I thought I would run this past the experts at this forum. I encountered a problem today I have never had before with my Z3200. As you may know, the HP Print Utility gives you the option of applying Gloss Enhancer across the whole surface of the page on satin and glossy papers. Today, when I chose this option, it printed gray ink across the page (in the exact boundaries where I expected the Gloss Enhancer to be applied, but only in the areas where it should have been totally white). Upon closer examination, it applied Gloss Enhancer, too, along with the gray ink. The unwanted gray disappeared when I turned the Gloss Enhancer "off", or even when I just chose the "Econo" (or spot) Mode. It only appears when I select "whole page" -- then I get gray ink along with the Gloss Enhancer across the page.
I called HP Tech and they less-than-authoritatively said that it could be a defective printhead. But they only suggested that after 5 minutes into the discussion when they had just asked me if my Z3200 was a "scanner" (!) instead of a printer. So I am a little dubious of the caliber of technical expertise I received today.
The printhead in question does dispense the Gloss Enhancer and the regular Gray. It was only 5 months old, lightly used and under warranty, so they are sending a replacement. I appreciate the gesture but wouldn't logic dictate this was a software issue instead of a physical one? I mean, if the gray only appears when "whole page" mode is selected and not in "econo" mode -- wouldn't that be a driver issue?
I was laid off in February and feel very badly about tossing a perfectly good printhead.