HP Deskjet 3900 series User's guide
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Contents 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 User's guide Welcome................................................................................................................3 Special features....................................................................................................4 Get started.............................................................................................................5 Printer features .......................................................................................
View estimated ink levels .....................................................................................36 Maintain the printer body .....................................................................................37 Remove ink from your skin and clothing ..............................................................37 Manually clean print cartridges ............................................................................37 Maintain print cartridges ...........................................
1 Welcome To find an answer to a question, select one of the following topics: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● User's guide Special features Get started Connect to the printer Print photos Print other documents Printing tips Printer software Maintenance Troubleshooting Supplies Specifications Environmental information 3
2 Special features Congratulations! You have purchased an HP Deskjet printer that is equipped with several exciting features: ● ● ● ● ● 4 User friendly: Easy to install and operate. Borderless printing: Print 4 x 6 inch photos to the edges of the paper by using the borderless printing feature. Ink level indicator: Know the approximate ink level of each print cartridge with the onscreen ink level indicator.
3 Get started ● ● ● ● ● Printer features Power button and light Paper tray Print cartridges Ink-backup mode Printer features The printer has several features to make printing easier and more efficient.
Chapter 3 1 USB port Power button and light Use the Power button to turn the printer on and off. It can take a few seconds for the printer to turn on after you press the Power button. 1 Power button and light The Power light flashes when the printer is processing. Caution Always use the Power button to turn the printer on and off. Using a power strip, surge protector, or a wall-mounted switch to turn the printer on and off might cause printer failure.
Unfold the paper tray Follow these steps to unfold the paper tray: 1. Raise the printer cover. 2. Lower the paper tray. 3. Fold out the tray extension. 4. Lower the printer cover.
Chapter 3 Use the paper tray Print on different sizes of media by sliding the paper guide to the right or to the left. The printer deposits printed pages on the top of the paper tray. Note The print cartridges must be installed before printing. Print cartridges Two print cartridges can be used with the printer. 1 Tri-color print cartridge 2 Black print cartridge Replace print cartridges When buying print cartridges, look for the print cartridge selection number.
1 ● ● Selection number label Printer documentation: For a list of print cartridge selection numbers, see the reference guide that came with the printer. HP Printer Utility: Open the HP Printer Utility, and then select the Supplies Status pane. If a print cartridge runs out of ink, the printer can operate in ink-backup mode. For information about installing a replacement print cartridge, see the print cartridge installation page.
4 Connect to the printer The printer connects to the computer with a universal serial bus (USB) cable. For instructions about connecting the printer with a USB cable, see the setup poster that came with the printer. Note A USB cable might not be packaged with your printer.
5 Print photos The printer software offers several features that make printing digital photos easier and improve photo quality. Learn how to perform the following tasks: ● ● ● ● ● ● Print a borderless photo. Print a photo with a border. Use HP Real Life technologies to touch up photos. Achieve the highest printing resolution with maximum dpi. Prevent photo paper from curling by following the photo paper storage and handling guidelines.
Chapter 5 Guidelines ● Do not print borderless photos in ink-backup mode. Always have two print cartridges installed in the printer. ● Open the file in a software program and assign the photo size. Ensure that the size corresponds to the paper size on which you want to print the photo. ● For maximum fade resistance, use HP Premium Plus Photo Paper. ● Verify that the photo paper that you are using is flat. For information about preventing photo paper from curling, see the photo paper storage instructions.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Choose the appropriate borderless paper size in the Paper Size menu, and then click OK. Open the Print dialog box. Select the Paper Type/Quality pane, and then select the following settings: – Paper Type: The appropriate photo paper type – Quality: Best or Maximum dpi Select the Real Life Digital Photography pane, and then set the HP Real Life technologies as appropriate. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print.
Chapter 5 3. For 4 x 6 inch (10 x 15 cm) photos, place the photo paper in the right side of the tray. The side to be printed on should face down and the short edge should point towards the printer. Push the paper into the printer until it stops. 4. Slide the paper guide firmly against the edge of the paper. Print 1. Open the Page Setup dialog box, and then select the following settings: – Paper Size: The appropriate paper size – Orientation: The appropriate orientation 2. Click OK. 3.
