hp photosmart 1215/1218 knowledge printed on recycled paper printed in U.S. 9/00 www.hp.
© Copyright 2000 Hewlett-Packard Company All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated to another language without the prior written consent of Hewlett-Packard Company. The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
Contents Chapter 1 Getting started..................................................................................................................................1 Unpacking your printer ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Other items you will need .............................................................................................................................................
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Chapter 2 Getting to know your printer........................................................................................................... 17 Adjusting printer settings ..................................................................................................................................................17 Printing a test page ................................................................................................................
Contents Chapter 4 Printing from a computer................................................................................................................ 39 Printing from your Windows PC ...........................................................................................................................................40 Selecting the printer Properties ....................................................................................................................................
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Chapter 7 Troubleshooting.............................................................................................................................. 73 Software solutions ......................................................................................................................................................74 Hardware solutions ..................................................................................................................
Chapter 1 Getting started Thank you for purchasing an HP PhotoSmart 1215/1218 color printer! Your new printer prints everything from laser quality black and white text documents to color photos. Before you get started, be sure to set up your printer—see the Quick Start poster included in the box. If you need more information about setting up your new printer, see “Connecting and upgrading your printer” on page 109.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Unpacking your printer Before you begin, check to be sure you have the following: Quick Start poster h tos cin Ma Win ws do Printer Documentation Power cord Two-Sided Printing Module (model 1215 optional accessory, included with model 1218) 2 Software on CD-ROM Color print cartridge Black print cartridge www.hp.
Other items you will need Other items you will need Depending on how you are using the printer, you will need additional items (listed below). Parallel cable Cables To connect the printer to a computer, you need a bidirectional IEEE 1284-compliant parallel cable or a USB cable. These cables are available where you purchased your printer or at most computer supply stores, and must be purchased separately.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Printer parts Top cover Open this cover to change print cartridges Photo tray Place 4 x 6 in (102 x 152 mm) photo paper or hagaki paper (for Japan only) in this tray for printing Slider Move this slider to engage or disengage the photo tray LCD Read this window for information about the status of your printer Single envelope slot Place a single envelope in this tray for printing SmartMedia memory card slot Insert a SmartMedia memory card into the slot
Printer parts Power cord connection Connect the power cable (included in the box) here Parallel port Use this port to connect the printer to the computer if you are using a bi-directional IEEE 1284-compliant parallel cable Rear access door Remove this door to install the Two-Sided Printing Module or to clear a paper jam Note: Two-Sided Printing Module (model 1215 optional accessory, included with model 1218) Install this module to enable the printer to automatically print on the second side of a piece o
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Front panel Copies Use this button to select the number of copies you want to print Choose Photos Use this button to choose which photos you want to print or save from the memory card Cancel/No Press this button to stop printing or saving, cancel a selection, or answer “no” to a question on the LCD Save Press this button to start saving selected photos from the memory card to the computer Power Press this button to turn the printer on and off Tip: 6 LC
Printer parts Reading the indicator lights SmartMedia memory card slot light On The memory card is inserted correctly Blinking The memory card in the card slot is being accessed Off There is no memory card inserted, the memory card is not inserted correctly, or the other memory card slot is in use Power light On The printer power is on Blinking The printer is busy (for example, printing or saving) Off The printer power is off Caution: CompactFlash/IBM Microdrive memory card slot light On The memory card
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Installing the Two-Sided Printing Module (optional) The Two-Sided Printing Module enables the printer to automatically print on the second side of a piece of paper. If you have an HP PhotoSmart 1218 printer, the Two-Sided Printing Module is included in the box. If you have an HP PhotoSmart 1215 printer, you can purchase the module as an accessory. For ordering information visit the HP Web site at www.hpshopping.com.
Replacing or installing print cartridges Replacing or installing print cartridges To get the best performance from your printer, we recommend using only genuine HP supplies, including genuine HP factory-filled print cartridges. Caution: Check that you are using the correct print cartridges. Use one black print cartridge (HP 51645) and one color cartridge (HP C6578). Do not refill print cartridges yourself.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Follow these steps... Replace or install print cartridges 6. (continued) Insert the print cartridge: • Insert the print cartridge into the cradle. • Close the cradle latch to “lock” the print cartridge in place. 7. Close the top cover. 8. When the LCD prompts you, load plain paper in the paper tray. If you need more information, see “Loading paper” on page 11. 9. On the front panel, press OK/Yes.
Loading paper Loading paper You can print on many different types and sizes of paper. We recommend using HP custom paper for the best output quality. For example, if you are printing a photo, be sure to print on HP Premium Plus Photo Paper for photo-quality results. HP papers can be found at most computer and office supply stores or on the Web at www.hpshopping.com. You can load a: • Stack of paper. • 4 x 6 inch (102 x 152 mm) photo paper in the printer’s photo tray. • Single envelope.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Follow these steps... Load paper in the paper tray 1. Pull out the front paper guide on the paper tray and slide the side paper guide as far to the left as it will go. 2. Place a stack of paper into the paper tray. Use the printer’s paper tray to print on many different types of paper. You can use everything from plain paper to HP Premium Inkjet Transparency Film. 12 • Load the paper print side down.
