Introduction
This User’s Reference Guide explains how to use your HP Designjet 510 or 510ps printer. The contents of this
guide are valid for both the HP Designjet 510 and the HP Designjet 510ps except where otherwise indicated.
This chapter contains the following topics:
• Introducing the documentation
Introduces your printer’s documentation.
• Introducing your printer
Contains a brief overview of the printer. It contains information about the printer’s features and what is
included with the printer.
• Front view of printer
Contains a view of the front of the printer showing the location of the printer’s consumable items.
• Printer connections
Shows all the connections to the printer: power, parallel interface, USB and optional network interface.
Introducing the documentation
You have the following resources to help you in using your printer.
•The Assembly and Set-up Poster comes with your printer and shows step-by-step information on how to
prepare your printer for use.
•This User’s Reference Guide explains the details of using your printer. For more day-to-day guidance you
can refer to the Pocket Guide.
•The Pocket Guide gives information that you are most likely to need for printer operation on a daily basis,
such as loading paper or replacing ink supplies.
• You can also visit us on our Web page: http://www.hp.com/go/graphic-arts/
.
Introducing your printer
• Your printer’s main features
A general overview of the major features of your printer.
• HP ink supplies
A description of the HP ink supplies required for your printer.
• Print resolution
Specifications of the print resolution for your printer.
• Paper
A description of the different types of paper available for your printer.
• User interface
A description of the printer’s user interface.
• Memory
Details of internal memory and memory options available with your printer.
• Drivers
Details of the drivers delivered with your printer.
Your printer’s main features
The HP Designjet 510 printer is designed for individuals or small work-groups in architecture, engineering and
construction (AEC), and mechanical CAD design.
The HP Designjet 510ps printer is designed for individuals or small work-groups in advertising agencies, in-house
graphic departments that specialize in packaging, point-of-sale material and events, as well as other graphics
applications.
For the complete printing solution, HP also offers a wide range of paper including HP Satin Poster Paper (ideal for
graphic artists) and HP High-Gloss Photo Paper for high-quality images with an ultra-smooth glossy finish. And
with the HP Complementary Media Program, HP provides you with a wide spectrum of choice and flexibility in
paper selection.
The printer comes in two sizes: A0+/E+ size (42 in/1066.8 mm) and D/A1 size (24 in/609.6 mm) models. Both
models have roll-feed capabilities and come with an HP-GL/2
includes legs and a paper bin.
• Ultimate photo print quality and excellent line quality: The printer delivers excellent line quality with a true
resolution of 1200×600 dpi, using HP's color layering technology, which deposits inks of multiple colors in a
single drop on coated paper. This excellent line quality is achieved due to the fact that each half-inch/12.7mm
printhead contains 304 nozzles, producing miniscule 18-picoliter black pigmented ink drops and four picoliter
color dye-based drops, that are idea for engineering and architectural applications. The printer also delivers
ultimate photo quality for renders and photographs, providing continuous tones and smooth transitions.
• Color accuracy, consistency and management: The HP Designjet 510ps printer includes Adobe®
PostScript® 3™ software Raster Image Processor (RIP) which imitates the color behavior of offset printing
presses and supports emulation standards DIC, EuroScale, SWOP and TOYO. In addition, the HP Designjet
510ps printer delivers consistent color accuracy and supports ColorSync 3.0 for Mac OS users and
PANTONE
Designjet 510ps printer prints repeatable colors, independent of printhead usage, ambient temperature,
humidity or ink levels.
tables for Windows users. And, by using the closed-loop color calibration system, the HP
Accessory Card. The A0+/E+ size model also
More…
• Unattendedness: The printer includes a modular ink delivery system, with up to 69-cc cartridge capacity, and
long-life printheads which last, on average, through ten black ink cartridges and six color ink cartridges,
depending on use. This modular system allows you to replace individual ink supplies separately, as needed,
and also provides automatic alignment and cutting and stacking of finished prints in the paper bin, enabling
continuous and unattended printing. In addition, the printer includes smart chips that are embedded into each
individual printhead and ink cartridge that alert you when it is time to replace the printhead and continuously
monitor ink levels.
• Ease-of-use: The printer is a true out-of the box solution and provides you with everything you need to install
and use the printer. It includes a control/display panel for simple navigation and straightforward paper loading.
The HP Designjet 510ps printer also includes easy-to-install RIP software.
• HP Premium Printing Material: The A0+/E+ size and D/A1 size printers accept a wide range of roll and
sheet paper from 24 in/609.6 mm (D/A1 size) to 42 in/1066.8 mm (A0+/E+ size) wide including HP Satin
Poster Paper, HP High-Gloss Photo Paper and HP Heavyweight Coated Paper.
• Complementary Media Program (CMP
): The CMP helps you to grow their business by referencing third-
party printing material choices to ensure maximum HP Designjet printer flexibility and printing solutions.
HP ink supplies
HP ink supplies for your printer contain two components: printheads and ink cartridges. The printer uses the
following HP ink supplies:
• Black ink cartridges are HP No 82 supplies.
• Cyan, magenta and yellow cartridges are HP No 82 supplies. They are available in 28 and 69 ml sizes.
• All printheads are HP No 11 supplies.
Each 600-dpi thermal inkjet printhead applies thousands of ink droplets onto the paper. The printer automatically
refills the printhead as it prints, enabling continuous uninterrupted printing. The ink is supplied to each printhead
from a separate large-capacity ink cartridge.
There is more information available in a pamphlet which comes with the printheads and in Print times for a
selected print quality.
Print resolution
Your printer provides two different print modes that change the print resolutions of each of the print quality modes.
These different print modes are optimized for: Line Drawings/Text or Images.
You can then choose between three levels of print quality for each of the print modes: Best, Normal or Fast, from
your software or from the printer's front panel.
With the Best mode selected, you have an additional selection available to provide maximum detail for your
printed image by increasing the resolution of your job above the default resolution.
Print quality setting Optimized for Line Drawing/Text Optimized for Images
Resolution in dpi Resolution in dpi
Render Halftone Render Halftone
Fast 300×300 600×300 150×150 600×300
Normal 600×600 600×600 300×300 600×600
Best (default) 600×600 600×600 600×600 600×600
Best (maximum detail) 600×600 1200×600 600×600
a. Glossy photo paper only
2400×1200
Use Fast to get draft copies of your prints at maximum throughput. Normal is optimized so that you get the best
line quality with the fastest throughput. Select Best if you want to get the best quality for images and renderings.
a
Paper
You can print on roll or sheet paper up to 42 in (1066.8 mm) wide with the A0+/E+ size printer and up to 24 in
(609.6 mm) with the D/A1 size printer.
For a list of the supported paper types, see Physical characteristics of paper types
.
User interface
The printer’s front panel includes an easy-to-use interface with a display, giving you access to a comprehensive
set of printer functions.
See Navigating the menu system
description of internal prints.
for a short tutorial to teach you how to navigate through the menus and for a
Memory
The printer comes with 160 MB of internal Random Access Memory (RAM). Additional memory can be added to
the HP-GL/2
for large-file processing and improved printing.
Accessory card that came with the printer. You can add 256 MB (part number CH654A) of memory
Drivers
Always use the right driver (configured correctly) for the combination of your application software and your printer
to ensure that your printer prints exactly what you were expecting in terms of: size, position, orientation, color and
quality.
NOTE: Many software applications include their own drivers.
Your printer comes supplied with:
• Windows drivers
• Mac OS X drivers
• RIP
software, for the HP Designjet 510ps only
Front view of printer
Ink cartridge
Power
switch/indicator
Printhead
Front panel
Printer connections
Your printer can be connected directly to your
computer via the traditional parallel interface or
through the Universal Serial Bus (USB
For Local Area Network (LAN
printer can be fitted with an optional HP Jetdirect
Print Server Fast Ethernet 10/100 base TX network
interface card.
See the Assembly and Set-up Poster for information
on connecting your printer to a computer or network.
) connection your
) port.
Connection
Power socket
Parallel port connection
USB connection
Paper and ink
Your printer can use a variety of papers. The recommended papers are designed for use with your printer and
your printer’s ink system to give you the best results.
This chapter contains the following topics:
• Paper choice
is an essential step in ensuring good print quality.
• Roll paper
• Sheet paper
• Ink system
optimum use.
• Ink cartridges
replacing ink cartridges.