Use HP Real Life technologies Choose from the following items: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Summary: View all the current settings at a glance. Auto Red-eye Removal: Click On to automatically remove or reduce red-eye in the photograph. Adaptive Lighting: Adjust the exposure in dark areas of photos to bring out detail. Click Auto to allow the printer software to automatically balance lightness and darkness. Photo Brightening: Automatically enhance colors and contrast for washed-out photos.
Chapter 5 Storage ● Keep unused photo paper in a plastic bag. Store the packaged photo paper on a flat surface in a cool place. ● When you are ready to print, remove only the paper that you plan to use immediately from the plastic bag. When you have finished printing, return any unused photo paper to the plastic bag. ● Do not leave unused photo paper in the paper tray. The paper might start to curl, which can reduce the quality of your photos. Handling ● Always hold photo paper by its edges.
6 Print other documents E-mail Letters Documents Envelopes Brochures Greeting cards Postcards Transparencies Labels Index cards Iron-on transfers Printing tips: Minimize your cost and effort while maximizing the quality of your printouts with printing tips. Printer software: Learn about the printer software. E-mail To print e-mail, use the Paper Type/Quality pane in the Print dialog box to select the paper type and print quality.
Chapter 6 3. Slide the paper guide firmly against the edge of the paper. Print 1. If necessary, open the Page Setup dialog box and set the paper size, scaling, and orientation options. 2. Open the Print dialog box. 3. Select the Paper Type/Quality pane. 4. In the Paper Type pull-down menu, click Plain Paper. 5. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print. Letters To print letters, use the Paper Type/Quality pane in the Print dialog box to select the paper type and print quality.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Open the Print dialog box. Select the Paper Type/Quality pane. In the Paper Type pull-down menu, click Plain Paper. In the Quality pull-down menu, select the appropriate print quality. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print. Documents To print documents, use the Paper Type/Quality pane in the Print dialog box to select the paper type and print quality. Guidelines Do not exceed the paper tray capacity: 80 sheets of paper. Prepare to print 1.
Chapter 6 Guidelines ● Avoid using envelopes that have the following features: – Clasps or windows – Thick, irregular, or curled edges – Shiny or embossed coatings – Wrinkles, tears, or other damage ● Align the envelope edges before inserting them in the paper tray. ● Do not exceed the paper tray capacity: 10 envelopes. Prepare to print 1. Slide the paper guide to the left. 2. Place the envelopes, with the side to be printed on facing down and the flap to the left, in the tray and to the right.
3. Slide the paper guide firmly against the edge of the paper. Print 1. If necessary, open the Page Setup dialog box and set the paper size, scaling, and orientation options. 2. Open the Print dialog box. 3. Select the Paper Type/Quality pane, and then specify the following settings: – Paper Type: The appropriate brochure paper type – Quality: Normal or Best 4. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print.
Chapter 6 Print 1. Open the Page Setup dialog box, and then select the following settings: – Paper Size: The appropriate card size – Orientation: The appropriate orientation 2. Click OK. 3. Open the Print dialog box. 4. Select the Paper Type/Quality pane, and then specify the following settings: – Paper Type: The appropriate card type – Quality: Normal or Best 5. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print.
4. 5. 6. Select the Paper Type/Quality pane, and then specify the following settings: – Paper Type: The appropriate card type – Quality: Normal, Best, or Maximum dpi If you want to use them, set the HP Real Life technology options. Select any other print settings that you want, and then click Print. Note If an out-of-paper message appears, verify that the cards are positioned correctly in the paper tray.
Chapter 6 Labels To print labels, use the Paper Type/Quality pane in the Print dialog box to select the paper type and print quality. For great results, use HP Address Labels. Guidelines ● Use only paper, plastic, or clear labels that are designed specifically for inkjet printers. ● Use only full sheets of labels. ● Avoid using labels that are sticky, wrinkled, or pulling away from the protective backing. ● Do not exceed the paper tray capacity: 15 sheets of labels (use only Letter or A4size sheets).
Guidelines ● Use only cards and small media that meet the paper size specifications for the printer. For specifications, see the reference guide that came with the printer. ● Do not exceed the paper tray capacity: 20 cards. Prepare to print 1. Slide the paper guide to the left. 2. Place the cards, with the side to be printed on facing down and the short edge pointing towards the printer, in the tray and to the right. Push the cards into the printer until they stop. 3.