Loading paper To... Follow these steps... Load paper in the photo tray 1. On the output tray, move the slider (visible through the output tray) toward you (away from the inside of the printer) until it stops. This disengages the photo tray. Use the printer’s photo tray to print on 4 x 6 inch (102 x 152 mm) photo paper. When you use the photo tray, you can leave your regular paper in the paper tray. 2. Lift the output tray. 3. Load paper in the photo tray with the print side down.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Follow these steps... Load a stack of envelopes 1. You can print multiple envelopes using the paper tray. Pull out the front paper guide on the paper tray and slide the side paper guide as far to the left as it will go. 2. Place a stack of envelopes into the paper tray. 3. 14 • Load the envelopes against the right side of the paper tray. • Load the envelopes address side down with the flaps on the left.
Loading paper To... Follow these steps... Load index cards and other small media 1. Pull out the paper tray. 2. Lift the output tray. 3. Pull out the front paper guide on the paper tray and slide the side paper guide as far to the left as it will go. Use the printer’s paper tray to print on small media. 4. www.hp.com/photosmart Load paper in the paper tray with the print side down. 5. Adjust the side and fine-length paper guides to fit close to the edges of the paper, without bending them.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide 16 www.hp.
Chapter 2 Getting to know your printer Adjusting printer settings You can use the Tools button on the printer’s front panel to print a test page or adjust the printer’s settings. Note: An asterisk (*) on the LCD indicates the current setting. LCD OK/Yes button Printing a test page You can print a test page to check your print cartridges and make sure the paper is loaded correctly. Tools button To print a test page: 1. Make sure plain paper is loaded in the paper tray.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Follow these steps... Manually adjust the paper size 1. On the printer front panel, press Tools until the LCD asks if you want to select paper settings, then press OK/Yes. 2. Press the right side of the Tools button to select Manually set. 3. Press OK/Yes. Each time you print, the LCD will ask you to select the paper size and paper type (Plain Paper or Photo Paper).
Adjusting printer settings Page layout The page layout specifies how the printer positions photos on the page. You can choose: • Photo Album – Select this option if you want to print photos using • Paper Saver – Select this option if you want to fit as many photos the orientation setting from the digital camera. The printer orients the page to fit as many photos as possible. For example, if your photos are all landscape, the page will print landscape.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Photo cropping The printer automatically crops a photo to the photo size you selected. For example, if you selected a 4 x 6 inch photo size, the printer will crop the photo to that size by measuring from the center of the photo. This is called Standard Crop. If you want to print the entire photo, select Full Image. To select the full image: 1.
Adjusting printer settings Photo brightness If you want your photos to print lighter or darker than the originals, adjust the photo brightness. To adjust the photo brightness: 1. On the printer front panel, press Tools until the LCD asks if you want to adjust the photo brightness, then press OK/Yes. 2. Press the right side of the Tools button to lighten your photos or the left side of the Tools button to darken your photos. 3. Press OK/Yes. www.hp.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Photo color In addition to color, you can set the printer to print photos in Black & White, Sepia, or Antique. Photos printed in Sepia print in brown tones and look similar to photos produced in the early 1900s. Photos printed in Antique print in the same brown tones as Sepia but with some pale colors added to give the appearance that they are hand colored. 1.
Adjusting printer settings Factory default settings You can reset the printer to the original factory settings. To use the factory settings: 1. On the printer front panel, press Tools until the LCD asks if you want to reset all the tools settings. 2. Press OK/Yes. The factory settings are as follows: • No default paper type or size (the printer automatically detects paper type and size) • Photo Album page layout. • Middle photo brightness setting. • Standard crop. • Photos print in color.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Understanding memory cards If your digital camera uses a memory card to store photos, you can insert the memory card into the printer to print or save your photos. The printer steps you through the process. For more information on how to print files from a memory card, see “Printing from a memory card” on page 30. For more information on how to save files from a memory card to your computer, see “Chapter 5 Saving photos” on page 61.
Understanding memory cards Caution: Do not pull out the memory card while the LCD screen says Reading or while the light is blinking. This may damage the printer, the memory card, or the information on the memory card. To... Follow these steps... Insert a CompactFlash or IBM Microdrive memory card • Insert the memory card into the bottom card slot so the front of the card faces away from you and the edge with pin-holes is placed into the printer first.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Insert a SmartMedia memory card Follow these steps... • Insert the memory card into the top card slot so the front of the card (the gold side) faces toward you and the top of the card (the edge with the notch) is placed into the printer first. SmartMedia 26 www.hp.
Understanding infrared Understanding infrared The printer includes an infrared (IR) port that can access and print information sent to it by another infrared device. If you have a device with infrared capability, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), laptop computer, cell phone, or digital camera, you can transfer files directly from your infrared device to the printer for fast wireless printing. The printer communicates with devices that use HP JetSend, OBEX or IrLPT.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Tips for using infrared • When positioning the infrared device for sending a photo or document, be sure there is a clear line of sight between the infrared device and the printer’s infrared port. If something is blocking the way, the infrared device and printer will not be able to communicate and the photo or document will not be transferred.
