Can i still print in black ink if colored cartridges are depleted?

[fordman7]

My colored cartridges are depleted and i just installed a fresh black ink cartridge. Was hopingthat i cpould still print in just black but it is not printing anything. Is this the type of printer that needs colored cartridges working also? Don't want to spend the money on new colored cartidges if i don't need it. Woulf appreciate any input. Thanks.

[8lives · Accepted solution]

The 3520 requires that all ink cartridges have ink in them.

[fordman7]

thankyou 8Lives for the feedback. Installed colored cartridges but still won't print in black. Probably thr printhead now. But at least i can print in color if need to.

[8lives]

There is a little mesh filter below the black cartridge. 
Dab it gently with a Q-tip moistened in hot water & let it soak.
It may take a few tries to get the mesh filter unplugged. 
Do a 'clean' operation in between attempts. 

[macleojo]

That is it I'm dumping my HP Officejet printer and going for Cannon printer that does not have these types of expensive cartrdiges.  I needed to print a documente urgently.  

[ollie1]

Thank you for your advice about cleaning the mesh below the cartridge with hot water on a q-tip. It worked on my colored cartridges but after trying several times on the black one, still can't get black ink to print . 

[ollie1]

Thanks for the advice to clean mesh below the cartridge with hot water on a q-tip . It worked for colored inks ,but still not able to print in  black ,after several attempts to clean the mesh.

[8lives]

@Ollie1, if your warranty is over then take a look on youtube on how to clean the printhead on your printer.