HP LaserJet Pro P1102 Print Quality

Fixing faded, smeared or poor-quality prints

If your HP LaserJet Pro P1102 produces faded, smeared, fuzzy, dark or incomplete prints, the cause may be the paper, print settings, toner cartridge or the printer itself.

Work through the checks below before replacing the toner cartridge or assuming there is a hardware problem.

Start with these quick checks

Before changing any settings or components:

• Make sure the paper is dry and suitable for laser printing.
• Check that the correct paper type is selected.
• Make sure the toner cartridge is installed correctly.
• Try printing another document.
• Check whether the defect appears in the same place on every page.

Testing another document helps determine whether the problem comes from the printer or the original file.

Faded or light printing

If the entire page looks unusually light:

1. Check the toner cartridge.
2. Make sure the selected paper type matches the paper you are using.
3. Check the available print-quality settings.
4. Try printing another document.
5. Inspect the toner cartridge if the problem continues.

If toner is running low, gently redistributing the toner inside the cartridge may temporarily improve the output.

A depleted cartridge will eventually need to be replaced.

Toner smears or rubs off

If toner smears or does not appear to bond properly to the paper, first check that the paper is suitable for a laser printer.

Also check that the paper-type setting matches the media you are using.

Inspect the toner cartridge for visible damage or other abnormalities.

If the problem occurs only with a particular type of paper, try fresh standard paper to determine whether the media is contributing to the problem.

Lines, marks or repeated defects

If lines, spots or marks appear repeatedly down the page:

1. Try another clean sheet of suitable paper.
2. Print another document.
3. Check whether the defect repeats at regular intervals.
4. Carefully remove and inspect the toner cartridge.
5. Check the imaging drum for visible damage.

Avoid touching the surface of the imaging drum. Fingerprints or damage to the drum can cause additional print-quality problems.

Check the toner cartridge

Turn the printer off and carefully remove the toner cartridge.

Check that any required sealing material has been completely removed and inspect the cartridge for obvious damage.

You can gently rock the cartridge from side to side to redistribute the toner before reinstalling it.

Do not touch the imaging-drum surface.

If the drum is visibly scratched or damaged, the cartridge may need to be replaced.

Check the paper

Paper condition can have a significant effect on laser print quality.

Make sure:

• The paper is not damp.
• The sheets are not excessively curled or damaged.
• The paper is suitable for laser printers.
• The paper is loaded correctly.
• The selected paper size and type match the paper in the tray.

If you are unsure about the current paper, test the printer with fresh standard printer paper.

Check the print settings

Open the printer properties or print settings on your computer.

Check that the selected paper size and paper type match what you have loaded in the printer.

Where appropriate settings are available, try a suitable higher-quality print setting to see whether the output improves.

Avoid changing several settings simultaneously. Changing one thing at a time makes it easier to identify the cause.

Clean the printer

Paper dust and toner residue can contribute to print-quality problems over time.

Use the cleaning procedure recommended by HP for the LaserJet P1100 printer family.

Avoid using household cleaning products on internal printer components or manually cleaning sensitive components unless HP’s instructions specifically tell you to do so.

When should you replace the toner cartridge?

Don’t replace the toner cartridge automatically whenever print quality deteriorates.

First check:

• Paper
• Print settings
• Toner distribution
• Cartridge installation
• Visible cartridge or drum damage
• Whether the problem occurs across different documents

If the cartridge is depleted or its imaging drum is damaged, replacement may be necessary.

Still having print quality problems?

If fresh paper, appropriate print settings, printer cleaning and checking the toner cartridge do not solve the problem, use HP’s official support resources below for further troubleshooting.

Persistent defects may indicate that the toner cartridge or printer requires replacement or service.