Chapter 3 Printing directly from the printer Your HP PhotoSmart 1215/1218 printer allows you to print directly from a memory card or using infrared without being connected to a computer. You can choose photos on a memory card from the front panel of the printer or send a file or photos from an infrared (IR) device. The printer gives you great printing results automatically by using an optical sensor to detect paper type and size and select the ideal print mode for most popular papers and films.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Printing from a memory card Printing directly from a memory card is as easy as: inserting the memory card into the printer, choosing the photos you want to print, and pressing Print. Choose Photos button Print button Deciding which photos to print When you are deciding which photos to print, you can use: • A printed index page to see all the photos stored on the memory card (recommended). Camera LCD • Your digital camera to view photo thumbnails.
Printing from a memory card Printing an index page An index page, which may be several pages long, shows thumbnail views of all the photos stored on the memory card. The file name, date and index number appear under each thumbnail. Use the index number to select photos to print. This number may be different from the number associated with the photo on your digital camera. If you add photos to, or delete photos from, your memory card, you will need to reprint the index page to see the new index numbers.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Choosing photos on the printer’s front panel Once you have decided which photos to print, choose the corresponding index numbers on the printer’s front panel. You can choose: • All the photos on the memory card. • Just selected photos. • More than one copy of a selected photo. • A continuous range of photos, such as photos 1–10. • A Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) file.
Printing from a memory card To... Follow these steps... Choose individual photos 1. Press Choose Photos until the printer’s LCD displays the index number of a photo you want to choose. 2. Press OK/Yes. The LCD displays a space where you can choose another photo. Space for selecting another photo # 3, 6, _ 3. To choose additional photos, press Choose Photos again until the LCD displays the index number of another photo you want to choose, then press OK/Yes.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Follow these steps... Select a DPOF file 1. Select the photos you want to use by creating a DPOF file on your digital camera. The settings you can specify (such as number of copies) are specific to your camera. See your digital camera documentation for details on how to create a DPOF file. 2. Insert the memory card into the printer. The printer automatically recognizes the DPOF file on the memory card and asks if you want to use the file. 3.
Printing from a memory card Printing photos Use the printer’s front panel to print photos from a memory card. Note that the layout of your photos (how they are placed on the page) depends on several factors: • Photo size. • Orientation (selected on your digital camera if it has this option). • Order in which you choose the photos. • Photo Album vs. Paper Saver setting. See “Page layout” on page 19 if you need more information. To... Follow these steps...
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Printing files using infrared (IR) If you have a device with infrared capability, such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), laptop computer, cell phone, or digital camera, you can transfer files directly to the printer for fast wireless printing. If you need more information on what IR is, see “Understanding infrared” on page 27. There are three ways to print using IR: • Automatic detects the type of file you are sending. This is the default setting.
Printing files using infrared (IR) To... Follow these steps... Print a document 1. Set the printer to receive a document: press Tools until the LCD asks if you want to select the default IR type, then press OK/Yes. Press Tools again to select Document, then press OK/Yes. 2. Using your IR device, select the file you want to print. See your device’s documentation if you need more information on selecting files. 3. Aim your device’s IR port toward the IR port on the printer and send the file. 4.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide 38 www.hp.
Chapter 4 Printing from a computer Your HP PhotoSmart 1215/1218 printer allows you to print documents and projects (such as photo album pages, greeting cards, iron-on transfers or newsletters) from a Windows PC or Macintosh. www.hp.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Printing from your Windows PC To print from your Windows PC: 1. From your software application’s File menu, select Print. Your software application’s Print dialog box displays. Note: 2. Select the print settings: • Make sure the HP PhotoSmart 1215 or 1218 Series printer is the selected printer. • Select the pages you want to print. • Select the number of copies. Note: 3. The Print dialog box is different for each software application.
Printing from your Windows PC Selecting the printer Properties Use the printer Properties to create customized high-quality prints. Note: Each tab in the printer Properties contains a Factory Settings button. Click this button to return all of the settings on the tab to the factory defaults. Setup – Use the Setup tab to change page settings such as paper type, paper size and print quality.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Follow these steps... Use the Warning Message Indicator The outline color of the HP PhotoSmart Taskbar icon indicates whether or not there are print cartridge warning messages.
Printing from your Windows PC To... Follow these steps... Open the default print settings dialog box 1. Open the Default Print Settings dialog box. • Click the HP PhotoSmart Taskbar icon. OR • Right-click the HP PhotoSmart Taskbar icon, then select Change Default Print Settings. The Default Print Settings dialog box displays. You can use this dialog to change the default print quality and to turn on Automatic Two-Sided Printing.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Follow these steps... Display print cartridge warning messages 1. Click the HP PhotoSmart Taskbar icon to open the Default Print Settings dialog box. 2. At the bottom of the dialog box, click the Warning Information button. The HP PhotoSmart Toolbox displays. The Warning Information tab displays any warning messages for your printer. Open the printer Properties dialog box 3.