Chapter 6 Prepare to print 1. Slide the paper guide to the left. 2. Place the iron-on transfer paper, with the side to be printed on facing down, in the paper tray, pushing the paper into the printer until it stops. The paper will extend over the edge of the tray. 3. Slide the paper guide firmly against the edge of the paper. Print 1. Open the Page Setup dialog box, and then select the following settings: – Paper Size: A4 or US Letter – Orientation: The appropriate orientation 2. Click OK. 3.
7 Printing tips Save time Set the order that the pages print. Save money ● ● Print multiple pages on a single sheet of paper. Use HP Everyday Photo Paper to save money and ink when printing photos. Enhance the quality of printouts ● ● Select the correct paper type. Select the correct print quality. Select a print quality Follow these steps to select a print quality: 1. 2. 3. 4. Open the Print dialog box. Select the Paper Type/Quality pane.
Chapter 7 Note The reverse page order feature is only available in Mac OS X 10.3 and later. Print multiple pages on a single sheet of paper Use the printer software to print multiple pages of a document on a single sheet of paper. The printer software automatically resizes the document text and images to fit on the printed page. Follow these steps to print multiple pages of a document on a single sheet of paper: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Open the Print dialog box. Select the Layout pane.
8 Printer software ● ● ● ● ● Print settings Manage the printer (Mac OS X 10.3) Manage the printer (Mac OS X 10.2) View and change the status of a print job (Mac OS X 10.3) View and change the status of a print job (Mac OS X 10.2) Print settings The printer is controlled by software that is installed on your computer. Use the printer software, also known as the printer driver, to change the print settings for a document.
Chapter 8 6. 7. Save As PDF: Convert the document to Adobe PDF format. Fax: Send the document as a fax. Note The Fax option is available only in Mac OS X 10.3 and later. 8. 9. Cancel: Close the Print dialog box without printing the document. Print: Print the document. Manage the printer (Mac OS X 10.3) Use Printer Setup Utility to manage the printer.
Manage the printer (Mac OS X 10.2) Use Print Center to manage the printer. Managing the printer includes the following tasks: ● ● ● Add a printer Set a default printer Delete a printer Add a printer Follow these steps to add a printer to your computer: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In Finder, click Applications, click Utilities, and then double-click Print Center. Click Add Printer. The Add Printer dialog box appears. Select the connection type for the printer (for example, USB).
Chapter 8 View and change the status of a print job (Mac OS X 10.2) When printing a document with background printing, use Print Center to view the status of the document as it is printing. Follow these steps to check the status of a print job: 1. 2. 3. 32 In Finder, click Applications, click Utilities, and then double-click Print Center. Double-click the printer name to display the print queue. Click a print job to select it.
9 Maintenance ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Install print cartridges Align the print cartridges Automatically clean print cartridges Print a test page View estimated ink levels Maintain the printer body Remove ink from your skin and clothing Manually clean print cartridges Maintain print cartridges HP Printer Utility Install print cartridges When you need to replace print cartridges, make sure you have the correct print cartridges for your printer, and then install them in the print cartridge cradle.
Chapter 9 Ink-backup mode The printer can operate with only one print cartridge installed. For more information, see Ink-backup mode. Installation instructions Show me how to install a print cartridge. Follow these steps to install a print cartridge: 1. 2. 3. 4. 34 Press the Power button to turn on the printer. Open the printer cover. The cradle moves to the center of the printer. Push down on the print cartridge and slide it out of the print cartridge cradle. 1 Press the Power button.
1 Remove the pink tape only. Caution Do not touch the print cartridge ink nozzles or copper contacts. Touching these parts will result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections. Do not remove the copper strips. They are required electrical contacts. 1 Ink nozzles 2 Copper contacts 5. Slide the print cartridge firmly into the cradle at a slight upward angle until you feel resistance. 6. Push the cartridge into the cradle. You hear a snap when the print cartridge is correctly positioned.
Chapter 9 For information about storing print cartridges, see Maintain print cartridges. For information about recycling empty print cartridges, see Print cartridge recovery. Warning Keep both new and used print cartridges out of the reach of children. Align the print cartridges After installing a print cartridge, align the print cartridges to ensure the best print quality. To align the print cartridges: 1. 2. 3. 4. Load Letter or A4 plain, white paper in the paper tray. Open the HP Printer Utility.
