this video shows how to print and
evaluate a print quality diagnostics
page on the hp officejet pro 8500a
all-in-one printer your printer might
look different but the steps will be
similar
the print quality diagnostic page helps
you determine if the printer needs to be
aligned or if the printheads need to be
cleaned or if the line feed needs to be
calibrated
the printer must be on and paper loaded
into the tray for these steps to work
lift the paper output tray
align a stack of paper by tapping it on
a flat surface
load the paper into the input tray until
it stops
slide the paper width guides inward
until they stop at the edge of the paper
do not push the guides in so tightly
that they start to bend the paper
lower the paper output tray
on the printer's control panel touch the
right arrow
touch setup
the setup menu will open
touch the down
arrow touch reports the reports menu
will open touch print quality report
the print quality diagnostic page prints
examine the print quality diagnostic
page
if the patterns on the report show no
defects the print mechanism and ink
supplies are working correctly
if the patterns on the report are
streaked or missing some portions
evaluate test pattern 1 of the print
quality diagnostic page
make sure that the lines are straight
and connected
if the lines in test pattern 1 are
straight and connected skip ahead to
evaluate test pattern 2.
if the lines in test pattern 1 are not
straight and connected you will need to
align the print heads
on the printer's control panel touch the
right arrow
touch setup
the setup menu will open
touch tools
in the tools menu touch align printheads
the printer will then align the
printheads
wait while the printer completes the
alignment process
evaluate test pattern 2 on the print
quality diagnostic page look for any
defects in the color blocks
if there are white lines in any of the
color blocks follow these steps to clean
the print heads
on the printer's control panel touch the
right arrow
touch setup
the setup menu will open
touch tools
in the tools menu touch clean printheads
the printer will then clean the
printheads
wait while the printer completes the
printhead cleaning process
you will now need to print another print
quality diagnostic page
if there are no defects on the report
the problem is resolved
if there are defects on the report try
cleaning the printheads again
if the defects continue to appear after
another cleaning you might need to
replace the printheads
if there are white lines through all the
color blocks and also white lines
through the gray blocks in test pattern
3 then do not clean the printheads if
any gray blocks show dark lines or white
gaps where the arrows are pointing
follow these steps to calibrate the line
feed
on the printer's control panel touch the
right arrow
touch setup
the setup menu will open
touch tools
in the tools menu touch calibrate line
feed
wait while the printer completes the
calibration process
now you will need to print another print
quality diagnostic page
if there are no defects on the report
the problem is resolved
if there are still dark lines or white
gaps in test pattern 3 your printer
likely needs some type of service
your options for service vary depending
on how long you've owned your printer
and what country you live in contact hp
to find out the support options for your
printer
you can find additional helpful videos
at hp.com forward slash supportvideos
and on our youtube channel
youtube.com forward slash hp printer
support