Printing from your Windows PC To... Follow these steps... Access the printer settings using the Taskbar icon shortcuts 1. www.hp.com/photosmart Right-click the HP PhotoSmart Taskbar icon. The shortcut menu displays the names of most installed printers. A check mark appears next to the selected printer. 2. If you want to use a different printer, select the printer from the menu. 3. Choose one of the following: • Change Default Print Settings to display the Default Print Settings dialog box.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Using the HP Photo Printing software If you have the HP Photo Printing software (Windows PC only) you can use the following information to get started. If you need more information, see the online help. To view the online help: from the Help menu, choose Contents and Index, then choose a topic from one of the three tabs, Contents, Index or Find. To... Follow these steps... Start the software 1.
Printing from your Windows PC To... Follow these steps... Create an album page You can create and print album pages by selecting one or more images and displaying them in different sizes and orientations. 1. Start the HP Photo Printing software. 2. Open files or acquire images to use in your album page. To open files: • Click Open Files, select a photo, and click Open. The images you select appear in the gallery (left side of the window). To select additional images, repeat these steps. 3. 4. 5.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Follow these steps... Make reprints of your photos You can make reprints of your photos in standard sizes, ranging from 8 x 10 inch to passport size. 1. Start the HP Photo Printing software. 2. Open files or acquire images. 3. Create reprints: • Click Prints. • Select the layout and paper size of your page. • Click OK. The template appears in the print preview section of the window. 48 4.
Printing from your Windows PC Adjusting your images As you are working with your images, in either the gallery or a template, you can adjust the quality of your images. Adjust image Delete Rotate right Rotate left First, select the image in the gallery or in the album or reprints page. • To adjust the image in the gallery, click on the tools at the corners of the image. • To adjust the image in the album or reprints page, double-click the image. To... Follow these steps... Adjust the exposure 1.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Follow these steps... Scale your image 1. Click Scaling. 2. Click on the arrow to select the scaling percentage. OR Type in the width and height in pixels to customize the scaling. Adjust the sharpness 50 1. Click Sharpness. 2. Drag the button on the Sharpness control to sharpen or soften the image. • Close each dialog when you have finished adjusting the image. • Click Accept to save the changes. www.hp.
Printing from your Macintosh Printing from your Macintosh You can print documents from a software application or directly from the desktop. To... Follow these steps... Print from a software application 1. 2. From your software’s File menu, select Page Setup, then select the appropriate Page Attributes. From your software’s File menu, select Print. The Print dialog box displays. 3. 4. Select the General print settings: • Select the pages you want to print. • Select the number of copies.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Follow these steps... Print from the desktop 1. Select the document or documents you want to print. 2. Drag the document icons to the HP PhotoSmart printer icon on the desktop. The Print dialog displays. 3. 4. Select the General print settings: • Select the pages you want to print. • Select the number of copies. Select the specific print settings appropriate for your project: • 5.
Printing from your Macintosh Using the Print dialog box Use the Print dialog box to create customized high-quality prints. General – Use the General panel to specify settings such as the number of copies to print and the printing sequence. Paper Type/Quality – Use the Paper Type/Quality panel to change page settings such as paper type, paper size, and print quality. You can also adjust the ink density and dry time.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Two-sided printing When you are printing from your computer and you want to print on both sides of a sheet of paper, use two-sided printing. If you are using the Two-Sided Printing Module, you can set up your computer to automatically print on the second side of a piece of paper. For a list of supported paper types, visit the Web at www.hp.com/photosmart.
Two-sided printing Two-sided printing from your Windows PC Setting up the HP PhotoSmart printer software for two-sided printing Before you use the Two-Sided Printing Module for the first time, you need to set up the printer software for automatic two-sided printing. Note: You only need to set up the printer software once. To set up the HP PhotoSmart printer software: 1.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Where you find these settings depends on the software application you are using. You may need to click a Setup button. 4. Click the Properties button. The printer Properties dialog box displays. 5. Select the Setup tab and select the print quality, paper type and paper size. 6. Select the Features tab, choose the paper orientation (Portrait or Landscape), then choose Two-Sided Printing.
Two-sided printing 10. If your document contains a lot of color, you may want to increase the dry time for the first side of the page. • Select the Advanced tab. • In the Extra Dry Time area, click and drag the slider to the right to increase the dry time. Click and drag the slider to the left to decrease the dry time. 11. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box, then click OK again to begin printing your document.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Two-sided printing from your Macintosh Setting up the HP PhotoSmart printer software for two-sided printing Before you use the Two-Sided Printing Module for the first time, you need to set up the printer software for automatic two-sided printing. Note: You only need to set up the printer software once. To set up the HP PhotoSmart printer software: 1. From the Apple menu, select Chooser. 2.
Two-sided printing 5. Select Print Both Sides. The HP PhotoSmart 1215/1218 printer software may have to increase the margin at the top of the page when automatically printing on both sides of a sheet of paper. This results in adding more pages to your document or reducing the size of content to fit. To print the page with the top margin the same on each side, you can: • Print the second side by manually feeding the paper back into the printer, rather than using the Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Manually reloading paper to print the second side 1. Click the drop down menu to select Layout. 2. Select Print Both Sides. 3. Select a binding option: • Book – if you want to bind your document on the left (like a book). OR • 60 Tablet – if you want to bind your document along the top (like a calendar). 4. Select Manual. 5. Click OK. 6. When the first side of your document finishes printing, remove the paper from the output tray. 7.