Maintain the printer body Because the printer ejects ink onto the paper in a fine mist, ink smudges will eventually appear on the printer case and adjacent surfaces. To remove smudges, stains, or dried ink from the exterior of the printer, use a soft cloth moistened with water. When cleaning the printer, keep these tips in mind: ● ● ● Do not clean the interior of the printer. Keep all fluids away from the interior. Do not use household cleaners or detergent.
Chapter 9 Caution Do not leave the print cartridges outside the printer for more than 30 minutes. Cleaning instructions 1. Lightly moisten a cotton swab with distilled water and squeeze any excess water from the swab. 2. Wipe the face and edges of the first print cartridge with the cotton swab. Caution Do not wipe the nozzle plate. Touching the ink nozzles will result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 1 Print cartridge cradle 2 Print cartridge cradle walls Insert the print cartridges in the printer, and then close the printer cover. Connect the power cord to the back of the printer. Print a test page. Repeat the cleaning procedure if ink streaks continue to appear on printed pages. Maintain print cartridges The following tips will help maintain HP print cartridges and ensure consistent print quality: ● ● Keep all print cartridges in their sealed packages until they are needed.
Chapter 9 Open the HP Printer Utility To open the HP Printer Utility, follow the instructions for your operating system. Mac OS X 10.3 1. In Finder, click Applications, click Utilities, and then double-click Printer Setup Utility. 2. Select the printer, and then click Utility. The HP Printer Utility appears. Mac OS X 10.2 1. In Finder, click Applications, click Utilities, and then double-click Print Center. 2. Select the printer, and then click Configure. The HP Printer Utility appears.
10 Troubleshooting ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Printer does not print Paper jam Paper problems Printer is stalled Print cartridge problems Photos do not print correctly Print quality is poor Document is misprinted Problems with borderless documents Error messages Power light is flashing Document prints slowly If you continue to have problems Printer does not print Verify the following Verify the following conditions if the printer is not printing: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● The printer is connected to the power source
Chapter 10 Check the print queue The printer will not print if a print job is stalled in the print queue. To resolve a print job that is stalled in the print queue, check the status of the print queue for either Mac OS X 10.3 or Mac OS X 10.2. If the printer still does not print 1. Select the topic below that best describes the problem: – Paper jam – Out-of-paper message – Printer is stalled 2. If the printer still does not print, shut down, and then restart your computer.
6. If the paper jam cannot be removed from the back of the printer, raise the printer cover, remove the paper jam from the front of the printer, and then lower the cover. Caution Remove the paper jam carefully as it is possible to damage the printer when removing paper from the front. 7. 8. 9. Reload paper in the paper tray. Turn on the printer. Reprint the document. Note If paper jams occur frequently, try using a heavier paper. See the reference guide for paper weight specifications.
Chapter 10 Paper weight The printer might print on multiple sheets of paper at once if the paper is under the recommended paper weight. Use paper that is within the recommended specifications. For paper weight specifications, see the reference guide that came with the printer. Paper might be loaded improperly The printer might print on multiple sheets of paper at once if the paper is loaded too far toward the back of the printer or if the paper guide is not positioned firmly against the paper.
3. 4. 5. 6. 1 Warranty date 2 Selection number Check the list of print cartridges that can be used in the printer. Open the HP Printer Utility, and then select the Supplies Status pane. Check the warranty date on the print cartridge. If the print cartridge has the wrong selection number, or if the warranty has expired, install a new print cartridge. Close the printer cover. If the Power light is not flashing, then the problem is fixed. If the Power light is flashing, visit HP Technical Support at www.
Chapter 10 When the protective piece of plastic tape covers the print cartridge contacts, the printer cannot detect that the print cartridge is installed. 1 Remove the pink plastic tape. Print cartridge is in the wrong slot message If you receive this error message, the print cartridge is installed in the wrong side of the print cartridge cradle. Always install the tri-color print cartridge in the left print cartridge cradle compartment.
Print is faded ● Verify that neither of the print cartridges is low on ink. If a print cartridge is low on ink, consider replacing the print cartridge. For the correct part numbers, see the reference guide that came with the printer. ● Verify that a black print cartridge is installed. If the black text and images on your printouts are faded, you might be printing with only the tri-color print cartridge.
