HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos [Solved]

In this article, we will provide you with solutions to the HP printer printing lines on photos problem.

HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos [Solutions]

If your HP printer is printing lines on pictures, try the following to resolve the problem.

1. Check your Printer’s Ink Levels – HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos

To check your HP printer’s ink levels, do the steps below:

Step 1: Turn on your HP printer.

Step 2: Confirm that your HP printer is connected to your computer.

Step 3: Click on the Search icon on the taskbar.

Step 4: Type “control panel.”

Step 5: Click on “Control Panel” from the search results.

Step 6: Click on “Hardware and Sound.”

Step 7: Click on “View Devices and Printers.”

Step 8: Right-click on your HP printer icon.

Step 9: Click on “Properties.”

Step 10: Click on the tab labeled “Services.”

Step 11: Click on “Service this Device.”

This action will open the HP Printer Toolbox.

Step 12: Click on the tab labeled “Estimated Ink Level.”

The estimated ink level will be displayed.

If the ink level is low for any cartridge, then you need to replace the cartridge. Replacing the cartridge should resolve the HP printer printing lines on photos problem.

However, if the ink level is not low, try the next solution.

2. Check your HP Printer Settings – HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos

To check your HP printer settings, do these steps:

Step 1: Open the program you are printing from.

Step 2: Click on “File.”

Step 3: Click on “Print.”

This action will open the print window.

Step 4: Ensure that you select the right printer.

Step 5: Click on “Properties” or “Preferences” depending on the program you are printing from.

This action will open the Properties/Preferences window.

Step 6: Click on the tab labeled “Printing Shortcuts.”

Step 7: Change the following options as desired to improve the print quality:

  • Print Quality: If the print quality is poor, you can increase the print quality with this setting. If printing speed is what you need, then reducing the print quality will allow your printer to print faster.
  • Paper Type: Choose the paper type option that is a perfect match with the loaded paper. However, if you don’t find the perfect paper type match, select “Automatic.”
  • Paper Size: Ensure that you select a paper size option that is a perfect match with the size of the loaded paper.

For more options, click on the tab labeled “Advanced,” before clicking “Advanced Features.” When the window for “Advanced Features” opens, you can change this setting:

  • Ink Volume: Modify how much ink is used for the printer. If you want lighter pictures, move the slider to the left. If you want darker pictures, move the slider to the right. The ink will dry out faster if the ink volume is lighter.

After doing the above, check if the HP printer printing lines on photos problem is resolved.

If your HP printer prints horizontal lines on your photos even after doing the above, do the next solution.

3. Run Clean Print Cartridges Utility – HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos

To run the clean print cartridges utility, do the following steps:

Step 1: Turn on your HP printer.

Step 2: Confirm that your HP printer is connected to your computer.

Step 3: Click on the Search icon on the taskbar.

Step 4: Type “control panel.”

Step 5: Click on “Control Panel” from the search results.

Step 6: Click on “Hardware and Sound.”

Step 7: Click on “View Devices and Printers.”

Step 8: Right-click on your HP printer icon.

Step 9: Click on “Properties.”

Step 10: Click on the tab labeled “Services.”

Step 11: Click on “Service this Device.”

This action will open the HP Printer Toolbox.

Step 12: Click on the tab labeled “Device Services.”

Step 13: Click on “Clean the Print Cartridges.”

Step 14: Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the cleaning process.

There are three cleaning levels that you will perform.

If your printer prints a page during the cleaning process, you can recycle or discard the paper.

After running the utility, check if the HP printer printing lines on photos problem is resolved.

If your HP printer is printing lines through pictures even after running the utility, do the next solution.

4. Print & Evaluate a Diagnostic Page – HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos

At this point, you might have to change a cartridge in your HP printer as this might be the reason for the problem under discussion. To know which cartridge you need to replace, you have to print and then evaluate a diagnostic page.

A diagnostic page allows you to determine the printing state of your HP printer. This page will display information about the cartridges installed in your printer.

Printing a diagnostic page on an HP printer varies from model to model. Therefore, we advise that you consult your user manual to learn how to print a diagnostic page on your HP printer.

You can print a diagnostic page on some HP DeskJet printers by doing the following:

i. Turn on your printer.

ii. Load the printer with blank white paper.

iii. Press down the printer’s “Power” and “Cancel” buttons at the same time.

iv. Let go of the buttons.

Your printer will print the diagnostic page.

After printing the diagnostic page, you will have to evaluate it. You should check and note the cartridges that printed the areas on the page. This will enable you to detect which cartridge is faulty.

