HP DesignJet 500 A1 User Manual

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
OptionsIndex  Solutions
Image Quality ProblemsYo u r  HP DesignJet 500 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
 as your first diagnostic task to find the 
cause of your problem.
If a message, such as 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
OptionsIndex  Solutions
Image Quality ProblemsYo u r  HP DesignJet 500 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
 as your first diagnostic task to find the 
cause of your problem.
If a message, such as 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
OptionsIndex  Solutions
Image Quality ProblemsYo u r  HP DesignJet 500 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
 as your first diagnostic task to find 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 LinesColor AccuracyHorizontal BandingColor AlignmentWhenever 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 image quality 
problem.

.
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 media only. For details of HP media see Physical 
Characteristics of Paper Types
. You can also look at the web page http://www.hp.com/go/designJet
 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 media settings to match the media type loaded in the printer. The 
documentation that came with your software should provide information about media type/print quality 
settings.
7. If your image quality problem is color accuracy related, go to Color Accuracy
 for further 
configuration help.

 for a description of the sequence of processes used to 
complete troubleshooting procedure.
It is important that the paper loaded for this procedure is exactly that used when you encountered image 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 image quality 
problems.  If they are not aligned, you are prompted 
to accept Printhead Alignment
.  This procedure 
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.

 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 A
Ignore this
black bar

Printer checks 
whether Printhead 
Alignment is requiredPrinter recommends 
Printhead Alignment
 
(Standard or Special)
Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print A 
including black lines
Printer asks questions 
about Diagnostic 
Print A
Wrong paper advance. 
Printer recommends 
Advance Calibration
Printheads need 
cleaning. If possible 
printer tries to clean 
printheads Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print A 
without black linesIf printheads have 
been cleaned three 
time Troubleshooting 
finishes Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print B 
without black lines
Printer asks if Cyan, 
Magenta, Yellow and 
Black Patterns in 
Diagnostic Print B are 
OK
 If possible printer tries 
to clean printheads
No problems detected Start
Printheads are OK 
after first printing of 
Diagnostic Print A
Troubleshooting 
completed successfully
Ye
No
YeYe
No
No
Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print B 
Indicates that 
troubleshooting has 
completed but further 
procedures are required 
to solve the problemIndicates that 
troubleshooting has 
completed successfully 
and there no problems

) or 
ejects the sheet; it requires paper that is at least 65 cm/25.5 inches long and at least 50 cm/19.7 inches wide. You 
must then reload that piece of paper as a sh, 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 Media
)
T
qua1. 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 internal adjustments.
These Advance Calibration Values
 are used 
whenever you print on the same type of media until 
you have used the Advance calibration twice more 
with different types of media.
Direction of paper while 
printing (creating pattern)
Direction of paper when 
loading (measuring pattern)

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
Missing par ts of text; this 
should say TEST
TEST

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
The colored lines are printed 
double and they are the wrong 
colorsVertical lines are misaligned or 
fuzzy (not smooth)
The borders of colored blocks 
are overlapped and the 
overlapping areas have 
different colors in them.

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
80
80
Ink cartridge80Ink erov
Caps
Ironk
Pojfdjop ernk  aure
Pojfdjop ernk  Chorme
kheuhg    sfrfefg
kheuhg    sfrfefg
Expanding Possibilities 
Expanding Possibilities 
80
80
Pojfdjop ernk  aure

Long Term Color Bleeding (Glossy Papers)Color Accuracy ConfigurationAdditional Color Accuracy Information

Location of 
Setting
Setting Description
Selection
Ink Menu Color Calibration > Calibrate 
PaperSet to match the media type loaded in the 
printer. See Paper Types
.
 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
OptionsIndex  Solutions
Image Quality ProblemsYo u r  HP DesignJet 500 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
 as your first diagnostic task to find 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 LinesColor AccuracyHorizontal BandingColor AlignmentWhenever 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 image quality 
problem.

.
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 media only. For details of HP media see Physical 
Characteristics of Paper Types
. You can also look at the web page http://www.hp.com/go/designJet
 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 media settings to match the media type loaded in the printer. The 
documentation that came with your software should provide information about media type/print quality 
settings.
7. If your image quality problem is color accuracy related, go to Color Accuracy
 for further 
configuration help.

 for a description of the sequence of processes used to 
complete troubleshooting procedure.
It is important that the paper loaded for this procedure is exactly that used when you encountered image 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 image quality 
problems.  If they are not aligned, you are prompted 
to accept Printhead Alignment
.  This procedure 
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.

