Skew, Registration, or Image Adjustment

This document provides information about how to align images on a page (called image adjustment, or registration). When experiencing issues with the placement or skew of the image on a page adjust the placement using the control panel of the printer.

The HP LaserJet 4200 and 4300 series printers have the ability to move placement of images on a page from right to left and from top to bottom within roughly 2 mm (0.08 inch) of the correct location. Customers can move the image a total of +/- 5 mm (0.19 inch) in both directions.

NOTE: If the registration is adjusted, it will impact every print job that goes to the printer. In other words, if the registration is adjusted 2 mm to the left, every job sent to the printer will be pushed 2 mm to the left.

To adjust image placement, open the Configure Device menu at the printer control panel. Scroll to the Print Quality submenu, and then select SET REGISTRATION. From here, it is also possible to print a test page from a specified source (input tray) and make individual changes for each input tray.

Customers using preprinted forms with a template might need accuracy better than 2 mm to ensure that the text is printed in the proper locations.

When a duplexer is installed, there are three adjustments available: X1, X2, and Y.

Y is the leading edge adjustment for both Side 1 and Side 2.

X1 is the left-to-right adjustment for the first printed side (which is usually Page 2).

X2 is the left-to-right adjustment for the second printed side (which is usually Page 1).

When adjusting the Y value, it will move the simplex side in the desired direction and the duplex side in the opposite direction. This is because it adjusts the timing of when to start printing after the top sensor is triggered and the first pass (duplex page) prints backwards (bottom to top). To get both the simplex and the duplex page to end up in the same spot, do a little adjusting, possibly in the opposite direction.