Black lines and smudges on your document may indicate that your printer is dirty. Dirt, dust, or toner accumulated on the rollers or transfer belt can cause smears and smudges on the paper as it goes through the paper. ... A leaky or faulty ink cartridge may be behind the black marks on your document as well.
How do I stop my printer from smudging?
Don't use regular white printer paper when you print pictures or other images. Instead, use a thick, high-quality photo paper to prevent ink smears and smudging. Some brands of photo paper, such as those labeled "Instant Dry," are designed to dry faster than others.
What do I do when my printer is smearing ink?
HP Inkjet Supplies - Ink Smears or Streaks
- Step one: Check your paper. Make sure you printed on fresh, unwrinkled paper. ...
- Step two: Run the clean print cartridges utility. Press the Setup button. ...
- Step three: Clean the area around the cartridge nozzles. note: ...
- Step four: Replace the problem cartridge.
