The main causes of banding are:

-Printhead problems.
-Use of Non-HP media.
-Incorrect media type selected in the front panel.
-Media advance problems.

Banding Caused by Printhead Problems

Banding caused by problems with the Printhead(s) will be highlighted in the Diagnostic Print because the banding is not in all of the colors, the colored strip that has banding was caused by the same colored Printhead.

In the following example, there is a problem in the Magenta Printhead. There will be clear repetitive bands (perhaps white) in the magenta column.

1. Perform Printhead Recovery (See How to fix the Nozzle Defects).

2. If there is no improvement after Printhead Recovery, replace the failing Printhead.

Banding Caused by Media Advance Problems

Another type of banding is caused by an inaccurate media advance. In this case there will be banding (horizontal repetitive bands along the test pattern) in all the color columns.

The bands can appear as dark bands, due to a shorter advance of the roller which causes an overlap, or lighter bands due to a longer advance causing spaces.

Banding in all of the colors

1. If the image is grainy, this could also be a symptom of problems with the bidirectional alignment (See Solving Bidirectional Alignment Problems). If the Bidirectional Alignment pattern has no problems go to step two.

2. Make sure that the media selection made in the front panel is the same as the media that you have loaded.

3. It is possible that the banding was caused because the customer was using non-HP media. If the customer still wants to use non-HP media, recalibrate the paper accuracy by performing the User's Accuracy calibration and NOT the Service Accuracy Calibration (Refer to the User's Guide). Performing this will overwrite the default setting for only the paper that you have selected.

4.Perform the Printheads alignment procedure (Refer to the User's Guide).