Chapter 5 Saving photos Your printer allows you to save directly from a memory card to your computer. Saving from a memory card Saving directly from a memory card is as easy as: inserting the memory card into the printer, choosing the photos you want to save, and pressing Save. For more information on inserting the memory card, see “Inserting a memory card” on page 24. For more information on: • Deciding which photos to save, see “Deciding which photos to print” on page 30.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Saving photos from a memory card to your Windows PC You can save photos directly from your memory card to your Windows PC. You can use the HP PhotoSmart Save Utility or you can use Windows Explorer or My Computer to drag and drop files from the memory card to a location on your computer’s hard drive. To save photos from a memory card: 1. Choose the photos you want to save.
Saving photos from a memory card to your Windows PC 3. 4. If you want to save your photos in a different location: • Click and select the location. • De-select In new sub-folder if you do not want to create a sub-folder. If you leave this option selected, a new folder will be created within the folder you chose in the Save my photos to field. Click Start.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Saving photos from a memory card to your Macintosh You can save photos directly from a memory card to your Macintosh. You can use the HP PhotoSmart Photo Saver or you can use Finder to drag and drop files from the memory card to a location on your computer’s hard drive. To save photos from a memory card: 1. Choose the photos you want to save. If you need more information, see “Choosing photos on the printer’s front panel” on page 32. Note: 2.
Saving photos from a memory card to your Macintosh To save non-photo files: • If you want to save all files, including non-photo files (such as audio files), from a memory card using the front panel, choose ALL PHOTOS when you are selecting the photos you want to save. The non-photo files are automatically saved along with the photo files. If you need more information on how to select photos using the front panel, see “Choosing photos on the printer’s front panel” on page 32.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide 66 www.hp.
Chapter 6 Care and maintenance The printer requires very little maintenance. You can use the HP PhotoSmart 1215/1218 Toolbox to help take care of your printer. Be sure to keep the print cartridges fresh (don’t let them sit unused for long periods of time) and keep the printer clean and in good condition. Using the HP PhotoSmart Toolbox (Windows PC) Use the HP PhotoSmart Toolbox to calibrate and clean your printer, and to print a test page.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Open the Toolbox using a Windows PC Follow these steps... • From the Windows Start menu, select Programs, HP PhotoSmart 1215/1218 Series, HP PhotoSmart 1215/1218 Series Toolbox. OR • From the printer Properties, select the Services tab, then click Open the HP PhotoSmart Toolbox. 68 www.hp.
Using the HP PhotoSmart Utility (Macintosh) Using the HP PhotoSmart Utility (Macintosh) Use the HP PhotoSmart Utility to calibrate and clean your printer, and to print a test page. Open the Utility from the Utilities folder on your hard drive. Use the Utility to: • Select the printer. • Print a WOW! sample page to see the printer’s photo print quality. • Check the ink level of the print cartridges.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Cleaning the printer Materials you will need Before you begin, make sure you have the following: • Cotton swabs or any soft material that will not leave fibers. • Distilled, filtered, or bottled water. • Paper to set the print cartridges on while you are cleaning. Cleaning the print cartridges If you notice white lines or single-color streaks on your prints, the print cartridges may need to be cleaned.
Cleaning the printer To clean the print cartridges manually: 1. Remove the print cartridges. If you need more information, see “Replacing or installing print cartridges” on page 9. Note: 2. Grasp one of the print cartridges by the top. Note: 3. To keep the ink from drying out, make sure you replace the print cartridges in the printer within thirty minutes. Be careful not to get ink on your hands or clothing. Dip a clean cotton swab into distilled water and squeeze any excess water from the swab. 4.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Cleaning the print cartridge cradle If you notice vertical streaks or lines on your prints, the print cartridge cradles may need to be cleaned. Note: Be careful not to get ink on your hands or clothing. To clean the print cartridge cradles: 1. Remove the print cartridges. If you need more information, see “Replacing or installing print cartridges” on page 9.
Chapter 7 Troubleshooting The printer is designed to be reliable and easy to use. The following pages offer tips and advice for addressing frequently asked questions. Before you begin, make sure: • All the cable connections between your printer and computer are secure. • You are using the correct cable for your operating system—a parallel or a USB cable. If you need more information about using the correct cable, see the Appendix.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Software solutions Problem Possible cause Solution I inserted the printer software CD, but the computer could not read it. The CD was not properly installed. 1. Reinsert the CD and try again. 2. Try inserting a CD that you know works. If that CD does not work, you may need to service your CD player. 3. If other CDs work but the printer software CD does not, you may have a damaged CD.
Troubleshooting Problem Possible cause Solution The software did not install correctly. There may be a conflict with your virus protection program. Macintosh OR You need to uninstall the printer software for any reason. www.hp.com/photosmart There may be a conflict with another software program. There may be a conflict with a peripheral device connected to the printer. 1. Uninstall your printer software.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Problem Possible cause Solution The binding margin appears in the wrong place. You may not have chosen the correct paper orientation. Windows PC • Make sure you have chosen the correct paper orientation for Two-Sided Printing, either Book or Tablet, on the Features tab of Printer Properties. Macintosh • Automatic is set as the paper type, but the printer does not use the optimal print mode. The paper may be marked, scratched, or wrinkled.