• Printheads
and aligning printheads.
explains how to choose the correct paper type. Choosing the correct paper type for your needs
details the procedures used for loading and unloading your roll paper.
details the procedures used for loading and unloading your sheet paper.
gives you an overview of the printer’s ink system, with some warnings and precautions for its
details the procedures used for: obtaining information, interpreting errors, checking levels and
details the procedures used for: obtaining information, interpreting errors, replacing printheads
Paper choice
• Choosing paper
Your printer supports several types of paper. Choosing the best paper type for your needs is an essential
step in ensuring good print quality. These topics help you to select the best paper for your particular printing
task.
• Paper types
Detailed information concerning the different types of paper available for your printer. This includes
information on: the types of paper supported, their physical characteristics, quality selection, handling and
how to obtain information.
• Print times for a selected print quality
Typical printing times for color and black lines and images on different types of paper.
• Printable area
The dimensions of the printable areas for all paper types.
Choosing paper
For best printing results, use only genuine Hewlett-Packard papers, whose reliability and performance have been
developed and thoroughly tested. All Hewlett-Packard printing components (printer, ink system and paper) have been
designed to work together to give trouble-free performance and optimal print quality. For detailed information on
Hewlett-Packard paper, see Paper types
You should also take note of some important points about paper:
• This printer supports many types of paper. However, the quality of some images may be reduced if you do not
use the correct paper for your application. For example, images with large regions of intense color, where
many ink drops are needed to fully saturate the color, will not print well on HP Bright White InkJet Paper. On
HP Coated paper
, the same images might cause the paper to wrinkle and then come into contact with the
printheads, smearing your print and risking damage to the printhead. See Combinations of paper type and
print quality selection.
• Whenever you load a roll or a sheet, the printer’s front-panel display prompts you to specify the paper type
you are loading. It is absolutely essential to specify this correctly for good print quality. The Physical
characteristics of paper types table gives you all the information you need. If paper is already loaded and you
are unsure which paper type was specified, go to the Paper Menu and press Enter; see Obtaining roll or sheet
paper information.
• Make sure the appropriate print-quality setting (Best, Normal or Fast) is selected. You can set the print
quality either from your software or from the printer’s front panel (software driver settings override any printquality settings made on the front panel). The combination of paper type and print-quality settings tells the
printer how to place the ink on the paper—for example, the ink density, dithering method, and number of
passes of the printheads. For more details, see Combinations of paper type and print quality selection
• Included with this printer is the Hewlett-Packard Printing Materials catalog which gives ordering details for
Hewlett-Packard paper supplies. To get the latest version of this document, contact your local HewlettPackard Sales and Support office.
.
.
Paper types
The following topics address the various types of paper available, their particular use and how to obtain
information about them.
• Physical characteristics of paper types
Details the physical characteristics of each of the supported paper types.
• Combinations of paper type and print quality selection
Gives guidelines for selecting the correct Print Quality selection for the type of paper you are using.
• Handling your paper
Explains the precautions to take when handling paper.
• Obtaining roll or sheet paper information
Physical characteristics of paper types
The following table lists the physical characteristics and selection numbers of supported HP Premium Printing
Material. Always print on the image side with the special coating; the image side faces outwards on roll products
from Hewlett-Packard. There are frequent changes to the list of supported papers; you can find the updated list at
http://www.hp.com/go/graphic-arts/
.
Key to availability:
• (a) indicates papers available in Asia, excluding Japan.
• (e) indicates papers available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
• (j) indicates papers available in Japan.
• (l) indicates papers available in Latin America.
• (n) indicates papers available in North America.
• (*) indicates that the paper is supported for line drawings only.
If the part number is not followed by parentheses, the paper is available in all regions.
Physical paper characteristics
HP Bond and Coated Paper Front panel name
HP Heavyweight Coated Paper
35 lb. (131 g/m²) – 100 ft (30.5 m)
HP Universal Heavyweight Coated Paper
32 lb. (120 g/m²) – 100 ft (30.5 m)
HP Coated Paper
26 lb. (90 g/m²) – 150 ft (45.7 m)
HP Inkjet Coated Paper
26 lb. (90 g/m²) – 150 ft (45.7 m) roll / 100 sheets
HP Universal Coated Paper
26 lb. (95 g/m²) – 150 ft (45.7 m)
HP Bright White Inkjet Paper
24 lb. (90 g/m²) – 150 ft (45.7 m)
18 in
458 mm
Heavy Coated Paper C6029C (aejn) C6030C C6569C
Heavy Coated Paper Q1412A (aejn) Q1413A Q1414A (aejn)
Coated Paper C6019B C6020B C6567B
Coated Paper Q7897A (ejn)
Coated Paper Q1404A (aejn) Q1405A (aejn) Q1406A
Bright White Inkjet Paper C1860A (ln)
24 in
610 mm
C6035A (aej)
36 in
914 mm
C1861A (ln)
C6036A (aej)
42 in
1067 mm
HP Universal Bond Paper
21 lb. (80 g/m²) – 150 ft (45.7 m)
HP Fluorescent Yellow Coloured Paper
100 g/m² – 150 ft (45.7 m)
HP Yellow Coloured Paper
92 g/m² – 150 ft (45.7 m)
Plain Paper Q1396A Q1397A Q1398A
Coated Paper Q1757A (e)
Coated Paper Q1760A (en)
HP Technical Paper Front panel name
HP Natural Tracing Paper
90 g/m² – 150 ft (45.7 m)
HP Translucent Bond Paper
67 g/m² – 150 ft (45.7 m)
HP Vellum Paper
75 g/m² – 150 ft (45.7 m)
Natural Tracing Paper C3869A (*) C3868A (*)
Translucent Bond C3860A (ajn*) C3859A (ln*)
Vellum C3862 (n) C3861A (ln)
HP Film (Technical and Graphic) Front panel name
HP Clear Film
174 g/m² – 75 ft (22.9 m)
HP Matte Film
160 g/m² – 125 ft (38.1 m)
HP White Matte Polyester Film
167 g/m² – 50 ft (15.2 m)
Clear Film C3876A (aejn) C3875A
Matte Film 51642A (aejn) 51642B
Matte Film Q1736A (aen)
HP Photographic Paper Front panel name
HP High-gloss CP Photo Paper
179 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m)
HP Semi-gloss CP Photo Paper
179 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m)
HP Universal Instant-dry Gloss Photo Paper
190 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m)
HP Universal Instant-dry Semi-gloss Photo Paper
190 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m)
High-Gloss Photo C6025A (ln)
High-Gloss Photo C6024A (ln)
High-Gloss Photo Q6574A Q6575A Q6576A
High-Gloss Photo Q6579A Q6580A Q6581A
18 in
458 mm
18 in
458 mm
18 in
458 mm
24 in
610 mm
24 in
610 mm
24 in
610 mm
C6033A (aj)
36 in
914 mm
36 in
914 mm
36 in
914 mm
C6026A (ln)
C6034A (aej)
C6032A (aej)
42 in
1067 mm
42 in
1067 mm
42 in
1067 mm
C6565A (ln)
C6573A (e)
HP Universal High-gloss Photo Paper
190 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m)
HP Universal Semi-gloss Photo Paper
190 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m)
High-Gloss Photo Q1426A (aejn) Q1427A (aejn)
High-Gloss Photo C3860A (ajn*) C3859A (ln*)
HP Proofing Paper Front panel name
HP Professional Semi-gloss Contract Proofing
Paper
235 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m) / 13 × 19 in, 50 sheets
HP Matte Proofing Paper
146 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m) / 100 sheets
HP Premium Semi-gloss Proofing Paper
240 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m) / 13 × 19 in, 50 sheets
High-Gloss Photo Q8049A (en) Q7971A (en) Q8909A (en) Q8910A (en)
Heavy Coated Paper Q7896A (ejn) Q1968A (aejn)
High-Gloss Photo CG462A (e) CG463A (e) CG490A (e)
HP Self-adhesive Material Front panel name
HP Two-view Cling Film
240 g/m² – 75 ft (22.9 m)
HP Self-adhesive Indoor Paper
170 g/m² – 75 ft (22.9 m)
HP Matte Adhesive-back Polypropylene
225 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m)
HP Colorfast Adhesive Vinyl
328 g/m² – 40 ft (12.2 m)
Clear Film Q1914A (aen) Q1915A (aen)
Heavy Coated Paper Q1733A (ejn)
Matte Film Q1908A (aen)
Matte Film C6775A
HP Banner and Sign Material Front panel name
HP Durable Display Film
205 g/m² – 50 ft (15.2 m)
HP Instant-dry Gloss Indoor Banner
195 g/m² – 50 ft (15.2 m)
HP Opaque Scrim
460 g/m² – 50 ft (15.2 m)
Matte Film Q6620A (en)
Matte Film Q5482A Q5483A
Matte Film Q8675A Q1898B (aen) Q1899B (aen)
18 in
458 mm
18 in
458 mm
18 in
458 mm
24 in
610 mm
24 in
610 mm
24 in
610 mm
36 in
914 mm
36 in
914 mm
36 in
914 mm
42 in
1067 mm
42 in
1067 mm
42 in
1067 mm
HP Matte Polypropylene
130 g/m² – 75 ft (22.9 m)
HP Banners with Tyvek®
140 g/m² – 50 ft (15.2 m)
HP Outdoor Paper
145 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m)
HP Blue Back Outdoor Billboard Paper
140 g/m² – 100 ft (30.5 m)
Matte Film Q1903A (aen) Q1904A (aen)
Heavy Coated Paper C6798A (ajn)
Heavy Coated Paper Q1730A (en)
Heavy Coated Paper C7949A (en)
HP Fine Art Printing Material Front panel name
HP Canvas Paper
180 g/m² – 35 ft (10.7 m)
Canvas Q1724A (aen)
Metric sizes Front panel name
HP Natural Tracing Paper
90 g/m² – 150 ft (45.7 m)
HP Coated Paper
26 lb. (90 g/m²) – 150 ft (45.7 m)
HP Bright White Inkjet Paper
24 lb. (90 g/m²) – 150 ft (45.7 m)
HP Universal Bond Paper
21 lb. (80 g/m²) – 150 ft (45.7 m)
HP Yellow Coloured Paper
92 g/m² – 295.3 ft (90 m)
Natural Tracing Paper Q1440A (j) Q1439A (j) Q1438A (j)
Coated Paper Q1443A (j) Q1442A (ej) Q1441A (ej)
Bright White Inkjet Paper Q1446A (j) Q1445A (ej) Q1444A (ej)
Plain Paper Q8003A (aj)
Coated Paper Q6596A (e)
18 in
458 mm
A2: 16.54 in
420 mm
24 in
610 mm
A1: 23.39 in
594 mm
36 in
914 mm
A0: 33.11 in
841 mm
42 in
1067 mm
Additional information about paper types
The following HP Premium Printing Material can be used to perform the printhead alignment, see Printhead
alignment.