5. Check the Page for Defects – HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos

The cartridge with defects will have a few missing lines. A perfectly working cartridge, on the other hand, will have patterns that look like gridlines. Furthermore, the bars and patterns’ colors are approximately identical to the color dots found on the label of the cartridge.

Below are instructions on how to deal with streaked bars and missing lines that might appear on the diagnostic page.

How to Fix Streaked Bars and Missing Lines – HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos

If the bars are streaked or there are missing lines on the pattern, then your HP cartridge is not working properly. In such a case, you can do the following to fix the problem:

1. Run the clean print cartridges utility

We shared the steps on how to run this utility earlier in this article under the “Run Clean Print Cartridges Utility” section.

2. Clean your cartridge contacts

To clean your cartridge contacts, do the following steps:

Step 1: Get the following:

  • Distilled water. If this is not available, you can use filtered or bottled water. Do not use tap water as it contains impurities that might negatively affect your cartridge.
  • Clean lint-free cloth or cotton swabs.
  • Paper sheets or paper towels.

Step 2: Open your printer’s cartridge access door.

Consult your printer user manual if you don’t know how to do this step.

Step 3: Allow the carriage to stop moving and go silent.

Step 4: Remove the power cable from your HP printer.

Step 5: Take out the cartridge from your printer and put it on the sheet of paper or paper towel. Ensure that the nozzle is placed face up.

Note: Your ink cartridge shouldn’t be kept outside your printer for too long; must not exceed 30 minutes. Leaving it out beyond this period could lead to the ink drying up which in turn can clog the ink nozzles.

Step 6: Moisten the fluff-free cloth or cotton swab with distilled water. Ensure that you squeeze out excess water.

Step 7: Clean the contacts that are coper-colored. Do not clean any other colored contacts or ink nozzles.

Step 8: Do the above steps for other cartridges with print defects if any.

Step 9: Get a different cotton swab and moisten it with distilled water. Ensure that you squeeze out the excess water in the swab.

Step 10: Locate the carriage’s electrical contacts.

Step 11: Clean the contacts with the moistened swab.

Step 12: Wait for about 10 minutes.

This is done to enable the contacts you clean to dry out.

Step 13: Reinstall your cartridges into your printer.

Step 14: Close your printer’s cartridge access door.

Step 15: Plug the power cable back into your printer.

Step 16: Turn on your HP printer.

Step 17: Print a document.

If your HP printer is printing lines on pictures, repeat the above steps and then reseat the cartridge. If multiple cleanings fail to resolve the problem, then do the next task.

HP printer printing lines in pictures

3. Remove & Allow the Cartridge to Rest [For Black Cartridge]

To remove and allow the cartridge to rest, do the following steps:

Step 1: Take out the black cartridge from your HP printer.

Step 2: If there is a latch on the carriage, relatch it.

Step 3: Close your printer’s carriage access door.

Ensure that you close the access door completely to protect the color cartridge inside the printer.

Step 4: Place the black cartridge on a sheet of paper that rests on an even surface. Ensure that the nozzle of the cartridge is facing up while the label faces down.

Step 5: Leave the cartridge this way for 2 hours.

Step 6: Reinstall the ink cartridge into your printer.

Step 7: Print a diagnostic page.

i. Click on the “Windows/Start” icon on the taskbar.

ii. Click on the “Settings” icon.

iii. Click on “Devices.”

iv. Check the left pane and click on “Printers and Scanners.”

v. Click on your HP printer.

vi. Click on the “Manage” button.

vii. Click on “Printer Properties.”

viii. Click on the tab labeled “Services.”

ix. Click on “Service this Device.”

This will open the HP Printer Toolbox.

x. Click on the tab labeled “Device Services.”

xi. Click on “Print a Diagnostic Page.”

Step 8: Check the page for defects.

i. If you don’t find defects on your black cartridge and the cartridge is new, then you need to align the black cartridge. Do the following to align your HP cartridge:

  • Load your printer with plain white paper.
  • Click on the “Windows/Start” icon on the taskbar.
  • Click on the “Settings” icon.
  • Click on “Devices.”
  • Check the left pane and click on “Printers and Scanners.”
  • Click on your HP printer.
  • Click on the “Manage” button.
  • Click on “Printer Properties.”
  • Click on the tab labeled “Services.”
  • Click on “Service this Device.”

This will open the HP Printer Toolbox.

  • Click on the tab labeled “Device Services.”
  • Click on “Align the Printer.”

