HP DesignJet 800ps A0 User Manual

							Solving Problems


Image Quality 
ProblemsInk Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting HelpMedia & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
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Finding the Source of Your Problem1. Look at the front-panel display for messages. See Message Descriptions
 for a full explanation of front-panel 
messages.
2. Test the printer.
– 
Switch the printer off on the front of the printer. Make sure that the power cord is firmly inser ted in the printer and 
plugged in to an outlet that you know works.
– 
Switch the printer on and make sure the front-panel display shows the HP welcome screen followed by Main 
Menu after a short initialization period.
3. Test your computer hardware and interface.
– 
Make sure that you have the correct interface cable between the computer and the printer and that it is firmly 
connected to the correct por ts (see the Setup Poster).
– 
Check that your printers graphics language
 setting (in Setup > Graphic Language) matches the requirements of 
your software. 
 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
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Image Quality ProblemsYour 
HP DesignJet 800PS 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 par ticular 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.
 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


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Configuration CorrectionBefore attempting the image quality diagnostic procedures contained in this section it is impor tant to first check 
that the printer is correctly configured to print what you want. Many problems concerned with image quality can be 
solved by correcting the way the printer is configured.1. To achieve the best performance from your printer, only use genuine HP accessories and supplies, whose 
reliability and performance have been thoroughly tested to give trouble-free performance and best-quality prints. 
For details of HP media, see Paper Types
.
2. Make sure that the Type of paper selected in the front panel is the same type of paper loaded into the printer. To 
check this go to the Roll or Sheet menu in the front panel and press Enter.
3. To ensure the maximum print quality use HP certified 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 fur ther configuration help.
 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


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Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
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Troubleshooting ProcedureWorking through the Troubleshooting procedure should always be your first action when you encounter image quality 
problems. Refer to the Troubleshooting Flow Char t
 for a description of the sequence of processes used to complete 
troubleshooting procedure.
It is impor tant that the paper loaded for this procedure is exactly that used when you encountered image quality 
problems,type (for example, glossy paper) . If you use a different kind of paper or a different size, you stand less 
likelihood of resolving the problem.
Running the Troubleshooting Utility1. 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 the 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.
 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
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Diagnostic Print A InterpretationDiagnostic Print A contains several blocks of color and a block of thin black broken 
lines (the lines are actually very much closer than those represented here).
1. Examine the broken lines in Diagnostic Print A carefully and indicate whether 
there are problems with them.
The sor ts of problems to look for here are:
Jaggedness or serrations in the thin lines, like this: 
; the thin lines should be straight, 
though not necessarily perfectly aligned. The irregularities that are significant 
extend along the whole of the length of the lines.  Shorter irregularities, 
arranged in columns, can be ignored at this stage.
2. Examine the blocks of color in Diagnostic Print A carefully and indicate whether 
there are problems with them.  The sor ts of problems to look for here are:
White streaks or bands in the solid blocks.
3. If you indicate that there is a problem with the dashed lines in Diagnostic Print A, 
you are prompted to use the Advance Calibration
 routine; your printer will be at step 3 of the routine (if you don’t 
want to continue with calibration, press the Cancel key).
4. If there are problems in the blocks of color in Diagnostic Print A, for example white streaks or bands, the printer will 
try to clean the printheads that have the problem.  A printhead can be cleaned up to three times this way; after that 
it cannot be cleaned and you will be told; the Troubleshooting routine will finish.  In that case we recommend that 
you try to reprint your print, and then, if necessary, start the Troubleshooting routine again.
After cleaning the printheads, the printer reprints the blocks of color (but not the black lines) in 
Diagnostic Print A, and asks you to examine it again (as in step 1).
5. If there are no problems the first time you print Diagnostic Print A, the printer prints Diagnostic 
Print B. See Diagnostic Print B Inter pretation
 for full details of how to use this diagnostic print.
Diagnostic Print A
Ignore this
black bar
 
						

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Diagnostic Print B Interpretation1. For each color in the pattern in Diagnostic Print B, you are asked about the 
quality—look for missing lines. If you answer that a color is defective, the 
printer tries to clean that printhead.
If the printhead cleaning process completes, Diagnostic Print B is printed 
again and you are asked the same questions again.
2. Afterwards, if problems with images remain, use the Troubleshooting 
procedure again.
If none of the patterns or blocks in the two Diagnostic Prints shows any problem, it could be that your image quality 
problem is caused by a wrong setting in your software, or perhaps the job should have been printed with the Print 
quality set to Best instead of Normal or Draft.
If the Troubleshooting routine didn’t indicate that printhead alignment was necessary, you can select Align 
printheads in the Ink menu to try to solve any fur ther image quality problems.
Diagnostic Print B
Ignore these
solid bars
 
						

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Troubleshooting Flow ChartThe following diagram shows the flow of the troubleshooting procedure.
Printer checks 
whether Printhead 
Alignment is required
Printer recommends 
Printhead Alignment
 
(Standard or Special)
Pr inter 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 
printheadsPrinter prints 
Diagnostic Print A 
without black linesIf printheads have 
been cleaned three 
time Troubleshooting 
finishes
Printer prints 
Diagnostic Print B 
without black linesPrinter asks if Cyan, 
Magenta, Yellow and 
Black Patterns in 
Diagnostic Print B are 
OK
 If possible printer tries 
to clean printheads
No problems detected
Star t
Printheads are OK 
after first printing of 
Diagnostic Print A
Troubleshooting 
completed successfully
Ye s
No
Ye sYe s
No
NoPrinter prints 
Diagnostic Print B 
Indicates that 
toubleshooting has 
completed but fur ther 
procedures are required 
to solve the problemIndicates that 
toubleshooting has 
completed successfully 
and there no problems
 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


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ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
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Advance CalibrationIt is impor tant that the paper loaded for this calibration is exactly that used for normal printing, both in quality (for 
example, glossy paper) and in width (for example, A0 or 36-inch). Either roll or sheet paper can be used.
The routine prints a pattern and then cuts the roll (the cutter must be set to ON - see Controlling the Cutter
) 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 
opposite) 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)
 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
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Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
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Advance Calibration ValuesThe printer stores the advance calibration values of the last two different 
types of media used for the calibration. When you print the printer ties to 
match the media you have selected to the stored values. If there is a 
match the printer applies the stored Advance calibration values. 
If the type of media you are using has not been used for either of the last 
two Advance calibrations the printer uses a set default values for your 
media.
The Restore factor y option of the Advance calibration menu erases any stored advance calibration values from the 
printer memory. This means that until you run the advance calibration again the printer will use the factory default 
values for all types of media.
 
						

							Solving ProblemsImage Quality 
Problems


Ink Supply 
ProblemsMedia Problems Image Error Other Problems Getting Help
Media & Ink Introduction Front Panel OtherPrinter 
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Stepped LinesWhen you look at the image you have printed there are ‘stepped lines’ in the borders of arrows and diagonal 
lines. The lines should be straight with no stepping.
The following is an example of what you might see if you have problems with Stepped Lines.
To solve this problem:1. Increase the dpi setting by changing the print quality to Best in the front panel and driver software.
2. The problems may be inherent in the image you are trying to print. Try to improve the image with the application 
that generated the file.