# Self-Aligning Ink Jet Printer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-aligning-ink-jet-printer/435779 "2008-01-31T22:29:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-aligning-ink-jet-printer/435779/1 "2008-01-31T22:29:31Z")
When I change the ink in my all-in-one HP ink jet printer, it prints a test page which I then scan in to the printer to self-align the print head. But, how can this be? If the print head is not aligned, then the test page will print crooked, too! - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-aligning-ink-jet-printer/435779/2 "2008-01-31T22:39:44Z")
Yes, but it has a scanner, and can measure the locations of the fiducials it prints and calculate the correct offset for each cartridge. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-aligning-ink-jet-printer/435779/3 "2008-01-31T22:42:02Z")
It’s not aligning page registration (whether or not the paper is going through straight) but black vs color ink registration - they’ve simply semi-automated the process where we used to have to print a test page with an assortment of lines and hatches, then click on the groupings that lined up the best in the alignment utility.