in the ink-backup mode.

For information about installing a print cartridge, see the print cartridge installation page.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

4.5 Ink-backup mode

In the ink-backup mode, the printer operates by using only one print cartridge. The ink-backup mode is initiated when a print cartridge is removed from the print cartridge cradle.

For instructions about removing a print cartridge, see the print cartridge

installation page.

Ink-backup mode output

Printing in ink-backup mode slows the printer and affects the quality of printouts.

Installed print cartridge Result

Black print cartridge Colors are printed as grayscale.

Tri-color print cartridge Colors print but black is grayed and is not a true black.

Photo print cartridge Colors are printed as grayscale.

Note: It is recommended that you do not use the photo print cartridge for ink-

backup mode.

Exiting ink-backup mode

Install two print cartridges in the printer to exit ink-backup mode.

For instructions about installing a print cartridge, see the print cartridge installation page.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

5 Connecting to the printer

• USB

5.1 USB

The printer connects to the computer with a universal serial bus (USB) cable.

For instructions about connecting the printer with a USB cable, see the setup poster that came with the printer.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

6 Printing photos

Select the type of photograph that you want to print:

Large photo with a white border Small photo with a white

border

Enhancing your photos

Learn how to enhance your photographs by using the printer photo printing features.

Small borderless photo

6.1 Enhancing your photos

The printer software offers several features to make printing digital photos easier and improve photo quality:

• Use the HP digital photography options to touch up photos.

• Achieve the highest resolution with Maximum dpi.

• Use HP Everyday Photo Paper, Semi-gloss to save money and ink when printing photos.

Learn how to add professional touches to your digital photographs:

• Use the photo print cartridge for great colors.

• Use advanced color settings to improve printed colors.

• Print black-and-white photos.

• Print to the edges of the photo paper with borderless printing.

To prevent photo paper from curling, follow the photo paper storage guidelines.

6.2 HP digital photography options

The printer has several features to improve the quality of digital photographs.

Follow these steps to gain access to the Digital Photography panel.

1. Open the Print dialog box.

2. Select the Digital Photography panel.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

Description

Use the Digital Photography panel to set these options:

1. Options Menu: Select from the following options:

• Digital Flash: Lighten dark images. Click Automatic to allow the printer driver to automatically balance lightness and darkness.

• Contrast enhancement: Adjust the contrast to your preference. Click Automatic to allow the printer driver to automatically balance the contrast.

• SmartFocus: Enhance image quality and clarity. Click On to allow the printer driver to automatically sharpen details in the image.

• Smoothing: Soften an image. Click Automatic to allow the printer driver to automatically set the level of smoothing for the image.

• Sharpness: Adjust the image sharpness to your preference. Click Automatic to allow the printer driver to automatically set the level of sharpening for the image.

2. Set All Settings Menu: Select from the following settings options:

• Turn All Off: Turns off all the digital photography options.

• Set All to Automatic: Sets all the digital photography options to Automatic.

• Use Factory Presets: Sets all the digital photography options to a set of predefined print options.

6.3 Maximum dpi

The Maximum dpi print quality setting offers 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi printing.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

The 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi print mode is the highest quality resolution for this printer. When 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi is selected in the printer driver, the tri-color print cartridge prints in the 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi mode (up to 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi color and 1200-input dpi). If a photo print cartridge is also installed, the print quality is enhanced. A photo print cartridge can be purchased separately if it is not included with your printer.

Follow these steps to print in the 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi mode:

1. Open the Print dialog box.

2. Select the Paper Type/Quality panel.

3. In the Print Quality drop-down list, click Maximum dpi.

4. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print.

6.4 Photo print cartridge

The photo print cartridge, used in conjunction with the tri-color print cartridge, provides six-ink, virtually grain-free photos that have exceptional fade resistance.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

The photo print cartridge can be purchased separately if it is not included with your product.

Installing the photo print cartridge

To install the photo print cartridge, remove the black print cartridge from the printer, and then install the photo print cartridge in the compartment on the right of the print cartridge cradle.

For more information, see the print cartridge installation page.

Using the photo print cartridge

Follow these steps to print in the six-ink color print mode:

1. Open the Print dialog box.

2. Select the Paper Type/Quality panel.

3. Click the appropriate photo paper type in the Paper Type drop-down list.

4. Click one of the following print-quality modes in the Print Quality drop-down list.

• Normal

• Best

• Maximum dpi

5. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print.

