HP Color LaserJet 2550L User Manual

							5
Color
This chapter describes how the printer provides great color printing. This chapter also
describes ways to produce the best possible color prints. The following topics are covered:
●
Using color
●
Managing color options
●
Matching colors
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							Using color
This printer offers great color as soon as you set it up. It provides a combination of automatic
color features to generate excellent color results for the general user, plus sophisticated
tools for the experienced color user.
The printer provides carefully designed and tested color tables to provide smooth, accurate
color rendition of all printable colors.
HP ImageREt 2400
Image REt 2400 provides 2400 dots-per-inch (dpi) color laser-class quality through a multi-
level printing process. This process precisely controls color by combining up to four colors
within a single dot and by varying the amount of toner in a given area. ImageREt 2400 has
been improved for this printer. The improvements offer trapping technologies, greater control
over dot placement, and more precise control of toner quality in a dot. These new
technologies, coupled with HPs multilevel printing process, result in a 600-by-600 dpi printer
that provides 2400-dpi color laser-class quality with millions of smooth colors.
In contrast, the single-level printing process found in the default mode of other color laser
printers does not allow the colors to be mixed within a single dot. This process, called
dithering, significantly hinders the ability to create a wide range of colors without reduced
sharpness or visible dot structure.
Media selection
For the best color and image quality, it is important to select the appropriate media type from
the software printer menu or from the printer driver. See 
Print-media specifications for more
information.
Color options
Color options enable optimal color output automatically for diverse types of documents.
Color options use object tagging, which allows optimal color and halftone settings to be used
for different objects (text, graphics, and photos) on a page. The printer driver determines
which objects are used on a page and uses halftone and color settings that provide the best
print quality for each object. Object tagging, combined with optimized default settings,
produces great color from the printer without having to establish any special settings.
In the Windows environment, the Automatic and Manual color options are on the Color tab
in the printer driver.
Standard red-green-blue (sRGB)
Standard red-green-blue (sRGB) is a worldwide color standard that was originally developed
by HP and Microsoft as a common color language for monitors, input devices (scanners and
digital cameras), and output devices (printers and plotters). It is the default color space that
is used for HP products, Microsoft operating systems, the World Wide Web, and most office
software that is sold today. The sRGB standard is representative of the typical Windows
computer monitor today and is the convergence standard for high-definition television.
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							NoteFactors such as the type of monitor you use and the rooms lighting can affect the
appearance of colors on your screen. For more information, see 
Matching colors.
The latest versions of Adobe® PhotoShop®, CorelDRAW™, Microsoft Office, and many
other applications use sRGB to communicate color. Most importantly, as the default color
space in Microsoft operating systems, sRGB has gained broad adoption as a way to
exchange color information between software programs and devices by using a common
definition that assures that typical users will experience greatly improved color matching.
The sRGB standard improves your ability to match colors between the printer, the computer
monitor, and other input devices (scanners and digital cameras) automatically, without the
need to become a color expert.
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							Managing color options
Setting color options to Automatic typically produces the best possible print quality for color
documents. However, in some situations, you might want to print a color document in
grayscale (black and shades of gray) or to change one of the printers color options.
●Using Windows, print in grayscale or change the color options by using settings on the
Color tab in the printer driver.
●Using a Macintosh computer, print in grayscale or change the color options by using the
Color Matching pop-up menu in the Print dialog box.
Print in Grayscale
Selecting the Print in Grayscale option from the printer driver prints a document in black
and shades of gray. This option is useful for printing color documents that will be
photocopied or faxed.
When Print in Grayscale is selected, the printer goes into monochrome mode. Printing in
this mode reduces wear on the color print cartridges.
Automatic versus Manual color adjustment
The Automatic color adjustment option optimizes the neutral gray color treatment,
halftones, and edge enhancements that are used for each element in a document. For more
information, see your printer-driver online Help.
Note
Automatic is the default setting and is recommended for printing all color documents.
Use the Manual color adjustment option to adjust the neutral gray color treatment, halftones,
and edge enhancements for text, graphics, and photographs. To gain access to the Manual
color options, on the Color tab, click Manual, and then click Settings.
Manual color options
Use the Manual color adjustment to adjust the Color (or Color Map) and Halftoning options.
Note
Some software programs convert text or graphics to raster images. In these cases, the
Photographs setting also controls the text and graphics.
Halftone options
Halftoning is the method by which the printer mixes the four primary colors (cyan, magenta,
yellow, and black) in varying proportions to create millions of colors. Halftone options affect
the resolution and clarity of your color output. You can independently adjust halftone settings
for text, graphics, and photos. The two halftone options are Smooth and Detail.
●The Smooth option provides better results for large, solid-filled print areas. It also
enhances photos by smoothing out fine color gradations. Choose this option when
uniform and smooth area fills are the most important attributes.
