How to print in black using only the color inks.

[MCF77]

Black ink doesn't work and while I wait for another printhead I need to print text in black.  How can I configure the printer to use the color inks to print black (as close as possible)  I know it can be done because the "Print Quality Diagnostic" print out is black letters, when it shows the black ink not working.

[Bob_Headrick]

In the future please read this post then provide some details.  What printer model? What operating system? 

In general the printer will use color (even for black text) if you select Glossy Photo paper in the driver.  The pigmented black ink is not compatible with Glossy Photo paper so the driver will send data to use the color inks.  Note that this will print slower and the print quality may not be as good when selecting photo paper settings but printing on plain paper.

[MCF77]

I tried your suggestion of specifying glossy photo paper to force the use of color inks for black, but it didn't work.  Nothing printed.  I have a Photosmart 7525 printer and windows 10 OS.

Thanks for trying.

[Bob_Headrick]

Does the printer go through the motions of printing but the pages are blank when specifying photo media? Are there any error messages?  Do you have ink in your Photo cartridge?

Have you gone through all the troubleshooting steps in the document here?   I would suggest especially checking the vents as shown in Step 4 and manually cleaning the printhead as shown in step 8.  

[MCF77]

The problem is that I don't use the printer very often, so the ink dries up.  Yes, I've gone through everything.  I've washed out the printhead and now the colors are printing fine, but the black ink still doesn't show anything.  I've checked the vents also.  I've ordered another printhead that I hope will solve the problem.

[MCF77]

I'm just looking for an interim solution to print black-like letters with the color inks.  I know it can be done because the printer does it when printing the ink status.  I just don't know how to command the printer to do it for other printing.

[Bob_Headrick]

As I mentioned before, selecting Glossy Photo media should do this.  For this to work in printers with five cartridges, like your Photosmart 7525,  the Photo (Black) cartridge with the bow tie symbol must also work.

You mentioned that this did not work for you.  A few things to check - 

• Does the Photo cartridge print in the test page?
• If so, when you print a text page (such as from Notepad) with photo paper selected does the printer go through the motions of printing, moving the printhead across the page?

[MCF77]

No, the photo black cartridge doesn't work either.  It's the original one and I never changed it because I don't print photos.  However, with neither black cartridges working, black letters still printed on the status print out. So..... there must be a way to command the printer to use the three color cartridges to print black letters - somehow.

[Bob_Headrick]

The test page uses color (including photo black) and black mixed to enable reading the information even if black or color does not work.

The closest thing to this would be to select photo paper, but with a printer that has photo black ink it uses the photo black ink for black.  Since neither black or photo are working on your printer the workaround does not work for you.

Sorry, I do not have any other workarounds.