 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 A
Ignore this
black bar

Printer checks 
whether Printhead 
Alignment is requiredPrinter recommends 
Printhead Alignment
 
(Standard or Special)
Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print A 
including black lines
Printer asks questions 
about Diagnostic 
Print A
Wrong paper advance. 
Printer recommends 
Advance Calibration
Printheads need 
cleaning. If possible 
printer tries to clean 
printheads Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print A 
without black linesIf printheads have 
been cleaned three 
time Troubleshooting 
finishes Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print B 
without black lines
Printer asks if Cyan, 
Magenta, Yellow and 
Black Patterns in 
Diagnostic Print B are 
OK
 If possible printer tries 
to clean printheads
No problems detected Start
Printheads are OK 
after first printing of 
Diagnostic Print A
Troubleshooting 
completed successfully
Ye
No
YeYe
No
No
Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print B 
Indicates that 
troubleshooting has 
completed but further 
procedures are required 
to solve the problemIndicates that 
troubleshooting has 
completed successfully 
and there no problems

) or 
ejects the sheet; it requires paper that is at least 65 cm/25.5 inches long and at least 50 cm/19.7 inches wide. You 
must then reload that piece of paper as a sh, 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 Media
)
T
qua1. 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 internal adjustments.
These Advance Calibration Values
 are used 
whenever you print on the same type of media until 
you have used the Advance calibration twice more 
with different types of media.
Direction of paper while 
printing (creating pattern)
Direction of paper when 
loading (measuring pattern)

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
Missing par ts of text; this 
should say TEST
TEST

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
The colored lines are printed 
double and they are the wrong 
colorsVertical lines are misaligned or 
fuzzy (not smooth)
The borders of colored blocks 
are overlapped and the 
overlapping areas have 
different colors in them.

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
80
80
Ink cartridge80Ink erov
Caps
Ironk
Pojfdjop ernk  aure
Pojfdjop ernk  Chorme
kheuhg    sfrfefg
kheuhg    sfrfefg
Expanding Possibilities 
Expanding Possibilities 
80
80
Pojfdjop ernk  aure

Long Term Color Bleeding (Glossy Papers)Color Accuracy ConfigurationAdditional Color Accuracy Information

Location of 
Setting
Setting Description
Selection
Ink Menu Color Calibration > Calibrate 
PaperSet to match the media type loaded in the 
printer. See Paper Types
.
 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
OptionsIndex  Solutions
Image Quality ProblemsYo u r  HP DesignJet 500 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
 as your first diagnostic task to find the 
cause of your problem.
If a message, such as 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
OptionsIndex  Solutions
Image Quality ProblemsYo u r  HP DesignJet 500 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
 as your first diagnostic task to find 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 LinesColor AccuracyHorizontal BandingColor AlignmentWhenever 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 image quality 
problem.

.
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 media only. For details of HP media see Physical 
Characteristics of Paper Types
. You can also look at the web page http://www.hp.com/go/designJet
 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 media settings to match the media type loaded in the printer. The 
documentation that came with your software should provide information about media type/print quality 
settings.
7. If your image quality problem is color accuracy related, go to Color Accuracy
 for further 
configuration help.

 for a description of the sequence of processes used to 
complete troubleshooting procedure.
It is important that the paper loaded for this procedure is exactly that used when you encountered image 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 image quality 
problems.  If they are not aligned, you are prompted 
to accept Printhead Alignment
.  This procedure 
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.

 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 A
Ignore this
black bar

Printer checks 
whether Printhead 
Alignment is requiredPrinter recommends 
Printhead Alignment
 
(Standard or Special)
Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print A 
including black lines
Printer asks questions 
about Diagnostic 
Print A
Wrong paper advance. 
Printer recommends 
Advance Calibration
Printheads need 
cleaning. If possible 
printer tries to clean 
printheads Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print A 
without black linesIf printheads have 
been cleaned three 
time Troubleshooting 
finishes Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print B 
without black lines
Printer asks if Cyan, 
Magenta, Yellow and 
Black Patterns in 
Diagnostic Print B are 
OK
 If possible printer tries 
to clean printheads
No problems detected Start
Printheads are OK 
after first printing of 
Diagnostic Print A
Troubleshooting 
completed successfully
Ye
No
YeYe
No
No
Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print B 
Indicates that 
troubleshooting has 
completed but further 
procedures are required 
to solve the problemIndicates that 
troubleshooting has 
completed successfully 
and there no problems

) or 
ejects the sheet; it requires paper that is at least 65 cm/25.5 inches long and at least 50 cm/19.7 inches 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 Media
)
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 internal adjustments.
These Advance Calibration Values
 are used 
whenever you print on the same type of media until 
you have used the Advance calibration twice more 
with different types of media.
Direction of paper while 
printing (creating pattern)
Direction of paper when 
loading (measuring pattern)

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
Missing par ts of text; this 
should say TEST
TEST

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
The colored lines are printed 
double and they are the wrong 
colorsVertical lines are misaligned or 
fuzzy (not smooth)
The borders of colored blocks 
are overlapped and the 
overlapping areas have 
different colors in them.

