Matching Printer - Paper - Settings... problems

[LERsince1991]

Hi,

I'm at uni and trying to print from the university printers in the library - the colour printer. I'm in my second year and the paper is so rubbish its nearly see through so I've bought a pack of A3 paper/card but some of the ink doesn't bond to it, or gets brushed off before it drys... something like that.

Printer -
It's a HP printer, I will edit this post soon with the exact model

Paper -
I've bought 250 sheets of A3 paper/card
Its 160gsm
Brand: multicopy

Settings -
I'm using Adobe InDesign to work in and export.
I set black as registration which works perfectly on the card - I printed an entire sheet of black which is fine!
I'm exporting to a PDF using the default "high quality" present

The problem is on images I have downloaded and placed in, photographs to be precise.
It appears to be the black in photos
Uploaded a photo below for your consideration

So would anyone have any advise which would help solve this issue please?

I HOPE YOU CAN HELP!
Luke.

 

[Blue Velvet]

What colour mode are the images in when they're placed into your InDesign file? RGB or CMYK? Any profiles embedded in them?

Try flipping the High Quality Print preset in the Output section to Colour>Colour Conversion>Convert to Destination and choose sRGB IEC61966-2.1. See if that works on a test page. Some colour laser printers go a bit weird with CMYK files if they're not set up properly.

If your files are already RGB, let us know.

 

[LERsince1991]

A mix.

The photo above shows the only image I have converted to CMYK
The black area reads as RGB - 11,5,13
and in CMYK (which it is) - 74,71,60,87

All the other images are RGB straight off the net.
I have attached them too because there quite small anyway

Thanks,
Luke

 

[Blue Velvet]

It's hard to tell what's going on, to be honest. It looks like toner/drum problems over saturated areas that contain more than just black toner. Do you have to use the library printer?

 

[LERsince1991]

Nope, don't have to use that printer but I haven't got my own printer, all colour printers in the uni are that exact one, and the print shop will charge a bomb.

I need to print off about 10 sheets per week, I pay 25p a print at the library for the colour A3.

I can try converted destination colours see if that works?
Shall I select "preserve numbers" or not?

 

[Blue Velvet]

all colour printers in the uni are that exact one

Try another. It might be that the library one is a bit knackered, possibly because it's heavily used.

I can try converted destination colours see if that works?
Shall I select "preserve numbers" or not?

You can try, but I doubt it's going to make a difference. It seems a printer/stock problem where the toner is not taking to the stock, possibly because of the colour drums or even lack of toner, it's hard to tell. The fact that you can run out black with no problem hints at issues with the coloured toners.

Also: is the stock you purchased, the card, is it coated? Slightly shiny?

 

[LERsince1991]

Try another. It might be that the library one is a bit knackered, possibly because it's heavily used.



You can try, but I doubt it's going to make a difference. It seems a printer/stock problem where the toner is not taking to the stock, possibly because of the colour drums or even lack of toner, it's hard to tell. The fact that you can run out black with no problem hints at issues with the coloured toners.

I'll have a go with another one with the original document and with a converted one just to test.

Isn't registration black all toners combined?
Anything created in indesign prints fine, some photos are fine, some photos aren't. Really don't get it. Theres some photos on exactly the same page that print fine with black.

The paper is ever so slightly shiny, looks like normal paper. Doubt theres a coating, doesnt say anything on the pack about a coating

 

[snberk103]

I may be missing something in your OP, and this probably isn't the problem, but confirm that the printer is laser, and that the paper is rated for laser. Also, when you print check that the paper thickness setting matches the the card stock.

Wish I had more to offer....

 

[LeviG]

pretty sure it's the paper not being right for the printer.

I've had similar effects where the 'ink' just isn't being absorbed and gives similar output.

 

[covisio]

Assuming it's a laser printer, basically what's happening is that the toner isn't fusing correctly to the paper, ergo the paper is probably the problem. I'd buy some HP paper. HP drivers for the Mac are usually pretty reliable and you should be able to select the exact paper type in the driver. A little bit more expensive, perhaps, but then you won't be wasting so much.

I have this problem when trying to print on some Avery labels, the surface just isn't compatible with the HP toner.

 

[Kwill]

SIMPLE ADVICE:

Convert all images to same color space before importing into InDesign. Save them as TIFF with embedded color profiles.

DETAILED ADVICE:

The information you did not provide may be the most critical. Depending on the model, HP printers use from 4, 6 or 12 inks. Consumer models aim for "pleasing" color, whereas high-end models include calibration tools for each paper.

There are several variables for color management: Monitor calibration, printer calibration, paper calibration, embedded image profiles.

If you feed several different paper types into the same printer without altering the print, it will look different on each. For inkjet printing, the paper surface determines how the ink is absorbed. Special inkjet papers made for the printer (usually more expensive) have an invisible coating (not necessarily glossy) that interacts with the ink to keep ink droplets from spreading (as much).

You didn't specifically state what is wrong with the black. Are you losing detail in the shadow areas? It is very likely because the paper is not specifically coated for the printer ink. Obtain paper for the printer, not just good looking paper.

Another thing you can try: When making the export PDF selection, edit the settings. You state that you are mixing CMYK images with RGB (from the web). This means the PDF or printer will have to perform a conversion. You can convert all images to CMYK or RGB within the output tab during PDF creation. Choose "convert to destination" and "include destination profile." Make a selection from the menu. Create a PDF with one of the CMYK options like "sheetfed uncoated" and another with "Adobe sRGB." Compare.

Typically Adobe Acrobat color management options should mirror settings selected in InDesign. Even if settings are incorrect, Acrobat should honor embedded profiles. The printer driver includes options for "application managed color" or "printer managed color," which can have dramatic effects on output. Usually, the former is used when printing directly from Photoshop and the latter is used when printing from other applications.

Perhaps now you will appreciate the value of high-end printing services vs. economy shops that just hit the Print button and hope for the best.

 

[bigus7674]

It's just a setting...

Most likely this is the culprit because I had a similar occurence:

Laser printers fuse the toner to the paper and certain paper requires a certain amount of time for the printer to heat the toner and fuse it.

With the black "flaking" off, it's not being fused properly. On our Xerox printer, we had to go into the printer's on-screen menu and change the paper type to cardstock, label, etc. - the type of paper you are using.

Heavier papers need more time so the paper is slowed while being fed through the printer to give more time for the heater to fuse it. I'd try a cardstock setting and then try again. if you are near the printer, you should definitely notice a difference in the time it takes the paper to feed through the printer after you've made the change. And, hopefully, you will notice that you no longer have flaking toner.

You may need to try a couple of different settings - but basically you want to use a setting for heavier paper / cardstock to slow the printer down and give it time to fuse the toner to your paper.

Let us know....