Read this article: My HP Printer Won’t Print Alignment Page [Solved] if your HP printer won’t print the alignment page.    

You can also read this: HP Printer Alignment Failed [Reasons and Solutions] to find out the reasons why your printer alignment failed and how to solve the problem.

ii. If your black cartridge is an old one, you don’t have to align your printer.

iii. If you still see defects on the page, do the next task.

4. Change the Defective Cartridge

If you didn’t replace the cartridge as we suggested earlier, then you need to replace the defective cartridge at this point. Replacing the defective cartridge should resolve the problem. However, if it doesn’t, then you need to contact HP Customer Support.

Preventing Missing Lines [Tips]

Below are some tips to help you prevent the issue of missing lines in the future:

i. Never remove the cartridge’s protective tape until you are ready to insert it into your printer.

ii. Once the tape is removed, do not attempt to reapply it on the cartridge.

iii. Ensure that nothing touches the cartridge’s ink nozzles.

iv. To ensure that your cartridge remains in perfect working condition, ensure that you print once a month at least.

v. Always turn off your printer by pressing its power button rather than unplugging the power cable. The proper action of turning off your printer via the power button protects your cartridges.

 vi. Place the cartridge inside a cartridge protector whenever you take it out of your printer.

vi. In case you don’t own a cartridge protector, place the cartridge in a plastic tub that is completely airtight.

vii. Do not place the cartridge in a plastic bag.

vii. If you want to leave your cartridge out of the printer for an extended period, ensure that the nozzles of your color cartridge face down while the black cartridge’s nozzles face up.

6. If there were no defects – HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos

In the event that the diagnostic page doesn’t display any defects, it means that your cartridges are working fine. Therefore, you need to do the following troubleshooting:

1. Check the Print Settings – HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos

To check the print settings, do the following steps:

Step 1: Open the program you want to print from.

Step 2: Click on “File.”

Step 3: Click on “Print.”

This action will open the Print window.

Step 4: Select your HP printer if it is not already selected.

Always confirm that you have selected the right printer.

Step 5: Click on “Properties” or “Preferences.”

This action will open the Properties or Preferences window.

Step 6: Click on the tab labeled “Printing Shortcuts.”

Step 7: Change the following or some of these options below to improve the quality of your print job:

i. Print Quality: Increase the print quality if you are not satisfied with the quality of your print jobs. Bear in mind that doing this will reduce the printing speed of your printer.

ii. Paper Type: Choose the exact paper type option that corresponds to the type of paper that is loaded in your printer’s paper input tray: Don’t just leave the option selection at “Automatic.”

iii. Paper Size: Ensure that you select the paper size option that corresponds to the paper size that is loaded in your printer’s paper input tray.

If you want additional options, you can click on the tab labeled “Advanced,” before clicking on “Advanced Features.”

When the window for Advanced Features opens, you can modify this setting:

Ink Volume: This allows you to select the ink amount used for each page printing. If you want the images to be lighter, move the slider to the left. If you want the images to be darker, move the slider to right. Lighter images tend to dry faster than darker images.

Read this article: HP Printer Printing Lines [Problems & Proven Solutions] learn how to fix other HP printer printing lines issues, we recommend that

2. Check the Paper in Use – HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos

To check the paper in use, do the following:

i. Do not use photo papers that are curled. If your papers are curled, gently roll them in the opposite direction of the curl to flatten them.

Tip: To prevent photo paper curling, store the paper in a taped-up plastic bag.

ii. Ensure that the print side of the paper is facing down when you load it into your printer.

iii. Ensure that you use the correct paper type for each project.

If you are printing regular documents, use plain paper.

On the other hand, documents that need dense printing (examples are photographs or high-contrast graphics) require HP Premium paper.

iv. If the above instructions failed to resolve the problem, we recommend that you use another paper. Some papers do not allow ink to bleed easily on them. Therefore, you need to get an HP paper that is compatible with your ink and printer.

3. Check the Image Resolution – HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos

The image resolution setting that you are using might be responsible for the HP printing lines on photos problem. Therefore, you need to check if the file possesses the needed resolution for the size of the print job at hand.

7. Contact HP – HP Printer Printing Lines on Photos

If you still have problems even after trying all that we have discussed so far, then you need to contact HP Customer Support for further assistance as the issue might be hardware-related. In such a case, only a professional technician will be able to fix the HP printer printing lines on photos problem.

To fix your HP printer printing colored lines problem, you can try the solutions we shared in this section.