Troubleshooting Hardware solutions Problem Possible cause My printer is connected with a USB cable through another USB device or a hub and when I try to print I get a message saying “There was an error writing to .” Your printer may not be getting good data from the other device or hub. I've connected my printer using a USB cable, and when I try to print I get a message saying “There was an error writing to Dot4.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Problem Possible cause Solution When I connect a USB cable between the printer and my computer, the “New Hardware Wizard” message does not appear. You may not be using Windows 98, 2000, or Me. Make sure your computer’s operating system is Windows 98, 2000, or Me and that your computer is connected using a USB cable. If you do not have Windows 98, 2000, or Me, you need to use a parallel cable.
Troubleshooting Problem Possible cause Solution When I connected a USB cable between the printer and my computer, the “New Hardware Wizard” message appeared once, but the printer did not install. Now the “New Hardware Wizard” will not appear again. Installation was not completed, it was canceled, or there was an error. 1. 2. (Windows PC only) When I connect a USB cable between the printer and my computer, an “Unknown device” message appears. (Windows PC only) www.hp.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Problem Possible cause Solution The printing is very slow. Your computer may have less than the recommended system requirements. Check the amount of RAM (memory) and Processor speed in your computer. See the Appendix for system requirements. Too many software programs may be running at the same time. Close all unnecessary software programs. You may be using outdated printer software. Check the printer driver you are using.
Troubleshooting Problem Possible cause Solution The printing is very slow. You may have chosen 2400 x 1200 dpi. Windows PC You may be trying to print a photo. You may be using a USB cable and other USB devices are in use. The Paper Type option may be set to Automatic. • In Printer Properties, in Photo Paper Printing, select PhotoREt instead of 2400 x 1200 dpi, then print your document again. Macintosh 1. On the Paper Type/Quality panel, select Best quality instead of High Resolution Photo. 2.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Problem Possible cause Solution The printer will not turn on. The printer may have drawn too much power. Disconnect the printer from the power cord for approximately 10 seconds. Reconnect the power cord and press the Power button to turn on the printer. The power light is blinking. The printer may be processing information. Be patient. The printer needs some time to finish processing the information. The attention light is blinking.
Troubleshooting Printing solutions Problem Possible cause Solution No page came out of the printer. The printer needs attention. Read the printer LCD for instructions. Power may be off or there may be a loose connection. 1. Make sure the power is on. 2. Make sure that all cable connections are secure. You may not have any paper in the paper tray. Check that paper is placed in the paper tray correctly. The printer’s top cover may be open. Close the printer’s top cover.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Problem Possible cause Solution No page came out of the printer. There may be a paper jam. 1. Check the printer’s LCD for any instructions. 2. Pull the paper out of either the paper tray or the output tray. (continued on next page) • 3. If you were printing labels, make sure a label did not become unglued from the label sheet while going through the printer. If the paper jam has cleared, print your document again.
Troubleshooting Problem Possible cause Solution No page came out of the printer. There may be a paper jam in the Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module. 1. Turn your printer off. 2. Press the button on top of the Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module and lower the access door. 3. Gently pull the jammed paper out of the Module, then close the access door. 4. Turn your printer back on. 5. Print your document again.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide 86 Problem Possible cause Solution A blank page came out of the printer. You may be out of ink. Replace the print cartridge. You may have forgotten to remove the vinyl tape from the print cartridge. Make sure you have removed the protective piece of vinyl tape on each of the print cartridges. You may be trying to print a fax. 1. Save the fax in a graphic format, such as tiff. 2. Place it in a word processing document and print it from there.
Troubleshooting Problem Possible cause Solution Parts of the document are missing or are in the wrong place. You may have selected the wrong paper orientation. Windows PC (continued on next page) • Make sure you have selected the correct orientation (portrait or landscape) on the Features tab of Printer Properties. Macintosh • You may have selected the wrong paper size. Make sure you have selected the correct orientation (portrait or landscape) on the Page Setup dialog.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Problem Possible cause Solution Parts of the document are missing or are in the wrong place. You may have incorrectly scaled text or graphics. Windows PC • Make sure text or graphics are scaled correctly using Scale to Fit on the Setup tab. Macintosh • Print quality is poor. (continued on next page) You may be running out of ink. Make sure text and graphics are scaled correctly in your document.
Troubleshooting Problem Possible cause Solution Print quality is poor. You may not have selected the correct paper type in the printer software. Windows PC (continued on next page) • Make sure you have selected the correct paper type on the Setup tab of Printer Properties. Macintosh • Make sure you have selected the correct paper type on the Paper Type/Quality panel. You may need to clean the print cartridges. See “Cleaning the print cartridges” on page 70.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Problem Possible cause Solution Print quality is poor. If you have smearing, you may be using too much ink. Windows PC 1. Click Normal or Draft instead of Best on the Setup tab. 2. Reduce the amount of ink by going to the Advanced tab and using the Ink Volume slider. 3. Increase the dry time by going to the Advanced tab and using the Dry Time slider. Macintosh 90 1. Click Normal or Draft instead of Best on the Paper Type/ Quality panel. 2.