Storing the photo print cartridge

To maintain the health of the print cartridge, follow the print cartridge storage

guidelines.

6.5 Using color settings

Use the Color panel to adjust how printed colors appear on your printout.

Adjusting these settings causes the printed colors to differ from the colors that appear on your computer monitor.

Follow these steps to specify color settings:

1. Open the Print dialog box.

2. Select the Color panel.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

3. Verify that ColorSmart/sRGB is selected in the Image drop-down list.

4. Adjust the Saturation, Brightness, and Color tone to affect how overall colors are printed.

5. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print.

6.6 Printing black-and-white photos

You can perform the following tasks with the printer:

• Print a black-and-white photo

• Print a color photo in black-and-white

Printing a black-and-white photo

To print a photo that is already black and white, simply follow the instructions for the

type and size of photo that you want to print.

Printing a color photo in black and white

Follow these steps to print a color photo in black and white:

1. Open the Print dialog box.

2. Select the Color panel.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

3. In the Image drop-down list, click Grayscale.

4. Click the High Quality option.

5. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print.

6.7 Storing and handling photo paper

Follow these instructions to maintain the quality of your HP brand photo paper.

Storage

• Keep unused photo paper in a resealable plastic bag, in the box in which it was originally packaged. Store the packaged photo paper on a flat surface in a cool place.

• When you are ready to print, remove only the paper that you plan to use immediately from the plastic bag. When you have finished printing, return any unused photo paper to the plastic bag.

• Do not leave unused photo paper in the printer paper tray. The paper might start to curl, which can reduce the quality of your photographs.

Handling

• Always hold photo paper by its edges. Fingerprints on photo paper can reduce print quality.

• Verify that the photo paper is not curled. If the photo paper is curled, place the paper in a plastic bag and gently bend it the opposite direction of the curl until the paper lies flat. If the problem persists, use photo paper that is not curled.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

6.8 Saving money when printing photos

HP Everyday Photo Paper

To save money and ink when printing photos, use HP Everyday Photo Paper, Semigloss and set the Print quality to Normal.

HP Everyday Photo Paper, Semi-gloss is designed to create quality photos with less ink.

Note: For higher-quality photos, use HP Premium Plus Photo paper and set the

Print quality to Best or Maximum dpi.

6.9 Borderless photos

Guidelines

• To print borderless photos, use 4 x 6 inch photo paper with a 0.5 inch tab (10 x 15 cm with 1.25 cm tab); the photo prints without borders on three sides and with a small border on the bottom edge that you tear off to make the photo completely borderless.

• For high-quality results, use a photo print cartridge in combination with the tricolor print cartridge.

• For maximum fade resistance, use HP Premium Plus Photo Paper and install a photo print cartridge in the printer.

• To learn how to use the photo printing features, see the photo enhancing page.

• Use HP Everyday Photo Paper, Semi-gloss to save money and ink when printing photos.

• Verify that the photo paper that you are using is flat. For information about preventing photo paper from curling, see the photo paper storage instructions.

• Do not print borderless photos in ink-backup mode. Always have two print cartridges installed in the printer.

• Do not exceed the In-tray capacity: Up to 30 sheets.

Preparing to print

1. Raise the printer cover.

2. Slide the paper guide to the left.

3. Raise the Out tray.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

4. Place the photo paper with the side to be printed on facing down and the short edge pointing towards the printer, in the right side of the tray. If you are using a photo paper that has a tear-off tab, verify that the tab is pointing away from the printer in the In tray. Push the paper into the printer until the paper stops.

5. Lower the Out tray.

6. Slide the paper guide firmly against the edge of the paper.

7. Lower the printer cover.

Printing

1. Open the Page Setup dialog box, and then select the following settings:

• Paper Size: The appropriate borderless paper size

• Orientation: The appropriate orientation

2. Click OK.

3. Open the Print dialog box.

4. Select the Paper Type/Quality panel, and then select the following settings:

• Paper Type: Select Photo paper, and then click the appropriate photo paper type.

• Print Quality: Best or Maximum dpi.

5. If you want to use them, set the HP digital photography options.

6. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print.

