How can I stop a printer from printing colour unless I want it to?

  • Thread starter Thread starter steve
  • Start date Start date
Gernot Hassenpflug said:
Joel> You are correct that Grayscale is COLOR and the printer
Joel> will mix color with Black ink to make different level of
Joel> grayscale. And as I have mentioned that the OP has at least 2
Joel> different choice

Hi,

I am pretty sure you know more than I about printers, so let me ask you
this:

- in several (older model) printers I have analysed, there is an option
to use only the black cartridge. Clearly, this is a perfect solution.
Click to expand...

Not exactly several older model *but* some models of some manufacture
(like HP for example) which has Black + Color + Photo Color *but* it has
only 2 ink slots. So it's little waco design by making owner swapping the
cartridges, and I believe (not 100% sure) that it can run with just Black
catridge only. Or may be some other model?
Joel> 1. Removing all color by changing the Color Mode to B&W only
Joel> mode (Index mode for example)

- in newer models there is never any mode that uses only black, even
if a black cartridge is available and could theoretically be
used. Even in greyscale-setting, there are cases where CMY inks (only) are
used in the printjob. This seems to indicate that even if the document
contained only black (no grey) that color inks would be used,
depending on the quality setting for example. And on these printers, I
have never seen a mono setting (1-bit black/white only).
Click to expand...

I guess because the manufacture doesn't bother to go through all kind of
trouble to have different option very few people want. And why not force
owner to buy more ink when the printer will eat ink no matter if you print
or not.
Does this make sense?

Joel> 2. Or replacing all the color ink cartridge with Grayscale Ink
Joel> Cartridges then there will be no color but different level of
Joel> black (grayscale).

This I would be very happy to see. I have only seen grey for high-end
printers, but what you are talking about I imagine is not sold in the
usual consumer-oriented retail outlets?

Best regards,
Gernot
PS I recently started hacking on Canon printer support for linux, so all
this is of decidedly practical interest to me.
Click to expand...

Of course it's nice to have everything we want, but sometime just enough
is better than too much. Or we have something to wish for else life would
be so boring.
 
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