Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper

Subject: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 08:46 PM

We are using an HP Deskjet 5150 inkjet printer which has always done a good job for us. Yesterday we tried to print some text on bright yellow paper. Whenever we tried, we got either an "out of paper" or "paper jam" message. Although the paper wasn't actually scrunched up or anything like that, it simply would not transport through the printer even though the same text would print fine on white paper of the same weight.

We emailed HP and they told us that our printer would not print on yellow paper. After a second inquiry, they confessed that our printer would not print on any color paper except white.

So, we have two questions. First, has anyone else had this experience? Second, how does the printer even know what color the paper is?

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 10:28 PM

Two thoughts come to mind:

Colored paper has a different texture than white does and often a different weight.

Second: I read an account by a computer tech that said he'd had a long phone call from a person whose printer wouldn't print on yellow paper, although it did fine on other colors.

Turned out the text was in yellow ink.

:)

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 02:21 AM

Well, my HP printers have always done pink and blue, but I don't think I've tried yellow. It may be that the "electric eye" that detects when you're out of paper, doesn't "read" yellow. I'll betcha it will read baby blue and hot pink....

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Rasener
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 02:44 AM

I have an HP 970cxi and I have never had problems prinying on coloured paper (including yellow, which is one of my favourite colours to use).
Have you checked to see that the coloured paper is compatible with your printer?

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 02:45 AM

Is there a bit of gloss or sheen to the surface of the paper?

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Mr Red
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 03:13 AM

maybe the printer uses a photocell to detect the edge of the paper. And maybe it is an infrared scheme. Looking at the paper doesn't tell you much in that case. If the rflectivity is not sufficiently different from the background at the frequency of the light ------

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: s&r
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 05:34 AM

I've just printed three different yellow papers including fluorescent yellow with no trouble on an HP R45

Stu

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 01:49 PM

It's beginning to sound like this problem is unique to the HP 5150.

Here are HP's exact words: "...the HP Deskjet 5150 printer does not support any colored paper. The only compatible paper is white HP papers."

We have put thousands of pages of "ivory" paper through it with no problems. Ivory is sort of an off white or light beige color.

Also, the paper we bought says on the package, "laser, inkjet, offset and copier guaranteed".

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 02:15 PM

Go buy a cheap printer. My Lexmark Z 23 has no problems with yellow.

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 02:28 PM

Bev and Jerry, you live in California, so certainly you must know what "5150" means.
-Joe-


(it refers to California Health and Safety Code Section 5150, which allows the police to hold a person for 3 days if the person is dangerously crazy)

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 02:29 PM

Sorcha:

That crossed our minds but how would we know that a new printer could print on colored paper? We read the entire manual for the HP 5150 and checked its specifications on line and nowhere does it say that it won't print on colored paper. It says the printer is compatible with "plain paper" but never says white or colored.

And, is the HP 5150 in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 if it only serves white paper?

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 02:32 PM

Joe:

Are you saying we were crazy to buy that printer? Or, are you questioning our sanity in general (a reasonable question, indeed)?

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 02:40 PM

Sorry, but I wouldn't have a Lexmark if you gave me one (except for one of their high-end printers). The printers are cheap as dirt, but they use up the ink like a portside whore uses lipstick. And the cartridges are the most expensive. That's hoe Lexmark makes its money.

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 05:43 PM

True, Cluin, but they print on coloured paper.

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 06:02 PM

an aside..
if you print purple on yellow paper it comes out black.

as a printer myself I often have to remind people if they choose
a specific pms ink (pantone) ink on a coloured paper the ink will come out different.

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 06:35 PM

My HP DeskJet 820 prints on coloured paper (and cardstock, and labels, and...) It's been in service for years and seeen a lot of different papers go through it. It was well worth the money though it cost a bit more than others at the time.

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Gurney
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 07:33 PM

One of my previous printers, sorry, Cluin, it was a Lexmark, gave very funny symptoms when the sun was shining on the back of it. I finally worked out that it was the photocell, and shaded it.
Try that free fix first, anyway.

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: folk1e
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 07:29 PM

I am happy with my Lexmark 7170 all in one printer / coppier / fax!
The ink is very cheap £7 for 3 bottles @ 3 re-fills per bottle!
Or £10/ cartridge if I get tit done at the shop!

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: folk1e
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 07:30 PM

and it will print on any color paper!

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Cluin
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 01:01 AM

So will my ass.

But then it leaves a mess on the couch afterwards.

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 03:04 AM

Liz, Liz,

apparently you can get tit done at the shop!

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Michael
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 07:26 AM

So just what IS a Tit Cartridge then?
Do they contain condensed milk?

Mike

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 05:24 PM

OK. We took the yellow paper to our local print shop and they ran it through two of their printers with no problems. So, we can assume the paper is OK.

Then, they gave us some yellow (and also blue) paper to try on our printer. Both of them jammed and would not go through our printer. But (and here's the good part) if we place a yellow sheet in the tray with a white sheet on top of it and ask for two copies of a document, both pages go through just fine.

Perhaps someone closer to God than us can explain that!!

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: terrier
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 05:50 PM

Hi Bev and Jerry, I think your printers paper sensing is not 'seeing' coloured paper.Try locating the 'eye' and give it a clean. The reason it feeds a yellow sheet ok second is because it only checks the first sheet in a run.Possibly try setting your paper type to 'custom' in the driver setup,ie 'printing preferences'.

Subject: RE: Tech: Ink Jet Printer vs. colored paper
From: Kajikit
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 09:26 PM

Or else you can put a blank page at the front of all your documents and bung a sheet of white on top of the coloured paper you actually want to use!