HP Test Page - Pattern Encoded in Cartridge?

[baumgrenze]

I just changed the color cartridge on my HP 882C.

After aligning the cartridge I printed a test page. Since I'd printed
one yesterday and noted that it had no yellow (that always seems to be
the color that goes first) I was pleased to see that the new one
printed yellow but surprised to see that the pattern on the test page
was quite different from the one I printed yesterday.

I'm just curious, but does HP somehow encode the test page pattern in
the cartridge, or is it the case that there are several available for
the 'toolbox' program to access and it chooses one at random?

Thanks,

baumgrenze

 

[Bob Headrick]

I just changed the color cartridge on my HP 882C.

After aligning the cartridge I printed a test page. Since I'd printed
one yesterday and noted that it had no yellow (that always seems to be
the color that goes first) I was pleased to see that the new one
printed yellow but surprised to see that the pattern on the test page
was quite different from the one I printed yesterday.

I'm just curious, but does HP somehow encode the test page pattern in
the cartridge, or is it the case that there are several available for
the 'toolbox' program to access and it chooses one at random?

I don't know about multiple test pages, but there is no test page
encoded in the cartridge. I generally use the "nozzle diagnostic" as a
test page to make sure things are working correctly. See:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bpd07098#N906

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[baumgrenze]

Hello Bob,

Thanks for the prompt reply.

I tried the link you supplied and got the following error message @

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bpd07098#N906

We're very sorry!
»
HP.com


Content starts here

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GMT}



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The test page I printed was generated (I think) by a utility supplied
by HP with the printer which I accessed via Start/Programs/HP DeskJet
880C Series v11.1 Toolbox

HP DeskJet 880C Series v11.1 Toolbox

C:\WINDOWS\HPFtbx12.exe -n27

In the window that opened I selected Printer Services>Print a test
page.

In the past what has printed was a page with the legend "HP DeskJet"

followed by a serif font alphabet with letters in descending font size
and then 4 rows of all the keyboard characters in serif, sanserif,
serif italic, and a 'modern font' and then two rows of color boxes each
containing 12 boxes.

All this was near the top of the page.

The new test page is a 'fancy graphic design' entitled ColorSmartII
with balls of color, a color pie chart, and some characters, all quite
different from what I'd seen before.

Thanks again,

baumgrenze

 

[Bob Headrick]

I tried the link you supplied and got the following error message @
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bpd07098#N906

Hmm.... I just tried this from IE7, Opera and Firefox and they all
opened the page fine. At any rate, the part I was quoting says that to
print a diagnostic page for the 880 do the following:

1. Turn on the printer
2. Press and hold the power button
3. While holding the power button press the formfeed button 4 times
quickly
4. Release the power button

This will print nozzle patterns.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging