Hewlett-Packard 500C/550C Printer Drivers for The Print Shop Deluxe-MS-DOS (Version 1.1)
Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 550C -- This printer is supported in two ways: using the color cartridge only, and using the color cartridge in combination with the black cartridge. There are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches. The problem with using inks from both cartridges at the same time is that the inks are chemically incompatible, so that if you try to mix the inks, they will bleed together, and produce a smudged appearance. For this reason, Hewlett-Packard recommends that graphics programs, such as The Print Shop Deluxe, only use the color cartridge. The disadvantage with that is that you only get a "composite black," which is created by combining the cyan, magenta, and yellow inks in the color cartridge, and has a greyish appearance. However, if most of your document is multicolor graphics, with just a bit of black, using only the color cartridge will be quite adequate, and will give you very pleasing colors. To do this, select the DeskJet 550C with the words "No color bleed" after it.
If you do want to print your documents with both the color cartridge and the black cartridge, select the DeskJet 550C with the words "True black" after it. While this gives you a true black instead of composite black, it will print slower, and the black ink will bleed into the colors somewhat. We have minimized this bleeding, but it cannot be completely eliminated because of the incompatibility of the inks. You will notice the bleeding more in lighter colors, such as yellow, but it will be less noticeable in darker colors, such as navy blue or purple. In addition, if you print at a lower resolution, such as 150 dpi, less ink will be put onto the page, and therefore, will bleed less. An added benefit is that your document will print faster than at 300 dpi.
In summary, for best results with the DeskJet 550C, consider the following tips:
ò Determine whether you really need to have true black in your document. If you use the driver that says "No color bleed," it will be faster and the colors will blend together well without any bleeding.
ò Use the "True black" driver only when necessary, such as for text.
ò Use the "True black" driver at 150 dpi or the "No color bleed" driver for a faster first draft.
ò If you do need true black in your document, try separating it from other colors, especially lighter colors, such as yellow. For instance, if you are using black text, position the text block so that it doesn't overlap any multicolor graphics.
The files you just downloaded are the HP DeskJet 500C/550C printer drivers. To install the printer drivers please follow the steps listed below.
1. Switch to the hard disk drive and subdirectory that the Print Shop Deluxe printer driver files are stored in. If you installed to the default directory, this would be C:\PSDELUXE\PSD. At the C:> prompt, type: CD\PSDELUXE\PSD and press Enter.
2. To make sure you are in the correct subdirectory, type: CD and press Enter. On the line below the DOS prompt you should see C:\PSDELUXE\PSD.
3. Copy the printer drivers onto the hard disk using the DOS copy command. For example: If the HP DeskJet 500C/550C Printer Drivers for The Print Shop Deluxe-MS-DOS (Version 1.1) is in drive A, type: COPY A:*.* and press Enter. If the HP DeskJet 500C/550C Printer Drivers for The Print Shop Deluxe-MS-DOS (Version 1.1) is in drive B, type: COPY B:*.* and press Enter.
4. Switch to the Print Shop Deluxe subdirectory and start the program. For example: at the DOS Prompt type CD\PSDELUXE and press Enter. Once you are in the PSDELUXE subdirectory start the program by typing PSD and pressing Enter.
5. Please follow the steps on page 14 of the Print Shop Deluxe Reference Manual for "SETTING UP YOUR PRINTER". The list of printers will be slightly different now. Find the one you are looking for and select it.