• HP Bright White Inkjet Paper (Bond)
• HP Coated Paper
• HP Heavyweight Coated Paper
• HP High-Gloss Photo Paper
• HP Satin Poster Paper
You can also use Plain Paper in addition to the above.
To order any of the HP Premium Printing Material, see the pamphlet Hewlett-Packard Printing Materials.
From time to time, new paper types may become available. For up-to-date information, please contact your
Hewlett-Packard dealer, local Hewlett-Packard Sales and Support Office or the Designjet Online
Web site.
Combinations of paper type and print quality selection
Use the following tables, given by application, to guide you when choosing your paper and selecting the print
quality setting (Fast, Normal, Best).
• CAD drawings—mono
• CAD drawings and GIS—color (lines and low density)
• CAD rendering, GIS and images—color and CAD (high ink density).
As a general guide:
• Fast is best for draft copies of your prints at maximum throughput.
• Normal is optimized so that you get the best line quality with the fastest throughput.
• Best is for when you want to get the best quality for images and renderings.
CAD drawings—mono
The following table lists the recommended print quality settings for specific usage with typical paper.
Supported paper types—mono
Usage Typical paper selection Recommended print quality setting
Drafts Plain Paper
Bright Inkjet Paper
Natural Tracing Paper
Translucent Bond
Final versions Plain Paper
Bright Inkjet Paper
Natural Tracing Paper
Translucent Bond
Coated Paper
Heavy Coated Paper
Matte Film
Clear Film
Archives Vellum
Matte Film
Clear Film
Diazo Translucent Bond
Natural Tracing Paper
Vellum
Matte Film
Fast or normal
Normal or Best
Best
Normal or Best
CAD drawings and GIS—color (lines and low density)
The following table lists the recommended print quality settings for specific usage with typical paper.
Supported paper types—color
Usage Typical paper selection Recommended print quality setting
Drafts Plain Paper
Bright Inkjet Paper
Natural Tracing Paper
Translucent Bond
Final versions Plain Paper
Bright Inkjet Paper
Coated paper
Heavy Coated Paper
Matte Film
Clear Film
Archives Matte Film
Clear Film
Transparencies Clear Film Normal or Best
Fast or Normal
Normal or Best
Best
CAD rendering, GIS and images—color and CAD (high ink density)
The following table lists the recommended print quality settings for specific usage with typical paper.
Supported paper types—color and CAD
Usage Typical paper selection Recommended print quality setting
Matte Paper Heavy Coated Paper Normal or Best
Glossy High Gloss Photo Paper Normal or Best
Transparencies Clear Film Best
Handling your paper
Take the following precautions when handling paper:
• Handle film and glossy paper by the edges or wear cotton gloves. Skin oils can interact with the ink and cause
it to smear.
• Although the ink systems supplied with this printer have good light fastness, colors will eventually fade or
change if exposed to sunlight over a long period of time.
• Rewrap partially used rolls if they are not being used, and do not stack rolls.
• Always keep unused rolls in their plastic wrappings to prevent discoloration.
Obtaining roll or sheet paper information
If roll or sheet paper is loaded, the type of paper is displayed when you select the Paper menu on the front panel.
Bright White Inkjet Paper
Plain Paper
Vellum
Natural Tracing Paper
Translucent Bond
Clear Film
Matte Film
Coated Paper
Heavy Coated Paper
High-Gloss Photo
Canvas
Poster Paper
Roll or Sheet
If there is no paper loaded, the front-panel display shows the following message and you will need to load roll or
sheet paper.
Print times for a selected print quality
The following table lists some typical printing times for D/A1 size paper.
Typical printing times
Time (in seconds)
Print quality
Fast 69 96 234 480
Normal 216 216 550 690
Best 360 285 940 990
Mono lines
on Bond
Color lines
on Coated
Paper
Images
on Coated
Paper
Images
on Glossy
Paper
Printable area
The following topics detail the printable areas for each of the different paper size systems:
• ANSI paper
The American National Standards Institute imperial paper sizing system.
• Architectural paper
The Architectural paper sizing system.
• ISO paper
The International Standards Organization metric paper sizing system, which is the size system commonly
used in Europe.
ANSI paper
The following table lists the printable area for the ANSI paper
size system. The left and right margins are 0.2 in
(5 mm) and the leading and trailing edge margins are 0.7 in (17 mm).
:
Where
Printable area Paper Size Margins–=
Printable areas for ANSI paper
Printable area (width × height) by image orientation
Paper
size
A Portrait 9.7 8.1 8.1 9.7 245 206 206 245
B Portrait 15.7 10.6 10.6 15.7 398 269 269 398
C Portrait 20.7 16.6 16.6 20.7 525 422 422 525
D Portrait
E Portrait N/A
Orientation of
paper in
printer
Landscape 7.2 10.6 10.6 7.2 182 269 269 182
Landscape 9.7 16.6 16.6 9.7 245 422 422 245
Landscape 15.7 21.6 21.6 15.7 398 549 549 398
Landscape 20.7 33.6
Landscape
Landscape Portrait Landscape Portrait
Width Height Width Height Width Height Width Height
32.7 21.6 21.6 32.7 830 549 549 830
32.7 43.6 N/A 830 1108 N/A
Inches Millimeters
33.6 20.7 525 854 854 525
33.6 42.7 N/A 854 1084
Indicates this printable area is available only if you are using the A0+/E+ size format
printer
Architectural paper
The following table lists the printable area for the Architectural paper
size system.
The left and right margins are 0.2 in (5 mm) and the leading and trailing edge margins are 0.7 in (17 mm).
.
Where:
Printable area Paper Size Margins–=
Printable areas for Architectural paper
Printable area (width × height) by image orientation
Paper
size
C Portrait 22.7 17.6 17.6 22.7 576 447 447 576
D Portrait
E1 Portrait
E Portrait N/A
Orientation of
paper in
printer
Landscape 16.7 23.6 23.6 16.7 423 600 600 423
Landscape 22.7 35.6
Landscape
Landscape
Landscape Portrait Landscape Portrait
Width Height Width Height Width Height Width Height
34.7 23.6 23.6 34.7 880 600 600 880
40.7 29.6 29.6 40.7 1033 752 752 1033
28.7 41.6 41.6 28.7 728 1057 1057 728
34.7 47.6 N/A 880 1209 N/A
Inches Millimeters
35.6 22.7 576 904 904 576
35.6 46.7 N/A 904 1185
Indicates this printable area is available only if you are using the A0+/E+ size format
printer
ISO paper
The following table lists the printable area for the ISO paper
size system.
