Thankfully, there's more to be said for the HP's photo quality than its print speed. The text documents we tested on the C8180 came out very clear with bright, outstanding colors and dark black lines. The color spread came out even with zero fuzziness or jagged edges, even at smaller points. The printer also produced very pleasing 4x6-inch photos with accurate color reproduction in skin tone and an even hue across the page. Some of the lighter colors appear undersaturated, even on HP's own Premium Glossy Photo Paper, but overall these prints will satisfy some of the most nitpicky photo enthusiasts.
Like many of the printers in HP's Photosmart series, the C8180 produces better quality color scans than grayscales. We noticed a significant amount of compression in the grayscale scans with serious gradation issues at the dark end of the spectrum. This problem is almost nonexistent when scanning color prints, where we were actually impressed with the level of evident detail and representation.
Service and support
HP includes its standard one-year warranty with the Photosmart C8180, which includes 24 hour toll-free technical support and the option to upgrade to an additional two years of HP Accidental Damage Protection as well as access to its unique Pick Up and Return program. HP's Web site also has easy-to-use features including online classes, FAQs, driver downloads, and troubleshooting tips.
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