# Printer not printing correct colors: cartridge or printer issue?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-not-printing-correct-colors-cartridge-or-printer-issue/548817
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 1, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-not-printing-correct-colors-cartridge-or-printer-issue/548817 "2010-08-01T20:13:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Novalyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novalyne)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-not-printing-correct-colors-cartridge-or-printer-issue/548817/1 "2010-08-01T20:13:12Z")
I have an HP Photosmart printer that gets very little use and I almost never print in color. I just installed a brand new color cartridge and the pages I’m printing are coming out with wrong tones. One image had blue overtones, the orange text printed out yellow, etc.
I just printed out a page that should have been yellow, orange, and green that came out yellow, paler yellow, and green…so it’s like the red is missing. Is there any way to tell if that is a problem with the cartridge or can the printer somehow be off? Does the printer itself have to be calibrated for color somehow? (Yes, I know I sound stupid…)
I hate to go buy another printer cartridge of it’s a printer problem. The cartridges are expensive and I don’t think the stores take refunds.
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-not-printing-correct-colors-cartridge-or-printer-issue/548817/2 "2010-08-01T20:16:12Z")
Try running it through a cleaning cycle.
Should be in the printer properties somewhere.
Does it have individual cartridges for each color?
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-not-printing-correct-colors-cartridge-or-printer-issue/548817/3 "2010-08-01T20:22:16Z")
Magenta is missing. Run the clean cycle.
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### Author:  [@Novalyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novalyne)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-not-printing-correct-colors-cartridge-or-printer-issue/548817/4 "2010-08-01T21:09:43Z")
Thanks - I ran it through all the cleaning cycles - no effect. But when I took the cartridge out and rubbed it, there was very obviously red ink there. So I think it’s something with the printer. Bummer.
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-not-printing-correct-colors-cartridge-or-printer-issue/548817/5 "2010-08-01T21:27:38Z")
Inkjet catridges _do_ clog up if they don’t get regular use. Do you have another magenta cartridge to try? Maybe just the one cartridge is defective.
Also, have you tried printing the test page?
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### Author:  [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-not-printing-correct-colors-cartridge-or-printer-issue/548817/6 "2010-08-01T22:21:12Z")
You may need to remove the printer head and clean that with a moist cloth. Non-use can lead to dried ink in the heads.
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-not-printing-correct-colors-cartridge-or-printer-issue/548817/7 "2010-08-01T22:39:47Z")
The HP printer head is part of the cartridge. Replacing the cartridge gives you a new clean head. The cartridge has just been replaced, unless the OP was imprecise about that and it wasn’t just done. In that case go to the HP site and follow their cleaning instructions.
I suggest you clean the printer electrical contacts for the cartridge.