●The Detail option is useful for text and graphics that require sharp distinctions among
lines or colors, or images that contain a pattern or a high level of detail. Choose this
option when sharp edges and details are the most important attributes.
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							Neutral Grays
The Neutral Grays setting determines the method for creating gray colors that are used in
text, graphics, and photographs.
●Black Only generates neutral colors (grays and black) by using only black toner. This
option guarantees that neutral colors do not have a color cast.
●4-Color generates neutral colors by combining all four colors of toner. This option
produces smoother gradients and transitions to non-neutral colors. It also produces the
darkest possible black.
Edge Control
The Edge Control setting determines how edges are rendered. Edge Control consists of
two components: Adaptive Halftoning and Trapping. Adaptive Halftoning increases the edge
sharpness. Trapping reduces the effect of color-plane misregistration by slightly overlapping
the edges of adjacent objects. The following levels of edge control are available:
●Maximum provides the most trapping. Adaptive Halftoning is set to On.
●Normal provides the default trapping settings. Adaptive Halftoning is set to On.
●Light provides minimal trapping. Adaptive Halftoning is set to On.
●Off sets Trapping and Adaptive Halftoning to Off.
RGB Color
The RGB Color option determines how colors are rendered.
●Default interprets RGB color as sRGB, which is the accepted standard for many
software companies and organizations, such as Microsoft and the World Wide Web
Consortium. (See http://www.w3.org.)
●Vivid instructs the printer to increase the color saturation in the midtones. Less colorful
objects are rendered more colorfully. This value is recommended for printing business
graphics.
●Device sets the printer to print RGB data in raw device mode. To render photographs
properly when this option is selected, you must manage color in the program in which
you are working or in the operating system.
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							Matching colors
The process of matching printer output color to your computer screen is quite complex
because printers and computer monitors use different methods of producing color. Monitors
display colors by light pixels using an RGB (red, green, blue) color process, but printers print
colors using a CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) process.
The following factors can influence your ability to match printed colors to those on your
screen:
●print media
●printer colorants (inks or toners, for example)
●printing process (inkjet, press, or laser technology, for example)
●overhead lighting
●programs
●printer drivers
●computer operating system
●monitors
●video cards and drivers
●operating environment, (very humid or very dry)
●personal differences in perception of color
Keep these factors in mind when colors on your screen do not perfectly match your printed
colors. For most users, the best method for matching colors on your screen to your printer is
to print sRGB colors. The printer uses sRGB and automatically optimizes color output.
For more information about solving issues that are related to color output, see 
Solving issues
with color documents.
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							6
Maintenance
This chapter contains information about these maintenance topics:
●
Managing supplies
●
Cleaning the printer
●
Calibrating the printer
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							Managing supplies
For warranty information about these supplies, see Print Cartridge Limited Warranty
Statement.
Supplies life
The life of the imaging drum depends on the number of black-only or color pages that print
jobs require. An HP color LaserJet 2550 series printer imaging drum could last an average of
20,000 pages when printing black-only pages and 5,000 pages when printing color pages.
Actual life lies somewhere between these two numbers, depending on the number of black-
only pages you print versus color. The average life is between 6,000 and 8,000 pages.
Imaging-drum life is also affected each time the printer calibrates because calibrating causes
the imaging drum to rotate. Imaging-drum life is measured in terms of number of rotations
rather than number of pages printed.
The type and length of print jobs also affects drum life. A series of short print jobs uses more
drum life than an equivalent number of pages printed in a single large job. To extend drum
life, print multiple copies of a print job at one time rather than sending the same job to the
printer multiple times.
The life of a print cartridge depends on the amount of toner that print jobs require. When
printing text at 5 percent coverage, a cyan, magenta, or yellow print cartridge for the HP
color LaserJet 2550L printer lasts an average of 2,000 pages, and a black print cartridge
lasts an average of 5,000 pages. When printing text at 5 percent coverage, a cyan,
magenta, or yellow print cartridge for the HP color LaserJet 2550Ln or 2550n printer lasts an
average of 4,000 pages, and a black print cartridge lasts an average of 5,000 pages. A
typical business letter has 5 percent coverage.
Note
The imaging drum and print cartridges for this printer are not compatible with older printer
models such as the HP color LaserJet 1500 series printer or the HP color LaserJet 2500
series printer.
For longer supplies life, you can order replacement cyan, magenta, or yellow print cartridges
for the HP color LaserJet 2550L printer that last an average of 4,000 pages at 5 percent
coverage. See 
Accessories and ordering information for ordering information.