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
80
80
Ink cartridge80Ink erov
Caps
Ironk
Pojfdjop ernk  aure
Pojfdjop ernk  Chorme
kheuhg    sfrfefg
kheuhg    sfrfefg
Expanding Possibilities 
Expanding Possibilities 
80
80
Pojfdjop ernk  aure

Long Term Color Bleeding (Glossy Papers)Color Accuracy ConfigurationAdditional Color Accuracy Information

Location of 
Setting
Setting Description
Selection
Ink Menu Color Calibration > Calibrate 
PaperSet to match the media type loaded in the 
printer. See Paper Types
.
 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
OptionsIndex  Solutions
Image Quality ProblemsYo u r  HP DesignJet 500 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
 as your first diagnostic task to find the 
cause of your problem.
If a message, such as 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
OptionsIndex  Solutions
Image Quality ProblemsYo u r  HP DesignJet 500 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
 as your first diagnostic task to find the 
cause of your problem.
If a message, such as 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
OptionsIndex  Solutions
Image Quality ProblemsYo u r  HP DesignJet 500 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
 as your first diagnostic task to find 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 LinesColor AccuracyHorizontal BandingColor AlignmentWhenever 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 image quality 
problem.

.
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 media only. For details of HP media see Physical 
Characteristics of Paper Types
. You can also look at the web page http://www.hp.com/go/designJet
 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 media settings to match the media type loaded in the printer. The 
documentation that came with your software should provide information about media type/print quality 
settings.
7. If your image quality problem is color accuracy related, go to Color Accuracy
 for further 
configuration help.

 for a description of the sequence of processes used to 
complete troubleshooting procedure.
It is important that the paper loaded for this procedure is exactly that used when you encountered image 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 image quality 
problems.  If they are not aligned, you are prompted 
to accept Printhead Alignment
.  This procedure 
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.

 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 A
Ignore this
black bar

Printer checks 
whether Printhead 
Alignment is requiredPrinter recommends 
Printhead Alignment
 
(Standard or Special)
Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print A 
including black lines
Printer asks questions 
about Diagnostic 
Print A
Wrong paper advance. 
Printer recommends 
Advance Calibration
Printheads need 
cleaning. If possible 
printer tries to clean 
printheads Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print A 
without black linesIf printheads have 
been cleaned three 
time Troubleshooting 
finishes Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print B 
without black lines
Printer asks if Cyan, 
Magenta, Yellow and 
Black Patterns in 
Diagnostic Print B are 
OK
 If possible printer tries 
to clean printheads
No problems detected Start
Printheads are OK 
after first printing of 
Diagnostic Print A
Troubleshooting 
completed successfully
Ye
No
YeYe
No
No
Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print B 
Indicates that 
troubleshooting has 
completed but further 
procedures are required 
to solve the problemIndicates that 
troubleshooting has 
completed successfully 
and there no problems

) or 
ejects the sheet; it requires paper that is at least 65 cm/25.5 inches long and at least 50 cm/19.7 inches wide. You 
must then reload that piece of paper as a sh, 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 Media
)
T
qua1. 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 internal adjustments.
These Advance Calibration Values
 are used 
whenever you print on the same type of media until 
you have used the Advance calibration twice more 
with different types of media.
Direction of paper while 
printing (creating pattern)
Direction of paper when 
loading (measuring pattern)

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
Missing par ts of text; this 
should say TEST
TEST

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
The colored lines are printed 
double and they are the wrong 
colorsVertical lines are misaligned or 
fuzzy (not smooth)
The borders of colored blocks 
are overlapped and the 
overlapping areas have 
different colors in them.

 for instructions on how to solve this problem.
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Long Term Color Bleeding (Glossy Papers)Color Accuracy ConfigurationAdditional Color Accuracy Information

Location of 
Setting
Setting Description
Selection
Ink Menu Color Calibration > Calibrate 
PaperSet to match the media type loaded in the 
printer. See Paper Types
.
 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
OptionsIndex  Solutions
Image Quality ProblemsYo u r  HP DesignJet 500 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
 as your first diagnostic task to find the 
cause of your problem.
If a message, such as