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 linefeed 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 printheads.
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 printheads.
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 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 linefeed.
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 Linefeed.
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/supportvideos
and on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/hpprintersupport