Checking and ordering supplies
You can check the supplies state by using the printer control panel, printing a Supplies
Status page, viewing the HP Toolbox, or viewing HP Web Jetadmin. Hewlett-Packard
recommends that you place an order for a replacement print cartridge when you first receive
the Low message for a print cartridge. For typical use, the Low message indicates that
approximately two weeks of life remains. When you use a new, authentic HP print cartridge
or imaging drum, you can obtain the following types of supplies information:
●amount of cartridge or drum life remaining
●estimated number of pages remaining
●number of pages printed
●other supplies information
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							NoteIf the printer is connected to the network, you can set the HP Toolbox to notify you by e-mail
when a print cartridge is low or the imaging drum is near the end of its useful life. If the
printer is directly connected to a computer, you can set HP Toolbox to notify you when
supplies are low.
To check status and order using the control panel
Do one of the following:
●Check the supplies status lights on the printer control panel. These lights indicate when
a print cartridge or the imaging drum is low or empty. The lights also indicate when a
non-HP print cartridge is first installed. See 
Supplies Status lights to interpret the light
patterns.
●
Press 
 (GO) and  (CANCEL JOB) simultaneously. A Supplies Status page (and the
Configuration page, and possibly the HP Jetdirect page) prints. Check the supplies
levels on the Supplies Status page. See 
Supplies Status page for more information.
If the supplies levels are low, you can order supplies through your local HP dealer, by
telephone, or online. See 
Accessories and ordering information for part numbers. See
http://www.hp.com/go/ljsupplies to order online.
To check and order using HP Toolbox
You can configure HP Toolbox to notify you when the supplies are low. You can choose to
receive alerts by e-mail or as a pop-up message or taskbar icon. To order supplies by using
the HP Toolbox, in the Other Links area, click Order supplies. You must have Internet
access to connect to the website.
For more information, see 
HP Toolbox.
To check and order using HP Web Jetadmin
In HP Web Jetadmin, select the printer device. The device status page shows supplies
information. To order, use the HP Toolbox. Or, see 
Accessories and ordering information.
Storing supplies
Follow these guidelines for storing print cartridges and the imaging drum:
●Do not remove the print cartridge or imaging drum from its package until you are ready
to use it.
CAUTION
To prevent damage, do not expose the print cartridge or imaging drum to light for more than
a few minutes.
●See 
Environmental specifications for operating and storage temperature ranges.
●Store the supply in a horizontal position.
●Store the supply in a dark, dry location away from heat and magnetic sources.
Replacing and recycling supplies
To install a new HP print cartridge or imaging drum, follow the instructions that are included
in the box that contains the new supply, or see the getting started guide.
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							To recycle supplies, place the used supply in the box in which the new supply arrived. Use
the enclosed return label to send the used supply to HP for recycling. For complete
information, see the recycling guide that is included with each new HP supply item. See 
HP
LaserJet printing supplies for more information about HPs recycling program.
HP policy on non-HP supplies
Hewlett-Packard Company cannot recommend the use of non-HP supplies, either new or
remanufactured. Because they are not HP products, HP cannot influence their design or
control their quality. Service or repairs required as a result of using a non-HP supply will not
be covered under the printer warranty.
When you insert a supply into the printer, the printer will inform you if the supply is not a
genuine HP supply. If you insert a genuine HP supply that has reached the low state from
another HP printer, the printer identifies the supply as non-HP. Simply return the supply to
the original printer to reactivate HP features and functionality.
Resetting the printer for non-HP supplies
When you install a non-HP print cartridge or imaging drum, the light next to the print
cartridge or imaging drum you replaced blinks and the Attention light is on. In order to print
with this supply, you must press 
 (CANCEL JOB) the first time you install this non-HP supply.
The status lights will not indicate when this type of supply is low or empty.
CAUTION
The printer will not stop printing when this type of supply is empty. Printer damage could
occur if the printer prints with an empty print cartridge or imaging drum. See 
Hewlett-Packard
limited warranty statement and Print Cartridge Limited Warranty Statement.
HP fraud hotline
Call the HP fraud hotline if the supplies status lights or HP Toolbox indicates that the print
cartridge or imaging drum is not an HP print cartridge and you think that it is genuine. HP will
help determine if the product is genuine and take steps to resolve the problem.
Your print cartridge or imaging drum might not be a genuine HP one if you notice the
following issues:
●You are experiencing a large number of problems with the print cartridge or imaging
drum.
●The print cartridge or imaging drum does not look like it usually does (for example, the
pull tab or the box is different).
In the United States, call toll-free: (1) (877) 219-3183.
Outside the United States, you can call collect. Dial the operator and ask to place a collect
call to this telephone number: (1) (770) 263-4745. If you do not speak English, a
representative at the HP fraud hotline who speaks your language will assist you. Or, if
someone who speaks your language is not available, a language line interpreter will connect
approximately one minute after the beginning of the call. The language line interpreter is a
service that will translate between you and the representative for the HP fraud hotline.
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