The left and right margins are 0.2 in (5 mm) and the leading and trailing edge margins are 0.7 in (17 mm).
Where:
Printable area Paper Size Margins–=
Printable areas for ISO paper
Printable area (width × height) by image orientation
Paper
size
A4 Portrait 10.4 7.9 7.9 10.4 263 200 200 263
A3 Portrait 15.2 11.3 11.3 15.2 386 287 287 386
A2 Portrait 22.0 16.1 16.1 22.0 560 410 410 560
A1 Portrait
A0 Portrait N/A
Orientation of
paper in
printer
Landscape 6.9 11.3 11.3 6.9 176 287 287 176
Landscape 10.4 16.1 16.1 10.4 263 410 410 263
Landscape 15.2 23.0 23.0 15.2 386 584 584 386
Landscape 22.0 32.7
Landscape Portrait Landscape Portrait
Width Height Width Height Width Height Width Height
31.7 23.0 23.0 31.7 806 584 584 806
Inches Millimeters
32.7 22.0 560 830 830 560
32.7 45.4 N/A 830 1154
Indicates this printable area is available only if you are using the A0+/E+ size format
printer
Roll paper
The following procedures are described in detail, with animations where appropriate:
• Installing a new roll on the printer
• Loading roll paper
• Unloading roll paper
• Removing roll paper from the spindle
• Cutter replacement
Installing a new roll on the printer
The graphical sequence shows how to install a new roll of paper on the printer.
CAUTION: Make sure the printer wheels are locked (the brake lever on each wheel is pressed Down) to
prevent the printer from moving.
If you are a regular user of different types of roll paper, you can change the paper quicker if you have more than
one spindle. This allows you to do the following:
1. Pre-load the different types of paper onto the spindles.
2. Remove and replace the spindle with the new type of paper.
NOTE: Additional spindles are available from Hewlett-Packard as accessories.
Loading roll paper
The graphical sequence shows how to load a new roll of paper on the printer.
NOTE: You must have installed
The front-panel menu items are:
Select (using the keys)
1. Paper Enter
2. Load Roll Enter
3. Select Roll Type Enter
a new roll of paper on the printer before you can load it.
Then press:
Unloading roll paper
The graphical sequence shows how to unload a roll of paper from the printer.
Removing roll paper from the printer
The graphical sequence shows how to remove a roll of paper from the printer.
NOTE: You must have unloaded
the roll of paper from the printer before you can remove it.
Removing roll paper from the spindle
The graphical sequence shows how to remove a roll of paper from the roll spindle.
NOTE: You must have removed
spindle.
the roll of paper from the printer before you can remove it from the
Cutter replacement
The graphical sequence shows the complete procedure for the replacement of the paper cutter in your printer.
Prerequisites
Before attempting to replace the cutter you must contact your local HP Customer Care center to:
• Order the replacement cutter.
• Receive instructions on how to access the front panel Service menu.
Important information
• The cutter unit is attached to the printer by a black cutter holder that runs along the metal guide rail, and is
hooked onto the edge of the platen
• The cutting wheel is inside the cutter unit.
• Do not remove the cutter holder.
• When inserting the new cutter, with the cutter holder raised to about 45 degrees, partially insert the cutter so it
rests in the cutter holder, but do NOT clip it in at this stage.
CAUTION: Be very careful when replacing the cutter because you can easily break the cutter holder if you
apply too much force.
at the front of the printer.
Sheet paper
• Which side up?
Explains how to identify which side of the sheet should be printed on.
• Which edge first?
Explains which edge of the sheet should be loaded first (short edge or long edge).
• Loading sheet paper
Details the sheet loading procedure.
• Unloading sheet paper
Details the sheet unloading procedure.
Which side up?
The printer prints on the side of the paper that faces up. It may be important to load the sheet with the correct side
facing up. See the table below.
Print side for paper types
Paper type Matte or glossy
HP Bright White Inkjet Paper (Bond) Both sides are the same. If sheet
HP Vellum
Natural Tracing Paper
Coated Paper Load with the coated side up.
Heavy Coated Paper
Matte Film Load with the matte side up.
High-Gloss Photo Load with the glossy side up.
Clear Film
Translucent Bond Both sides are the same. If sheet
Canvas
Poster Paper
Plain Paper Both sides are the same. If sheet
is curled, load with curl down.
is curled, load with curl down.
is curled, load with curl down.
Which edge first?
You can load sheet paper in either portrait or landscape orientation. Unless you are using the Rotate option,
always load the sheet in the same orientation as you have specified in your software.
Landscape (long edge first)
Portrait (short edge first)
Loading sheet paper
The graphical sequence shows how to load a new sheet of paper on the printer.
Important
• If you have a roll of paper loaded on the printer you must first unload it from the printer.
• Make sure the correct side
The front panel menu selections are:
of the sheet is facing up when you load it.
Select (using the keys)
1. Paper Enter
2. Load sheet Enter
3. Select Sheet Type Enter
Then press:
Unloading sheet paper
The graphical sequence shows how to unload a sheet of paper from the printer.
Important
• To give the ink time to dry the printer holds the paper for some time.
Ink system
These topics cover the various elements of the ink system.
• What are HP ink supplies?
Details the elements of the HP ink supplies.
• Component identification
Shows you where to find the various elements of the ink system.
• Ink supply guidelines
Explains how to obtain the best results from your ink system.
• Precautions
Details the specific precautions you must take to avoid damaging the components of your ink system.
• Color calibration
Explains how to calibrate the ink system for the type of paper loaded
• Drying time
Explains drying time function and details how to use it to ensure you obtain the highest quality print under all
conditions.
What are HP ink supplies?
For each of the four ink colors used in the printer, there are two separate components, the printhead and the
ink cartridge
number to help you reorder the correct replacement. Your printer uses the following HP ink supplies:
• Black ink cartridges are HP No 82 supplies.
• Cyan, magenta and yellow cartridges are HP No 82 supplies. They are available in 28 and 69 ml sizes.
• All printheads are HP No 11 supplies.
Ink cartridges
The Hewlett-Packard ink cartridges for your printer require no maintenance or cleaning. As long as each ink
cartridge is inserted correctly into its slot, the ink will flow to the printheads. Because the printheads control the
amount of ink transferred to the page, you will continue to see high-quality printing results, even when the ink
levels are getting low.
The front panel notifies you when an ink cartridge’s ink level is low. You can also check the ink levels of all the ink
cartridges to determine if an ink cartridge needs to be replaced, see Ink cartridge information
. These components are called the HP ink supplies and are coded with a Hewlett-Packard selection
.
If the ink cartridge is empty, the printer stops printing. See Ink cartridge replacement
Printheads
The Hewlett-Packard printheads are extremely durable and do not need to be replaced every time an ink cartridge
is replaced. They are independent of the ink cartridges and will continue giving excellent print quality results even
if the ink cartridges are low in ink.
If you notice a decline in print quality such as lines or dots missing from text or graphics, see Stepped lines
.
.
Component identification
The following illustration will help you identify the components of the HP ink supplies.
Printheads
Ink cartridges
The Hewlett-Packard selection number on the ink cartridges and printheads makes it easy for you to find the
correct HP ink supplies for your printer. Determine the color of the printhead or ink cartridge you need, then make
sure you purchase or order the correct Hewlett-Packard printhead or ink cartridge. Each ink cartridge and
printhead can be purchased separately from your usual Hewlett-Packard retailer. See Ordering accessories
.
Ink supply guidelines
For optimum results from your printer and the ink system, always follow these guidelines when handling HP ink
supplies:
• Always install the ink cartridges and printheads before the expiry date, which is on the packaging.
• Install ink cartridges and printheads in their color-coded slots.
• Follow the instructions on the front panel during installation.
• Avoid unnecessary removal of the ink cartridges and printheads.
• When turning off your printer, always use the power-off button on the front panel. The printheads are then
parked correctly, which prevents them from drying out.
• The ink cartridges should never be removed while the printer is printing. They should be removed only when
the printer is ready for you to replace them. The front panel will guide you through the removal and installation
procedure. See When to Replace
CAUTION: When you first received your printer it was supplied with a set of four setup printheads installed
in the printhead carriage. These setup printheads are used for the priming of the tubes in the
modular ink delivery system. Do not remove the setup printheads from the carriage without
following the procedures in the Assembly and Set-up Poster.
HP ink supplies.