Troubleshooting Problem Possible cause Solution Photos are not printing correctly. You may not have inserted the photo paper correctly. Insert the photo paper print side down. (continued on next page) The photo paper may not be fully engaged. 1. Insert the photo paper as far as it will go into the paper tray. 2. Make sure that the paper guides rest snugly against the photo paper. See “Loading paper” on page 11 for more information.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Problem Possible cause Solution Photos are not printing correctly. You may not have selected Best print quality. Windows PC 1. In the Printer Properties, select the Setup tab. 2. Select Best print quality. Macintosh 1. In the Print dialog, select the Paper Type/Quality panel. 2. Select Best print quality. Banners are not printing correctly. You may have forgotten to raise the output tray. Make sure that the output tray is up.
Troubleshooting Problem Possible cause Banners are not printing correctly. You may have problems with the banner paper. The print quality is different if the paper type is set to Automatic rather than the specific paper type. Automatic is set as the paper type, but when preparing to print, the printer ejects the paper. www.hp.com/photosmart Solution • If several sheets feed into the printer together, unfold and refold the paper.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Automatic two-sided printing solutions Problem Possible cause Solution Windows PC The Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module is not enabled in the Toolbox. 1. Go to the Configuration tab of the HP PhotoSmart Toolbox. 2. Check Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module and click Apply. 3. Go to the Features tab of the Printer Properties dialog. 4. Select Two-Sided Printing. 5. Choose a content size option and click OK. 6.
Troubleshooting Problem Possible cause Solution Macintosh You may have selected an unsupported paper type or size in the Layout panel of the Print dialog. On the Layout panel in the Print dialog, make sure you have selected a paper type and size supported by the Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module. See HP’s Web site for a list of supported paper types. The paper size selected on the Setup tab in Printer Properties is not supported by the Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide 96 Problem Possible cause Solution Automatic two-sided printing was selected, but printing is only on one side of the paper. The application you are using to print supports only manual two-sided printing. It does not support automatic two-sided printing. Print using the manual two-sided printing feature. You have Automatic selected as the paper type and are using a media type that is not supported by the Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module.
Troubleshooting Infrared (IR) solutions Problem Possible cause Solution A connection cannot be established or the transmission seems to be taking longer than usual. The device from which you are trying to print may not support HP JetSend, OBEX, or IrLPT. Refer to the IR device’s documentation to check that it uses a supported IR protocol. A connection cannot be established or the transmission seems to be taking longer than usual.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide 98 Problem Possible cause Solution The printer prints only part of a page or document. The device from which you are printing may have been moved out of range of the printer’s infrared lens. Try to realign the devices within approximately 3–30 seconds. If the print job does not resume, you must begin the printing process again. Your Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) is only able to print a single calendar appointment.
Troubleshooting Error messages LCD Message Problem Some photos are corrupted. The printer detects that one or more files specified in the job are corrupted and cannot be accessed. Some files are corrupted. Photo is too large. File is too large. Some photos are missing. Photo type is not supported. File type is not supported. Some photos are not on the card. Job was cancelled. Press OK. Some photos are not on the card. Check the DPOF file. Press OK. www.hp.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide LCD Message Problem Solution Cannot print photos. Some files specified for the print job have errors or are corrupted. If there are more than 10 errors the printer will cancel the print job. Select another file and restart the print job. Cannot print files. File directory structure is corrupted. • Use another memory card. OR • Reformat the memory card. Card access error. The printer cannot access the files on the memory card.
Troubleshooting LCD Message Problem Solution Paper size mismatch. Load correct paper size. Press OK to continue or press CANCEL to cancel the job. The paper size has changed in the middle of the job. Load the correct sized paper, and then press OK/Yes. Media scan failed. Press OK to retry or press CANCEL to cancel the job. The printer cannot detect the size of the paper in the paper tray. In the printer settings, override Automatic paper size by selecting the appropriate paper size.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide 102 LCD Message Problem Solution Memory card in backwards. The memory card was inserted backwards. See “Inserting a memory card” on page 24 for more information. Card is not fully inserted. Push card in a little more. The memory card was not inserted correctly. www.hp.
Chapter 8 Specifications, regulatory and warranty information Specifications Paper Trays 1 letter-size, 1 4 x 6 inch photo Input Capacity 100 sheets letter, 20 sheets 4 x 6 in photo, 15 envelopes, 20 banners, 30 cards, 30 transparencies, 20 sheets of labels Output Capacity 50 sheets (for Normal and Best print quality), 35 sheets (for Draft print quality) Duplex Printing Yes, automatic accessory optional with 1215, automatic accessory standard with 1218 Media Types Paper (plain, inkjet, photo, and
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Technology, Black Print Resolution REt (Resolution Enhancement Technology) Print Technology Drop on-demand thermal inkjet printing Print Cartridges 1 black, 1 color Prints Color Yes Technology, Color HP PhotoREt lll, HP ColorSmart III, HP SmartFocus, Automatic Contrast Enhancement Print languages HP PCL 3 enhanced System Requirements Windows (95, 98, Me, NT 4.
