Figure 1: Example test page created in OpenOffice.org's
Draw program. You
can download this test document here.
If you don't have OpenOffice.org, visit www.openoffice.org
to download the free application and install it. You will
need this program to open the test page.
You may generate your own test page using any paint or draw
program available on your system or use the one here.
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Tri-color Cartridge Troubleshooting
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Unsatisfactory print results or incorrect colors using color
HP or Lexmark cartridges
- Ink contamination will cause the printer to produce off-color
output.
- Contamination usually occurs when one or more colors
have been overfilled, and can occur even if overfilling
was not obvious. The overfilled color forms a small ink
drop on the print head. The sponges containing the other
colors wick the overfilled color up into their chambers.
This causes the overfilled color to combine with and contaminate
other colors.
- In some cases, contamination can be caused by failure
to sufficiently wash the needle and syringe or by accidentally
injecting the wrong color. The procedure below may not resolve
color contamination due to these errors. If these are the
cause of your color contamination, please follow the "Cartridge
Priming Procedures" here to purge your cartridge, then
refill the cartridge again, using the appropriate instructions.
- To resolve ink contamination caused by overfilling, download
the color
test page. This test page uses the color management
capabilities of a free software package called OpenOffice.org.
If you do not have OpenOffice.org installed, visit www.openoffice.org
for a free download of the latest version. OpenOffice.org
is compatible with virtually all modern operating systems.
- Print the test image repeatedly until the colors print
properly. The number of prints required depends upon the
degree of contamination.
The OpenOffice.org Draw
application is used for this color page because it allows
"pure" colors to be printed. You can create a similar test
page in any available drawing or graphics program, but your
color purity may vary.
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