THIS IS AN INK CARTRIDGE WITH THE PRINT HEAD INTEGRATED.

This is a grey tri-color cartridge that is used in conjunction with their regular tri-color cartridge to print black and white photographs.  This photo ink cartridge contains 1/3 black, 1/3 light grey and 1/3 dark grey. You replace the black cartridge with this photo grey inkjet cartridge. It goes in the black slot, not the color slot. When you have the photo grey cartridge in the printer it provides better vibrancy of black and white photo prints without giving the color tinges that can happen when a standard tri-color (cyan, yellow, and magenta) cartridge is used to print shades of grey.

The dark grey and light grey inks inside the cartridge are dye based whereas the black ink is pigment based.

Not Recognizing

 

Verify you have the correct cartridge for your specific model printer.

 

The ink levels may NOT read correctly.  These cartridges may read low or empty.  With HP printers this should not stop the printer from being able to print.  You may get a message stating the cartridge is empty or a previously used cartridge has been installed but pressing OK or the Resume button on the printer will get past this.  Even though the levels may read low or empty the cartridge will still print the full page yield.

 

There may be a piece of tape present on the cartridge that covers the print head and some of the contacts.  Make sure this piece of tape has been removed if it’s present.

Using a coffee filter or a lint-free cloth gently wipe the gold/copper connection points found on the side of the cartridge.  Sometimes if dried ink, finger print oil, or some of the tape residue stays on the contacts it can cause the cartridge not to recognize.

 

Not Fitting

 

There’s a protective clip on the outside of the cartridge which must be removed.  If the cartridge looks too big the protective clip probably has not been removed.  The clip will just snap off the cartridge.

 

Make sure you are installing this photo grey cartridge in the black slot.  This cartridge takes the place of the black cartridge and must be used in conjunction with the regular tri-color cartridge.  The cartridges have tabs on the top which will only allow the cartridge to fit into the correct slot.

 

Print Quality Issues

 

The print head is located on the bottom of the cartridge.  Do NOT touch the print head with your fingers.  Verify the piece of tape has been removed.

 

Take a warm damp paper towel or coffee filter and blot the cartridge with the print heads facing down onto the paper towel to remove the dried ink on the print head. Then, taking a DRY paper towel or coffee filter, hold the cartridge down against the paper towel for 2-3 minutes. A dry paper towel will wick the ink out. Do not wipe the print head as this may cause damage.

 

Some of the HP printers have a print head or cartridge cleaning function.  Check with the User’s Manual for the specific printer to see if this cleaning is available and how to use it.

 

Click on the YouTube video below to view a video on performing the paper towel method