When you print on 4 x 6 inch photo paper with tear-off tabs, the printout is completely borderless after the tear-off strip is removed.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

When you print on 4 x 6 inch photo paper without tear-off tabs, the printout is borderless on three sides and has a border on the bottom.

6.10 Small photos with a white border

Guidelines

• For high-quality results, use a photo print cartridge in combination with the tricolor print cartridge.

• For maximum fade resistance, use HP Premium Plus Photo Paper and install a photo print cartridge in the printer.

• To learn how to use the photo printing features, see the photo enhancing page.

• Use HP Everyday Photo Paper, Semi-gloss to save money and ink when printing photos.

• Verify that the photo paper that you are using is flat. For information about preventing photo paper from curling, see the photo paper storage instructions.

• Do not exceed the In-tray capacity: Up to 30 sheets.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

Preparing to print

1. Raise the printer cover.

2. Slide the paper guide to the left.

3. Raise the Out tray.

4. Place the photo paper, with the side to be printed on facing down and the short edge pointing towards the printer, in the right side of the In tray. Push the paper into the printer until the paper stops.

5. Lower the Out tray.

6. Slide the paper guide firmly against the edge of the paper.

7. Lower the printer cover.

Printing

1. Open the Page Setup dialog box, and then select the following settings:

• Paper Size: The appropriate paper size

• Orientation: The appropriate orientation

2. Click OK.

3. Open the Print dialog box.

4. Select the Paper Type/Quality panel, and then select the following settings:

• Paper Type: Select Photo paper, and then click the appropriate photo paper type.

• Print Quality: Best or Maximum dpi.

5. If you want to use them, set the HP digital photography options.

6. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

6.11 Large photos with a white border

Guidelines

• For high-quality results, use a photo print cartridge in combination with the tricolor print cartridge.

• For maximum fade resistance, use HP Premium Plus Photo Paper and install a photo print cartridge in the printer.

• To learn how to use the photo printing features, see the photo enhancing page.

• Use HP Everyday Photo Paper, Semi-gloss to save money and ink when printing photos.

• Verify that the photo paper that you are using is flat. For information about preventing photo paper from curling, see the photo paper storage instructions.

• Do not exceed the In-tray capacity: Up to 30 sheets.

Preparing to print

1. Raise the printer cover.

2. Slide the paper guide to the left.

3. Raise the Out tray.

4. Place the photo paper, with the side to be printed on facing down in the In tray, and then push the paper into the printer until the paper stops.

5. Lower the Out tray.

6. Slide the paper guide firmly against the edge of the paper.

7. Lower the printer cover.

Printing

1. Open the Page Setup dialog box, and then select the following settings:

• Paper Size: The appropriate paper size

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

• Orientation: The appropriate orientation

2. Click OK.

3. Open the Print dialog box.

4. Select the Paper Type/Quality panel, and then select the following settings:

• Paper Type: Select Photo paper, and then click the appropriate photo paper type.

• Print Quality: Best or Maximum dpi.

5. If you want to use them, set the HP digital photography options.

6. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

7 Printing other documents

E-mail Letters Documents Envelopes

Brochures Greeting cards Transparencies Labels

Index cards Booklets Posters Iron-on Transfers

Printing tips

Minimize your cost and effort while maximizing the quality of your printouts using these printing tips.

Printer software

Learn about the printer software.

7.1 E-mail

Guidelines

Do not exceed the In-tray capacity: Up to 100 sheets.

Preparing to print

1. Raise the printer cover.

2. Slide the paper width guide to the left.

3. Raise the Out tray.

HP Deskjet 3840 series printer User's Guide

4. Place paper with the side to be printed on facing down in the In tray, and then push the paper into the printer until it stops.

5. Lower the Out tray.

6. Slide the paper guide firmly against the edge of the paper.

7. Lower the printer cover.

Printing

1. If necessary, open the Page Setup dialog box and set the paper size and orientation options.

2. Open the Print dialog box.

3. Select the Paper Type/Quality panel, and then specify the following settings:

• Paper Type: The appropriate paper type

• Print Quality: Normal

4. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print.

7.2 Letters

Guidelines

• For help printing on an envelope, see the envelopes page.

• Do not exceed the In-tray capacity: Up to 100 sheets.

Preparing to print

1. Raise the printer cover.

2. Slide the paper width guide to the left.

3. Raise the Out tray.

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