Precautions
Handle HP ink supplies with care. In particular, the printhead, which is a high-precision device, must be handled
carefully.
CAUTION: Do not touch, wipe or attempt to clean the printhead nozzles. This can damage the printhead.
• Do not put the printhead down on the nozzles.
• Do not be rough when handling the printheads.
Always set them down gently.
• Do not drop the printheads. Proper handling will
assure optimum performance throughout the
printhead life.
• Do not touch the end of the ink cartridge that is
inserted into the printer as there may be a small
amount of ink on the connection.
• Avoid storing partly used ink cartridges on their
ends.
Color calibration
You can calibrate the ink system for the specific paper loaded in your printer. Doing this ensures the printed
output matches the colors of the original image as closely as possible. The printer stores the calibration data for
each type of paper you have calibrated it for since it was powered up. Once the printer has been powered down,
the next time you use it only the last calibration made will be available and it will print using these calibration data.
To color-calibrate your printer, first make sure you have the correct type of paper loaded and then make the
following front-panel selections:
Select (using the keys)
1. Ink Enter
2. Color calibration Enter
3. Calibrate Paper Enter
Then press:
The printer prints a calibration pattern and scans it to create the calibration data for the type of paper loaded.
If you want to check the color-calibration status of your printer, make the following front-panel selections:
Select (using the keys)
1. Ink Enter
2. Color calibration Enter
3. Status Enter
Then press:
The front panel display shows what types of paper the ink system is currently calibrated for.
To remove all the calibrations and reset the printer to its factory values choose
Color calibration > Reset from the Ink menu.
Drying time
The following topics detail the drying time function and how to use it to ensure you obtain the highest quality print
under all conditions.
• Drying time settings
Describes how to set the required drying times from the front panel.
• Typical drying times
Lists typical drying times for Hewlett-Packard tested paper at approximately 25°C with 50% relative humidity.
• Drying procedure
Details how the drying procedure operates.
Drying time settings
With some paper types and environmental conditions the ink needs time to dry before the paper is unloaded. The
printer has three settings which you can choose through the front panel. See Navigation example
for more help.
Manual: The printer holds in place paper which has a specific drying time, and displays a “drying time to go”
countdown on the front panel. You can change this time from one minute to 99 minutes in one minute increments.
Automatic: The printer automatically determines the appropriate drying time, based on the type of paper you
have selected and the current temperature. If there is any drying time the printer displays a “drying time to go”
countdown on the front panel.
None: With this setting, when the printer has finished printing an image, the paper will fall into the paper bin under
the printer.
CAUTION: Changing the drying time to speed up the printer could result in damage to your printed image
or reduce the quality of your print.
Typical drying times
The following table shows the typical drying times for Hewlett-Packard tested paper at approximately 25°C with
50% relative humidity.
Drying times by paper type
Hewlett-Packard tested paper
type
HP Bright White Inkjet Paper (Bond) 0 25
HP Vellum
HP Natural Tracing Paper
HP Coated Paper 0 60
HP Heavyweight Coated Paper 0 60
HP Matte Film 60
HP High-Gloss Photo Paper 120
HP Semi-Gloss Photo Paper
HP Paper-Based Semi-Gloss
HP Clear Film 60
HP Translucent Bond 60 120 180
HP Studio Canvas 6000
HP Satin Poster Paper 60
HP Banners with Tyvek®
HP Colorfast Adhesive Vinyl
Fast Normal Best
Drying time (seconds)
60 120 180
180
Drying procedure
The drying procedure operates as follows:
1. The printed image emerges from beneath the printer window and a vacuum holds it on the platen
of the
printer.
2. The front panel displays:
The countdown
timer indicates
how much
drying time
remains
3. You can press the Cancel or the Form Feed & Cut key to cancel the drying time and release the paper.
4. After the drying time has elapsed:
• For roll paper the printer cuts the paper and turns off the vacuum so the printed image can drop into the printer bin.
• For sheet paper the vacuum is turned off and the printed image drops into the printer bin.
Ink cartridges
• Ink cartridge errors
Details the error messages that could be displayed on the front panel for the ink cartridges.
• Ink cartridge levels
Details the information about levels that can be displayed on the front panel for the ink cartridges.
• Ink cartridge information
Shows you how to display the current status of the ink cartridges on the front-panel display.
• Ink cartridge replacement
Details the ink cartridge replacement procedure.
Ink cartridge errors
The front panel can display the following error messages for the ink cartridges:
Cartridge
missing
Faulty
cartridge
Cartridge
nearly
reached
end of life
Cartridge
empty
The printer will also display the Ink cartridge levels
.
Ink cartridge levels
The front panel will tell you when your ink supply is low, very low or empty. This means that you know the current
status of your HP ink supplies at all times.
Cartridges
full
Cartridge
empty
Low ink
warning
NOTE: Depending on type of print jobs, a cartridge with a low ink warning may in fact last quite a long
time (for example, with line drawings).
NOTE: The ink cartridge level information can also be selected with
Ink menu > Information > Ink Cartridges > Ink Levels if it is not automatically shown in the Ink
menu.
Ink cartridge information
Use the following procedure to display the ink cartridge information screen on the front panel.
The front-panel menu items are:
Select (using the keys)
1. Ink Enter
2. Information Enter
3. Ink Cartridges Enter
4. Cyan, Magenta, Yellow or Black
Ink cartridge
Then press:
Enter
The front panel displays the following information for the selected ink cartridge:
• Color: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow or Black
• Model: Hewlett-Packard No 82
• Status: inserted, low on ink, out of ink, missing, expired and faulty
• Expiration date
• Serial number
• Ink level: in cc and % used
Ink cartridge replacement
The graphical sequence shows how to replace an ink cartridge.
WARNING: Make sure the printer wheels are locked (the brake lever is pressed down) to prevent the printer
from moving.
CAUTION: Remove an ink cartridge only if you are replacing it.
CAUTION: Do not replace cartridges while the printer is printing because doing this will cancel the current
print job.
You need to change cartridges either if prompted to do so on the front panel because the printer has detected a
cartridge is out of ink, or if the cartridge is low and you want to replace it before it runs out.
Printheads
• Printhead errors
Details the different error messages that could be displayed on the front panel for the printheads.
• Printhead information
Shows you how to display the current status of the printheads on the front panel display.
• Printhead replacement
Details the printhead replacement procedure.
• Printhead alignment
Details the printhead alignment procedure.
Printhead errors
The front panel can display the following error messages for the printheads:
Printhead
missing
Faulty
printhead
NOTE: An unknown error is displayed when one of the printheads is causing a problem but the system
cannot detect which one it is. Refer to Unknown printhead error
Printhead
worn out
Unknown
error
to solve this problem.
Printhead information
Use the following procedure to display the printheads information screen on the front panel.
The front panel menu selections are:
Select (using the keys)
1. Ink Enter
2. Information Enter
3. Printhead Enter
4. Cyan, Magenta, Yellow or Black
printhead
Then press:
Enter
The front panel displays the following information for the selected printhead:
• Color: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow or Black
• Model: Hewlett-Packard No 11 and Warranty (In warranty or Out of warranty)
• Status: inserted, missing, faulty worn-out and unknown.
If there is a problem the system displays an action: missing -> insert, unknown -> troubleshoot,
faulty, worn out -> replace.
• Expiration date
• Serial number
• Ink used: in cc and % used
• Paper jams
• If the printheads are aligned and color-calibrated
Printhead replacement
The graphical sequence shows how to replace a printhead in the printer.
The front-panel menu selections are:
Select (using the keys)
1. Ink Enter
2. Replace Printheads Enter
Once you have replaced the printhead, if you have paper loaded, the printer prompts you to start the Printhead
alignment procedure. If no paper is loaded the printer prompts you to load paper and then automatically starts the
alignment. The alignment takes several minutes to complete and the printer will then prompt you to run the Color
calibration procedure.
Then press:
Printhead alignment
You should have one of the following types of paper loaded before attempting to align the printheads: HP Bright
White Inkjet Paper (Bond), HP Coated Paper, HP Heavyweight Coated Paper, HP High-Gloss Photo Paper, HP
Satin Poster Paper or Plain Paper. If you try to do this with any other type of paper loaded, the printer will prompt
you to load a different type of paper before letting you align the printheads.
From time to time you may be required to align the printheads to ensure maximum print quality. To select
Printhead Alignment manually, make sure you have the correct type of roll or sheet paper loaded.