Regulatory and warranty information Japan Regulatory notices U.S.A. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Korea Canada This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Hewlett-Packard Limited Warranty Statement HP Product HP Photo Printing software HP PhotoSmart 1215/1218 color printer A. Extent of Limited Warranty Duration of Limited Warranty 90 Days 1 Year 1. Hewlett-Packard (HP) warrants to the end-user customer that the HP products specified above will be free from defects in material and workmanship for the duration specified above, which duration begins on the date of purchase by the customer. 2.
Hewlett-Packard Year 2000 Warranty for Consumer Products Distributed Through Authorized Resellers Subject to all of the terms and limitations of the HP Limited Warranty Statement provided with this HP Product, HP warrants that this HP Product will be able to accurately process date data (including, but not limited to, calculating, comparing, and sequencing) from, into, and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and the years 1999 and 2000, including leap year calculations, when used in accordance
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide 108 www.hp.
Appendix Connecting and upgrading your printer Connecting the printer to your Windows PC You can use the HP PhotoSmart printer with a Windows PC or a Macintosh. For system requirements, see the following page. Note: We recommend that you connect the printer directly to your Windows PC for the best results. Do not connect the printer to another device (such as an Iomega Zip Drive or switchbox) that is already connected to your computer.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide System requirements 110 Component Recommended Operating system Windows 95, 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000 Processor Pentium 233 MHz RAM 64–128 MB Free disk space 200–500 MB Video display 800x600, 16-bit or higher CD-ROM 4x or better www.hp.
Connecting the printer to your Windows PC Connecting the printer To... Follow these steps... Connect the printer with a parallel cable 1. Shut down Windows and turn the computer off. 2. Connect the printer to the computer, using the parallel cable you purchased. 3. Plug in the printer, using the power cord that came in the package. 4. On the printer front panel, press Power to turn on the printer. 5. Turn on the computer. 6. Install the print cartridges and load paper. 7.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide Connecting the printer to your Macintosh You will need a USB cable to connect the HP PhotoSmart printer to your computer’s USB port. This cable is available where you purchased your printer or at most computer supply stores, and must be purchased separately. System requirements 112 Component Recommended Operating system Mac OS 8.
Connecting the printer to your Macintosh Connecting the printer To... Follow these steps... Connect the printer with a USB cable Note: The computer can be ON when you connect the printer with a USB cable. 1. Connect the printer to the computer, using the USB cable you purchased. 2. Plug in the printer, using the power cord that came in the package. 3. On the printer front panel, press Power to turn the printer on. 4. Install the print cartridges and load paper. 5.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide To... Follow these steps... Set up an AppleTalk network connection 1. Make sure the computer and printer are both turned on and connected to your AppleTalk network. You will need an HP JetDirect 300X External Print Server to connect the printer to your AppleTalk network. 2. From the Apple menu, select Chooser. 3. Click the Active button next to AppleTalk. 4. In the left side of the Chooser window, click the HP PhotoSmart printer icon. 5.
Upgrading your printer Upgrading your printer Your HP PhotoSmart 1215/1218 printer is upgradable to accept future file formats. Visit www.hp.com/photosmart for any available updates. www.hp.
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide 116 www.hp.
Index A Accessories cables 3 HP paper 3 memory cards 3 Two-Sided Printing Module 8 Antique photos 22 Attention light 7 Connecting printer to a Macintosh 112, 113 to a power source 114 to a Windows PC 109 types of cables needed 3 Controls 6 Copies, printing several of one photo 33 Cropping of photos 20 F B D H Banners problems 92, 93 Black and white photos 22 Brightness of photos 21 Buttons, front panel 6 C Cables required for the printer 3 Card slots indicator lights 7 locations 4 Care and maintena
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide L Landscape orientation 87 Laptop, printing from 36 Layout Paper Saver 19 Photo Album 19 Lights, meaning of 7 Loading paper 11 M Macintosh connecting the printer 112, 113 printing from 51 saving photos from a memory card 64 system requirements 112 type of cable needed to connect to 3 Memory cards inserting 24 overview 24 printing DPOF files 32 printing photos from 30, 35 saving photos from 61 saving photos to a Macintosh 64 saving photos to a PC 62 sele
Index Printer buttons 6 care and maintenance 67 cleaning 72 connecting to a Macintosh 113 connecting to a PC 109 controls 6 front panel 17 lights 7 parts 4 properties 41 required cables 3 setting up 1 specifications 103 unpacking 2 warranty 106 Printing 39 adjusting the photo brightness 21 from a Macintosh 51 from a PC 40 index page 31 multiple copies of photos 33 number of copies 41, 53 order 41, 53 photos from a memory card 30 posters 41, 53 previewing your document 41, 53 selecting photos 32 test page 1
hp photosmart 1215/1218 color printer user’s guide W Warranty 106, 107 Windows PC connecting the printer 109 HP Photo Printing software 46 printing from 40 saving photos from a memory card 62 system requirements 110 type of cable needed to connect to 3 Wireless printing via infrared 36 Y Year 2000 warranty 107 120 www.hp.
