CM1415fnw: No color option in Google Chrome

[chrismayell]

When printing to the CM1415fnw printer, from Google Chrome (Current version; 33.0.1750.117), the radio buttons which allow the user to choose between color and B&W quickly disappear, once the Print Preview dialogue loads.

As a result, the printer prints in color, all the time.

My research leads me to believe that this is not a Chrome issue, but an issue with HP drivers:  Chrome is querying the printer's color capabilities, and the printer is giving Chrome an incomplete response.

I understand that one can change the color options by choosing Print using system diaolgue... in Chrome.  However, I really loathe the idea of teaching 12 employees how to do this.

Other info...
- All computers are using Mavericks.
- The same behavior happen in Google Chrome Canary (35.0.1857.0).
- Each computer has downloaded and installed the drivers for Mac OS X 10.9 (Driver version 12.34), located here:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?os=4159&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&sw_lang=&product=4089...

If anyone would like more info, just ask.  I'll give it to you.
ANYthing to resolve this issue. 🙂

[Gemini02]

Hi chrismayell,

Welcome to the HP Forums, I hope you enjoy your experience!

I understand you can't change the printer option to black and white using Google Chrome.

I will be happy to help you.

I have provided a document for setting the black and white for Mac using Google Chrome if you like to try it to see if it will resolve your issue.

Mac OS X and Google Chrome: Set printer defaults from color to black and white.

Try another browser to see if you have the same issue.

Please let me know the results.

Thank you for posting on the HP Forums.
Have a nice day!

[chrismayell]

Hi Gemini02,

First off - Kudos to you, in every sense of the word.
Your suggestions were partially helpful, although the problem has not been resolved.


What you suggested does allow me to change the default color option from 'Color' to 'Grayscale'.  That's a small improvement in my situation.
Yay for CUPS.  I forgot about CUPS!

The downside to this is:
- I would have to do this on each computer (I'm managing 14).
- This only changes the default color setting.  It doesn't reenable the "color" option in Google Chrome's print dialogue box.  That's really what I'm looking for.   Very often, we need to switch back and forth between color and B&W printing, depending on what's being printed.  ...Which, I think we can all agree, is a basic expectation to have, right?? 🙂

Your suggestion to use another browser is a good one.  However, the boss wants to use Chrome on all computers.   So, Chrome it is.

Thanks again.

Has anyone else figured out how to get Chrome to behave, when this situation arises?

[Gemini02]

Hi chrismayell,

There isn't a way that I could find to be able to switch back and forth in Google Chrome.

What you can do though is to setup a preset on each of the computers for color and then when the user goes to file, print, then one more click on the drop down beside preset and select the new one for color.

Here is a URL with screen shots.

Mac OS X Creating a Printing Preset in Macintosh OS X.

To create a preset follow these steps:

Create a printing preset.
1. On the File menu, click the Print option.
2. Select the driver.
3. Select the print settings that you want to save for reuse.

Click on the show details button, then click on the Color/Quality from the drop down,

select color.
4. In the Presets menu, click the Save As... option, and type a name for the preset. (Chrome color)
5. Click the OK button.

Use printing presets.
1. On the File menu, click the Print option.
2. Select the driver.
3. In the Presets menu, select the printing preset. (Chrome color)

Then the user can switch back and forth from the preset to default settings for black and the new named one for color.

Thank You.

[chrismayell]

Thanks for these suggestions, Gemeni02.
This will totally work.

However, I'm really looking for something that's as simple as possible for the employees. 
As far as I can see, using presets will involve selection "Print using System Dialogue", which is not ideal.

Something I have been considering is this:
Since we can use CUPS to set the default color setting, I could just install the Printer twice, setting one installation to default to color, and one to default to grayscale.

Then, when the user prints, they will see two printers listed:
CM1415fnw (Color)
CM1415fnw (B&W)

I like this because it doesn't involve using the system print dialogue, and also doesn't require a whole lot of clicking. 🙂

That being said, I should once again underline that the solution you provided above is valid.
So, another Kudos is coming your way.

Best regards,

Chris