There are two types of alignment: Standard which will take about 4½ minutes; and Special which takes about
11 minutes. Standard alignment is recommended for normal use and requires paper of at least A4/Letter-size,
loaded in landscape mode. Special alignment should be used to correct printhead to paper spacing variations
which would be shown by variations in vertical line quality, particularly in wide plots and fast print modes. Special
alignment requires paper of at least A3/B-size, loaded in landscape mode. Two separate prints are made.
Then use the following front panel menu selections to start the alignment:
Select (using the keys)
1. Ink Enter
2. Align Printheads Enter
3. Standard (4.5 minutes)
Special (11 minutes)
Then press:
Enter
Once you have made this selection the printer starts the alignment process, which then takes several minutes.
The printer will also automatically use the standard alignment process to align its printheads after Printhead
replacement. When the alignment procedure completes after a printhead replacement, the printer asks if you want
to run the Color calibration
procedure.
Solutions
These topics guide you through the different procedures required to troubleshoot and find the solutions to various
problems you could encounter while using your printer.
This chapter contains the following topics:
• Solving problems
where you can get further information.
• Print quality problems
through the troubleshooting procedure step by step.
• Ink supply problems
cartridges and printheads.
• Paper problems
also what to do if you have a paper jam.
• Image error
you expected.
• Other problems
• Getting help
take to contact the Hewlett-Packard Customer Care Center.
helps you to quickly troubleshoot your specific problem; it also contains instructions on
helps you to solve any print quality problems you may be experiencing. It takes you
guides you when you have problems installing the consumable ink items: the ink
contains information on what to do if you have image smears or marks on your paper, and
contains information on what to do if the image that your printer printed is incorrect, or not what
covers miscellaneous problems you could face.
explains what to do if you cannot solve a problem. It also provides full details of the steps to
Solving problems
• To find the meaning of front-panel messages, see Message descriptions.
• If you know the problem is related to a certain task, first check the relevant section in this manual, for step-bystep procedures. Use this manual’s index or table of contents to find the section. For example, if you are
having difficulty with page formatting, refer to Page format
• If the problem is directly related to the quality of your printed images, refer first to Print quality problems
• Refer to the appropriate topic:
– Ink supply problems
– Paper problems
– Communication problems
– Image error
– Other problems
• If the problem could be related to your software driver, and you are using an HP driver, refer to the driver’s
troubleshooting documentation and the on-line help in your application software.
• If the problem has no obvious cause, refer to Finding the source of your problem
• If you still cannot solve the problem, see Getting help
.
.
.
.
Finding the source of your problem
1. Look at the front-panel display for messages. See Message descriptions for a full explanation of front-panel
messages.
2. Test the printer.
– Switch the printer off on the front of the printer. Make sure that the power cord is firmly inserted in the
printer and plugged in to an outlet that you know works.
– Switch the printer on and make sure the front-panel display shows the HP welcome screen followed by
Main Menu after a short initialization period.
3. Test your computer hardware and interface.
– Make sure that you have the correct interface cable between the computer and the printer and that it is
firmly connected to the correct ports (see the Assembly and Set-up Poster).
Print quality problems
Your printer provides a full troubleshooting utility to ensure you can always quickly overcome any image problems
you encounter. You should use this utility whenever you (and not the printer) perceive a problem with print quality.
Often what you believe to be a print quality problem is in fact caused by incorrect configuration of the printer for
the type of image you are trying to print. Always check Configuration correction
the cause of your problem.
If a message, such as “PRINTHEADS not functional” appears on the front panel of your printer, follow the
instructions given for the particular message (see Message descriptions
The types of problems you could possibly encounter are:
• Stepped lines
• Incomplete lines
• Color accuracy
• Horizontal banding
• Color alignment
Whenever you see any of these problems, work through the Troubleshooting procedure replying to the questions
displayed on the front panel. This will lead you to correct remedial action required to solve your print quality
problem.
as your first diagnostic task to find
).
Configuration correction
Before attempting the print quality diagnostic procedures contained in this section, you should first check that the
printer is correctly configured to print what you want. Many problems concerned with print quality can be solved by
correcting the way the printer is configured.
1. To achieve the best performance from your printer, only use genuine HP accessories and supplies, whose
reliability and performance have been thoroughly tested to give trouble-free performance and best-quality
prints. For details of HP paper, see Paper types
2. Make sure that the Type of paper selected in the front panel is the same type of paper loaded into the printer.
To check this go to the Roll or Sheet menu in the front panel and press Enter.
3. To ensure the maximum print quality use HP certified paper only. For details of HP paper see Physical
characteristics of paper types. You can also look at the Web page http://www.hp.com/go/graphic-arts/ for the
most up-to-date information.
4. Make sure that the Print quality (Fast, Normal, Best) used for your printer is correct. This is set in the Print
Setup dialog box of the printer driver or in the front panel from the Set-up menu. The printer driver setting
overrides the front panel setting.
5. Select Best print mode for maximum print quality.
6. For Non-HP drivers, set front panel paper settings to match the paper type loaded in the printer. The
documentation that came with your software should provide information about paper type/print quality
settings.
.
7. If your print quality problem is color accuracy related, go to Color accuracy
for further configuration help.
Troubleshooting procedure
Working through the Troubleshooting procedure should always be your first action when you encounter print
quality problems. Refer to the Troubleshooting flowchart
complete troubleshooting procedure.
It is important that the paper loaded for this procedure is exactly that used when you encountered print quality
problems, type (for example, glossy paper) and size. If you use a different kind of paper or a different size, you
stand less likelihood of resolving the problem.
Running the Troubleshooting Utility
1. From the main front-panel menu, select the Ink menu ( ) and press Enter.
2. Select Troubleshooting and press Enter.
3. The printer first checks to see whether the
printheads are aligned. Misalignment of the
printheads is a common cause of print quality
problems. If they are not aligned, you are prompted
to accept Printhead alignment
requires a few centimeters of paper loaded and takes several minutes to perform.
NOTE: Note that you do not have to interpret the patterns printed by the Printhead Alignment routine.
4. If the printheads do not seem to require alignment, the printer prints Diagnostic Print A. See Diagnostic Print
A interpretation for full details of how to use this diagnostic print.
. This procedure
for a description of the sequence of processes used to
Diagnostic Print A interpretation
Diagnostic Print A
Diagnostic Print A contains several blocks of color and a block of thin black
broken lines (the lines are actually very much closer than those represented
here).
1. Examine the broken lines in Diagnostic Print A carefully and indicate whether
there are problems with them. The sorts of problems to look for here are:
• Jaggedness or serrations in the thin lines, like this:
; the thin lines should be straight,
though not necessarily perfectly aligned. The irregularities that are significant
extend along the whole of the length of the lines. Shorter irregularities,
arranged in columns, can be ignored at this stage.
Ignore this
black bar
2. Examine the blocks of color in Diagnostic Print A carefully and indicate whether
there are problems with them. The sorts of problems to look for here are:
• White streaks or bands in the solid blocks.
3. If you indicate that there is a problem with the dashed lines in Diagnostic Print A,
you are prompted to use the Advance calibration
routine; your printer will be at step 3 of the routine (if you don’t
want to continue with calibration, press the Cancel key).
4. If there are problems in the blocks of color in Diagnostic Print A, for example white streaks or bands, the printer will
try to clean the printheads that have the problem. A printhead can be cleaned up to three times this way; after that
it cannot be cleaned and you will be told; the Troubleshooting routine will finish. In that case we recommend that
you try to reprint your print, and then, if necessary, start the Troubleshooting routine again.
After cleaning the printheads, the printer reprints the blocks of color (but not the black lines) in Diagnostic Print A,
and asks you to examine it again (as in step 1).
5. If there are no problems the first time you print Diagnostic Print A, the printer prints Diagnostic Print B. See
Diagnostic Print B interpretation
for full details of how to use this diagnostic print.
Diagnostic Print B interpretation
1. For each color in the pattern in Diagnostic Print B, you are asked about the
Diagnostic Print B
quality—look for missing lines. If you answer that a color is defective, the
printer tries to clean that printhead.
If the printhead cleaning process completes, Diagnostic Print B is printed
again and you are asked the same questions again.
2. Afterwards, if problems with images remain, use the Troubleshooting
procedure again.
Ignore these
solid bars
If none of the patterns or blocks in the two Diagnostic Prints shows any problem, it could be that your print
quality problem is caused by a wrong setting in your software, or perhaps the job should have been printed with
the Print quality set to Best instead of Normal or Draft.
If the Troubleshooting routine didn’t indicate that printhead alignment was necessary, you can select Align
printheads in the Ink menu to try to solve any further print quality problems.
