Photosmart 8250: No "Print In Grayscale" under Snow Leopard [ Edited ]

[MFfan310]

Well, I just realized that my trusty HP Photosmart 8250 that I have had for 4 years (still works good... built like a Sherman tank) doesn't have the "print in grayscale" feature in the Print menu settings after I upgraded to Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Even after updating to the new HP drivers from Apple and 10.6.1, it still didn't come back. This is a huge bummer, as I used this feature quite often, particularly for black text-only documents.

Do any of the HP inkjet printers or MFPs currently being sold have the "print in grayscale" feature under Snow Leopard, or does HP plan on adding this feature back into a future driver? I really didn't want to upgrade, as this printer still works and has served me so well, but if it goes, it goes.

Message Edited by MFfan310 on 09-20-2009 01:49 PM

[MFfan310]

UPDATE: I just updated to the new HP v.2.2 drivers for Snow Leopard, and Print in Grayscale is still not available for the Photosmart 8250.

Anyone at HP know if/when this feature will come back in a future driver update?

[Vanricker · Accepted solution]

Hello MFfan,

I believe that Grayscale printing is supported with the HP inkjet printers and 10.6.  I don't have your exact model but the feature set is pretty much the same for all the HP Inkjet printers.

I found the 'Print in Grayscale' option from the print dialog box - Open the triangle so you see the extended Print Dialog box.  Select Paper Type/Quality - open the triangle next to Color Options menu at the bottom center of the Print Dialog box.    In the 'Color' menu you should be able to select Grayscale, Color Smart/sRGB, etc.

 Hopefully that works for you,

[MFfan310]

Found it! It was just in a different place than I was used to in 10.5 Leopard.

Thanks, you were such a help!

[LeeS]

MFfan310

I read where you have had the same problem with your Photosmart 8250.  I just upgraded my Mac to Snow Leopard and I can't get the printer to print in B/W.  Everything comes out with a heavy magenta cast.  I see where you found the solution.  What did you do?  I see the guy from HP said something about the print driver.  Well, I can't even find that.  Can you help?  My email address is:  ezflyer36@yahoo.com.  I appreciate your assistance.   

[CaliforniaBarb]

I would like to be able to set grayscale or black only print to "best" quality.  Is there a way to do that in Snow Leopard?  Right now the best I can do is "plain paper, fast draft, black and white."  This when printing documents from Microsoft Office (word,excel, entourage) Mac 2008 or from the internet using Firefox.

[LeeS]

You can't believe the problems I've had with my printer (Photosmart 8250) not printing in Black and White (Grayscale).  Ok, I'll try to run you through exactly how I found out what to do.  

1) Go to FILE and click on PRINT.  

2) When this dialog box opens, where it says COLOR HANDLING: make sure it is set on PRINTER MANAGES COLORS.  

3) I also have it set on RELATIVE COLORIMETRIC where it says Rendering Intent:.  

4) Then click PRINTING.

5) Your print dialog box will come up.

6) Where it says PRESETS:, make sure it is set on STANDARD.

7) In the box that says LAYOUT, open that and check the COLOR MATCHING.  Make sure it is set on VENDOR MATCHING (It will be grayed out, but it will be selected).

8) Next (same box) go down to PAPER TYPE/QUALITY.

9) Make sure the Paper Type is set on AUTOMATIC.

10) Now just below the "Borderless Expansion" is a small black triangle that says "Color Options.".  Click this.

11) There is a box that says COLOR.  Open this and select GRAYSCALE.

12) Just below this is GRAYSCALE MODE:  Click on "Black Print Cartridge Only"

13) Then click PRINT.

I think this will get the job done.  Where I made my mistake is I set up some presets for different size photos and did not go through the above sequence first.  Now my presets are set up with this sequence and I haven't had any more trouble since.  I got on the HP Customer Forum and asked the same question you asked but nobody responded so I had to figure it out myself.  I hope this solves your problem.  Please email me again and let me know if this worked for you.

[CaliforniaBarb]

My print dialogue did not include steps 2, 3 and 4.  But I did the other steps and it seems to work fine.  I will really know when the printer stops eating up the color ink cartridge.

Thank you for your help.