Chapter 10 Document is printed off-center or at an angle 1. Verify that only one type of paper is placed in the paper tray, and that the paper has been placed in the tray correctly. 2. Verify that the paper guide fits firmly against the edge of paper. 3. Reprint the document. Parts of the document are missing or printed in the wrong place ➔ Open the Page Setup dialog box and verify the following settings: – Paper Size: Verify the appropriate paper size.
Follow these steps if the image is printed at an angle: 1. 2. 3. Remove all paper from the paper tray. Load the photo paper correctly in the paper tray. Verify that the paper guide fits firmly against the edge of the paper. Edge of the photograph is faded Verify that the photo paper is not curled. If the photo paper is curled, place the paper in a plastic bag and gently bend it in the opposite direction of the curl until the paper lies flat. If the problem persists, use photo paper that is not curled.
Chapter 10 ● ● Align the print cartridges. Verify that no problem exists with the source image. For example, if you are printing a scanned image, verify that the image was not crooked when it was scanned. For small photo paper with a tear-off tab If the border appears below the tear-off tab, then remove the tab. If the border appears above the tear-off tab, then align the print cartridges.
Error messages Out of paper message If you receive an out of paper message, follow these guidelines. Print cartridge problem message If you receive a message stating there is a problem with the print cartridge, the print cartridge might be faulty. Follow these instructions to resolve the problem. "Print cartridge carriage is stalled" Follow these steps if the printer stalls while you are printing a document.
Chapter 10 Power light is flashing 1 ● ● ● Power light If the Power light is on, the printer is either printing or ready to print. If the Power light is off, the printer is off. If the Power light is flashing, see the following information. What the flashing light means The Power light can flash for several reasons: ● ● ● The printer cover is open. The printer is out of paper. A problem exists with the printer, such as a paper jam or a problem with a print cartridge.
Printer software is outdated Outdated printer software might be installed. For information about updating the printer software, visit HP’s Web site at www.hp.com/go/mac-connect. Computer does not meet system requirements If your computer does not have enough RAM or a large amount of free space on the hard drive, the printer processing time will be longer. 1. 2. Verify that the computer hard disk space, RAM, and processor speed meet the system requirements.
11 Supplies ● ● Paper USB cables Paper To order media such as HP Premium Paper, HP Premium Inkjet Transparency Film, HP Iron-On Paper, or HP Greeting Cards, go to www.hp.com. Choose your country/region, and then select Buy or Shopping.
12 Specifications ● Printer specifications Printer specifications See the reference guide that came with your printer for complete printer specifications, including this information: ● ● ● ● User's guide Types, sizes, and weights of paper and other printing media that can be used with your printer Print speeds and resolutions Power requirements Computer operating system requirements 55
13 Environmental information ● ● Environmental statement Print cartridge recovery Environmental statement Hewlett-Packard continuously improves the design processes of its deskjet printers to minimize the negative impact on the office environment and on the communities where printers are manufactured, shipped, and used. Reduction and elimination Paper use: This equipment is suitable for using recycled paper (in accordance with EN 12281:2002).
Recycling information for the European Union Important recycling information for our customers in the European Union: To preserve the environment, this product must be recycled after its useful life as required by law. The symbol below indicates that this product may not be disposed in the general trash. Please return the product for proper recovery/disposal to the authorized collection location nearest to you. For more information regarding return and recycling of HP products generally, please visit www.
Chapter 13 cartridge by weight. The remaining parts that cannot be recycled (ink, foam, and composite parts) are disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
Index A adding the printer 30, 31 aligning print cartridges 36 B brochure printing 20 C cleaning print cartridges automatically 36 print cartridges manually 37 printer body 37 D default printer, setting 30, 31 deleting the printer 30, 31 digital photos 14 document is misprinted document does not reflect new print settings 48 document is printed offcenter or at an angle 48 envelope prints at angle 48 parts of the document are missing or printed in the wrong place 48 text and images are misaligned 47 document
maintaining 39 ordering information 36 replacing 8 selection numbers 33 used with the printer 8 Print Center 31 Print dialog box 29 print job status 31, 32 print preview 28 print quality 27 print quality is poor blank pages print 47 print is faded 47 streaks and missing lines 46 print settings 29 printer adding 30, 31 deleting 30, 31 managing 30, 31 print job status 31, 32 setting as default 30, 31 printer features 5 printer is not printing 41 printer is stalled 44 printer prints on multiple sheets at once