Troubleshooting flowchart
The following diagram shows the flow of the troubleshooting procedure.
Star t
Printer checks
whether Printhead
Alignment is required
No
Printer prints
Diagnostic Print A
including black lines
Ye s
Printer recommends
Printhead alignment
(Standard or Special)
Printer prints
Diagnostic Print A
without black lines
Wrong paper advance.
Printer recommends
Advance calibration
Indicates that
troubleshooting has
completed but further
procedures are required
to solve the problem
Indicates that
troubleshooting has
completed successfully
and there no problems
Troubleshooting
completed successfully
Printer asks questions
about Diagnostic
Printheads are OK
Yes
after first printing of
Diagnostic Print A
Printer prints
Diagnostic Print B
without black lines
Printer asks if Cyan,
Magenta, Yellow and
Diagnostic Print B are
No problems detected
Print A
No
Black Patterns in
OK
Yes
Diagnostic Print B
No
If possible printer tries
to clean printheads
Printer prints
Printheads need
cleaning. If possible
printer tries to clean
printheads
If printheads have
been cleaned three
time Troubleshooting
finishes
Advance calibration
It is important that the paper loaded for this calibration is exactly that used for normal printing, both in quality (for
example, glossy paper) and in width (for example, A0 or 36 in). Either roll or sheet paper can be used.
The routine prints a pattern and then cuts the roll (the cutter must be set to On—see Controlling the cutter
ejects the sheet; it requires paper that is at least 65 cm/25.5 in long and at least 50 cm/19.7 in wide. You must
then reload that piece of paper as a sheet, so that the printer can accurately measure the pattern, and make
whatever adjustments are appropriate to the amount it advances between printing swaths of data. (See Loading
sheet paper)
The pattern printed is solely for the use of the printer; you are not expected to relate any of its characteristics to the
quality of your images.
1. From the main front-panel menu, with the correct paper loaded, select the Paper menu ( ) and press Enter.
2. Select Advance calibration and press Enter.
3. Select Create pattern and press Enter.
The printer prints its calibration pattern (as represented here) and
cuts or ejects the paper.
4. Load the sheet printed side up with the dotted line at the top (that is,
rotated 90º).
5. Now select Measure pattern and press Enter.
The printer reads the calibration pattern and makes the appropriate
Direction of paper while
printing (creating pattern)
internal adjustments.
) or
These Advance calibration values
are used whenever you print on the
same type of paper until you have used the Advance calibration twice
more with different types of paper.
Direction of paper when
loading (measuring pattern)
Advance calibration values
The printer stores the advance calibration values of the last two
different types of paper used for the calibration. When you print, the
printer tries to match the paper you have selected to the stored
values. If there is a match the printer applies the stored Advance
calibration values.
If the type of paper you are using has not been used for either of the
last two Advance calibrations, the printer uses a set of default values
for your paper.
The Restore factory option of the Advance calibration menu erases any stored advance calibration values from
the printer memory. This means that until you run the advance calibration again the printer will use the factory
default values for all types of paper.
Stepped lines
When you look at the image you have printed there are ‘stepped lines’ in the borders of arrows and diagonal
lines. The lines should be straight with no stepping.
The following is an example of what you might see if you have problems with stepped lines.
To solve this problem:
1. Increase the dpi setting by changing the print quality to Best in the front panel and driver software.
2. The problems may be inherent in the image you are trying to print. Try to improve the image with the
application that generated the file.
Incomplete lines
TEST
When you look at the image you have printed there are:
• Missing or faint lines.
• Printed characters with missing parts.
The following is an example of what you might see if you have problems with incomplete lines.
Missing parts of text; this
should say TEST
See the Troubleshooting procedure
for instructions on how to solve this problem.
Color alignment
When you look at the image you have printed:
The colored lines are printed
double and they are the wrong
colors
The borders of colored blocks
are overlapped and the
overlapping areas have
different colors in them.
See the Troubleshooting procedure
Vertical lines are misaligned or
fuzzy (not smooth)
for instructions on how to solve this problem.
Horizontal banding
When you look at the image you have printed there are light or dark lines on the image, these are particularly
highlighted in high density ink areas. This problem is known as banding.
IMPORTANT Banding can occur to a certain degree in Fast and Normal mode when printing high
density prints. To obtain the best image always print in Best Mode.
The following is an example of what you might see if you have problems with banding.
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Expanding Possibilities
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Ironk
Pojfdjop ernk aure
Pojfdjop ernk Chorme
Pojfdjop ernk aure
See the Troubleshooting procedure
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Expanding Possibilities
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Ink erov
Caps
Ink cartridge
kheuhg sfrfefg
kheuhg sfrfefg
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for instructions on how to solve this problem.
Color accuracy
These are the areas you should review when troubleshooting a color accuracy problem:
Paper
Ensure that the paper loaded is genuine HP paper and that the correct paper type is selected on the front panel
and in the driver.
Related Topics
• Color consistency problems
• Long-term color bleeding (glossy paper)
• Color accuracy configuration
• Additional color accuracy information
Color consistency problems
• Some paper may discolor or change with age. Check that your paper is fresh and has been stored correctly.
• If the environmental conditions you are printing in change rapidly, you may see changes in the color
consistency. By reducing the time the print stays in extreme environmental conditions after being printed
(especially very high humidity) you can reduce the color consistency problems.
• There may be color changes between images printed on your printer and other types of HP Designjet printers.
This is quite normal because the other printers use different inks.
Long-term color bleeding (glossy paper)
High ambient humidity at your location could cause the colors to bleed into the paper making the lines fuzzy and
bleary.
• Change the paper that you are printing with or remove the printer from the high humidity conditions.
Color accuracy configuration
The configurations of the printer defines how ink is applied to each type of paper. Use the information in the
following table to configure your printer and software for best color accuracy.
Location of
Setting description Selection
setting
Ink menu Color Calibration > Calibrate
Paper
Set to match the paper type loaded in the printer.
See Paper types
.
Additional color accuracy information
The means of accurately managing the colors printed by your printer vary with the software application and driver
being used. Refer to the following documentation:
• On-line documentation in the drivers shipped with your printer.
• If you cannot find any reason for the discrepancy, before getting help, find out for which CMYK printer inks the
colors have been specified.
Ink supply problems
Most of the problems that you could encounter when working with HP ink supplies can be solved with guidance
from the front panel. The only exception to this is the Unknown printhead error
supplied in Message descriptions
.
Printhead problems after replacement
If, after replacing the printheads, the printer complains about wrong or missing printheads, perform the following
steps:
• Check that you have removed the protective tape from the printhead.
• Insert the printhead into the carriage assembly, but this time close the cover using the latch.
• Replace the printhead with a new one, see Printhead replacement
.
Problems inserting the ink cartridge
1. Make sure that you have the correct HP ink supplies ink cartridge.
2. Make sure that the cartridge is the correct color for that slot.
3. Make sure the cartridge is in the correct orientation, with the color-coded label at the top.
Never clean inside the ink cartridge slots.
Problems inserting the printhead
1. Make sure that you have the correct HP ink supplies printhead.
2. Make sure that the printhead is the correct color for that slot.
. A full list of front messages is
3. Make sure that the printhead is in the correct orientation.
See Printhead replacement
for further details.
Unknown printhead error
An unknown printhead error occurs when the one of the printheads is causing a
problem but the system cannot detect which one it is. Whenever this happens the
front panel displays this error message. The number of printheads with unknown
errors will either be all the color printheads or all the printheads.
Use the following procedure to isolate the faulty printhead.
1. Select Replace Printheads from the front panel.
2. Open the carriage cover and remove all the printheads.
3. Reinsert the Cyan printhead only and close the carriage cover and the window.
4. Check the front panel—if the status of the Cyan printhead is X or ?, the conclusion is that the Cyan printhead
is faulty and must be replaced. If the status of the Cyan printhead is OK, the conclusion is that the Cyan
printhead is working correctly. Repeat the process from step 1 for each of the other printheads to identify
which one is failing.
Paper problems
• Paper
Details the general rules to follow to avoid paper problems.
• Clearing a paper jam
Describes how to clear a paper jam.
• Ink marks on the paper
Details the way to solve ink mark problems: warped lines, blurred lines, marks or scratches on glossy paper.
• Paper loading problems
Explains what to do when the front panel keeps indicating that paper is misaligned or incorrectly positioned.
• Paper output problems
Explains what to do when the prints fall on the floor or do not stack correctly in the paper bin.
Paper
Always make sure that you are using the appropriate paper for your image and that it is consistent with your
software application. To ensure color accuracy and print-quality performance of the printer, use only paper types
that have been certified for your printer.
