HP Confidential

HP Color LaserJet 2600n

Notable

Understanding Calibration

HP Color LaserJet 2600n Printer - Understanding Calibration

Environmental differences, aging print cartridges and toner may cause fluctuations in image density. The
printer accounts for this with image stabilization control and will automatically calibrate at various times to
maintain the highest level of print quality. It may also calibrate upon request using the control panel menu or
the HP Color LaserJet 2600n Toolbox.

Calibration cycles will be placed as jobs in the normal FIFO (First In First Out) job queue, either because a
new cartridge has been inserted, a calibration cycle has been requested or because the printer’s system is set
up to automatically calibrate. The following table will show when and why calibrations occur. As during any
other print job, the printer will be ready and able to accept data during calibrations. In the following items,
“Calibrate” means place a calibration job in the FIFO job queue.

For most calibrations the printer will not interrupt a print job, but will wait for the job to complete before
cleaning or calibrating. While the printer is calibrating it will pause printing for the time it takes to complete
the calibration. The product calibrates at the following time and duration:

Time (When) Options and settings

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At power-on 1.Never calibrate at power-on

2.Immediately calibrate at power-on

3. Calibrate after 15 minutes of idle time after first job since

power-on.

These options can be set through Embedded Web Server

(EWS) /Toolbox. The delay in calibration after the first job since
power-on is configurable by EWS/Toolbox in a range of 5, 15,
30 and 60 minutes. 15 minutes is the default setting.

New consumable calibration
When a new cartridge is installed, the formatter will insert a
calibration job in the FIFO job queue. The only exception is if a
black cartridge is replaced, a cleaning page will be placed in the
job queue prior to the calibration. If printing is stopped at
cartridge OUT thus forcing the user to either install a new
cartridge or select the print with toner OUT override, a
calibration will occur normally. This calibration is mandatory
and not configurable by EWS/Toolbox.

Page count calibration Calibrate after printing 150 pages since the last calibration.

Elapsed time calibration Elapsed time calibration will be configurable by EWS/Toolbox:

1. Off -don’t do elapsed time calibration

2. After 48 hours of time or more have elapsed since the last

calibration, calibrate after 15 minutes since the first print job
is sent. (default)

The elapsed time is configurable by EWS/Toolbox in a range of

Off, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 168 hours.

On-demand calibration A calibration can be initiated from the printers control panel,
System Setup>Print Quality menu, or via the EWS/Toolbox,
Settings>Print Quality menu.

Additional information about calibration

The product will execute two types of calibration, Image density calibration control (D-max) and Image
halftone calibration control (D-half). These occur automatically or can be requested via the Toolbox.

D-max
The purpose of D-max is to set the maximum density (at 100% exposure) of each of the
primary print colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). The printer generates patches that
develop onto the electrostatic transport belt, where the density sensor reads them. The

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engine then calculates and sets the appropriate developer voltage for each color to achieve
the correct values for maximum density. D-max must occur before D-half (halftone ramp
calibration) as developer bias affects halftone levels unequally.

D-half
During D-half calibration, the formatter prints eight (8) patches each of YMCK (Yellow,
Magenta, Cyan, and Black). The patches range from 1/32 to 3/4 halftone level. The engine
reads the density of the eight (8) patches and sends the data back to the formatter. The
formatter re-scales the smooth halftone to match the target halftone ramp density curve. The
detail halftone is adjusted based on a known correlation to smooth halftone and not directly
calibrated.

© 2004 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained

herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and
services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products
and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional
warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions
contained herein.