User Manual
Clean the printhead from the HP Utility
1. Make sure there is paper in the input tray or a roll loaded.
2. Windows: In the Support tab of the HP Utility, click Printhead Cleaning, and follow the instructions on the
screen.
3. Mac OS X: In the Information and Print Quality tab of the HP Utility, click Clean Printhead, and follow the
instructions on the screen.
Align the printhead
Precise printhead alignment is essential for accurate colors, smooth color transitions, and sharp edges in
graphical elements. Your printer has an automatic printhead alignment process which runs whenever a printhead
has been accessed or replaced.
You may need to align the printhead after a paper jam or if you are experiencing print-quality problems.
1. Load the paper you wish to use, see Paper handling on page 28. You can use a roll or a cut sheet; plain
white paper is recommended.
CAUTION: Do not use transparent or semi-transparent paper to align the printhead.
2. Ensure that the window is closed, as a strong light source near the printer during printhead realignment can
aect alignment.
3. From the front panel, tap , then Image Quality Maintenance > Align printhead.
NOTE: Printhead alignment can also be started from the Embedded Web Server (Tools > Print Quality
Toolbox > Align Printhead), or from the HP Utility (Windows: Support > Printhead Alignment; Mac OS X:
Information and Print Quality > Align).
4. If the loaded paper is satisfactory, the printer runs the realignment and prints a realignment pattern.
5. The process takes about ve minutes. Wait until the front-panel display shows the process complete before
using the printer.
If the printer cannot complete the printhead alignment successfully, you may be asked to clean the printhead and
try again.
Replace the printhead
TIP: When the printhead has been replaced, the printer will automatically perform a printhead alignment on
the loaded paper. If you would like to perform the printhead alignment on a dierent paper (perhaps from the
multi-sheet tray), you could change the paper before starting this procedure. Plain white paper is recommended.
1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
2. If your printer is on a stand, make sure the printer wheels are locked (the brake lever is pressed down) to
prevent the printer from moving.
3. From the front panel, tap , then Image quality maintenance > Replace printhead.
70 Chapter 9 Maintaining the printer ENWW