Use of non-HP paper or HP paper not certified for your printer may significantly reduce the color and print quality
of your images. For details of HP paper, see Paper types
.
Clearing a paper jam
If the front panel displays this message:
There is probably paper jammed in the printer. Paper jams can have
various causes:
• The paper is too thick or too thin for the printer, or is otherwise not
supported.
• The paper is creased, misaligned, or bubbled.
• Too much ink is being placed on the paper causing it to cockle or bubble.
• The end of the roll of paper is glued to the core and won’t advance further.
• Pieces of paper or paper powder are clogging up the cutter guide or other moving parts.
See Removing jammed paper
for full instructions on how to clear jammed paper.
Removing jammed paper
1. Open the window.
2. Switch the printer off at the front.
3. If necessary, carefully move the printhead carriage out of the way—if possible all the way to the enclosed area
on the left or the right. Which way you are able to move it depends on where the paper is jammed.
CAUTION: When moving the printhead carriage, touch only the black plastic parts.
4. If necessary, carefully move the paper cutter out of the way to the left,
or to the right depending on where the paper is jammed (though if
moved right it may block the paper path).
CAUTION: The cutter is easily moved by holding it as close as
Slider bar
Guide
possible to the guide running across the width of the
printer. Be careful not to touch the metal slider bar that
runs across the printer.
5. If necessary, lift the blue paper lever, to release any trapped paper.
Remember to lower it again when you have finished.
6. Carefully remove any of the jammed paper which you can easily lift up and out from the top of the printer.
7. Carefully pull the rest of the roll or sheet down and out of the printer. You may need to cut the edge of the roll
with scissors.
8. Check that the printing zone, including the cutter guide, the paper path, and the area where the printhead
carriage is parked, is clear and clean; remove any paper powder by brushing it away or with a vacuum
cleaner.
CAUTION: The area where the printhead carriage is parked can get quite dirty; be careful not to get ink on
your hands.
9. Close the window and switch on the printer.
10. Wait for the printer to finish initializing.
11. Press the Form Feed and Cut key on the front panel to eject any small pieces of paper that are still in the
paper path.
12. Reload the paper as normal (see Loading roll paper
or Loading sheet paper). If you are using roll paper you
may need to trim the edge first, to ensure that it is straight.
NOTE: If there is still paper left in the paper path, try loading a sheet of stiff or rigid paper into the
printer, such as heavyweight coated or matte film; this will help to force out any paper jammed
in the paper path.
13. If the cutter seems to be causing the problem, check in Paper types
that the type of paper is supported by the
printer. Try disabling the cutter from the front panel; use → Cutter → Off.
You are strongly recommended to align the printheads (see Printhead alignment
) after clearing a paper jam, as
the problem may have caused the printheads to be misaligned.
Ink marks on the paper
• Warped lines
• Blurred lines (ink “bleeds” from lines)
• Marks or scratches on glossy paper after printing
• Smears or scratching on your printed paper
Warped lines
• The paper itself may be warped. This can happen if it has been used or not been stored in the correct
environmental conditions.
• For all environmental specifications, see Environmental specifications
.
Blurred lines (ink “bleeds” from lines)
• Perhaps you have adjusted the drying time in the front-panel menu to speed up the printer output. Set “Drying
time” to “Automatic”.
For details of drying time adjustments, see Ink system
.
Marks or scratches on glossy paper after printing
Glossy paper may be extremely sensitive to the bin or anything that it comes into contact with directly after
printing. This will depend on the amount of ink printed and the environmental conditions that are present at the
time of printing. Avoid any contact with the paper and handle the print with care until quite some time has elapsed.
NOTE: Included with HP papers is a book “Printer Tips” that includes a section on troubleshooting
paper problems.
Smears or scratching on your printed paper
This problem can appear on paper-based coated paper if a lot of ink is printed quickly. The paper cannot absorb
the ink quickly enough and becomes distorted. As the printheads move over the paper, the printheads and the
paper come into contact with each other and the printed image is smeared.
1. Press the Cancel key on the front panel; if you continue to print, the paper may damage the printheads.
2. Cancel the print job from your computer application.
3. In order to obtain better results perform the following:
• Use HP recommended paper. If the image you are printing has intense color, use HP Heavy Coated Paper.
• Try to increase the print margins by relocating the image in the page from your software applications.
If the above fails to solve the problem of smears and scratching, change the paper type you are using to a nonpaper-based material such as HP Clear Film.
Paper loading problems
The front panel keeps indicating that paper is misaligned or incorrectly positioned.
Roll paper
• The roll paper may be loaded the wrong way. The paper should load over the roll towards you, see Loading
roll paper.
• The paper may be skewed. The right-hand edge must be parallel to the blue line on the front paper deflector.
• Ensure that the paper is wrapped tightly on the roll.
• Check that the paper is correctly loaded onto the spindle, see Installing a new roll on the printer
Sheet paper
• The sheet must be loaded with the right-hand edge against the blue line on the printer platen and the front
edge against the blue line just after the pinch rollers, see Loading sheet paper
• The paper may be crumpled or warped or may have irregular edges.
• If you are using hand-cut paper, the edges may not form a right angle or they may be rough. Do not use handcut paper. Use only purchased sheet paper.
• If the paper is curled with the curl up it will be very difficult to load. It is easier to load it with the curl down
.
.
Paper output problems
Prints fall on the floor after being cut
• Make sure the paper bin is open.
• Do not let more than twenty prints accumulate in the bin.
• Make sure roll paper is loaded correctly. If the paper is loaded incorrectly, the natural curl of the paper may
cause it to miss the bin and fall to the floor.
Prints do not stack properly in the paper bin
• The printer may be too close to the end of the roll. The natural curl near the end of the roll can cause stacking
problems. Load a new roll or remove prints manually as they are completed.
• If you are mixing prints or nesting sets of several different sizes, you may have stacking problems because of
the different sizes of paper in the bin.
Image error
• Image is incomplete
Details the actions to take when the print is: blank, partial, or has suffered clipping.
• Printed image incorrect
Explains why the image is:
- In one portion of the printing area
- Unexpectedly rotated
- Mirrored
- Distorted or unintelligible
- Overlaid with another image
- Does not obey Page Format and Rotate commands
• Other sources of information
Lists others sources of information for image problems.
Image is incomplete
• Output contains only a partial print
• Image is clipped
• Long-axis print is clipped
Output contains only a partial print
• Did you press Cancel or Form Feed and Cut before all the data was received by the printer?
If so, you have ended the data transmission and will have to print the page again (you normally don’t need to
press Form Feed and Cut to unload the print).
• The I/O Setup > I/O Timeout setting may be too short. From the front-panel menu you can increase the
I/O Timeout setting to a longer period and then send the print again.
• The file may be too large for the printer’s memory.
Select Send Job as a Bitmap in the driver’s Troubleshooting menu (Services tab). This may slow down print
speed.
Memory
• There may be a communications problem between your computer and the printer.
Check your interface cable.
• Check to make sure that your software settings are correct for your current page size (for example, long-axis
prints).
Alternatively, you can install extra memory on the HP-GL/2 Accessory Card in your printer, see
.
Image is clipped
• This normally indicates a discrepancy between the actual printing area on the loaded paper and the printing
area as understood by your software. For general advice on printing areas and page size, see Printable area
• Check the actual printing area for the paper size you have loaded (printing area = paper size – margins). For
paper size and margins, see Printable area
.
• Check what your software understands to be the printing area (which it may call “printable area” or “imagable
area”). For example, some software applications assume standard printing areas that are larger than those
used in this printer.
• You may have asked to rotate the page from portrait to landscape on paper that is not wide enough, for
example a D/A1-size page rotated on a D/A1-size roll.
• If necessary, change the printing area in your software.
• The file may be too large for the printer’s memory.
Select Send Job as a Bitmap in the driver’s Troubleshooting menu (Services tab). This may slow down print
speed.
Memory
Alternatively, you can install extra memory on the HP-GL/2 Accessory Card in your printer, see
.
Long-axis print is clipped
• Does your software support long-axis prints?
• Have you specified an appropriate paper size in your software?
• There may not be sufficient memory.
Select Send Job as a Bitmap in the driver’s Troubleshooting menu (Services tab). This may slow down print
speed.
Memory
Alternatively, you can install extra memory on the HP-GL/2 Accessory Card in your printer, see
.
.
Printed image incorrect
• Image is in one portion of the printing area
• Print is distorted or unintelligible
• One image overlays another on the same sheet
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