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- Printing Errors or Lights & Stuck Print Jobs
- Printer Will Not Print My Clip Art files in Color

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08-20-2022 02:12 PM
I am quite puzzled by my printing situation. I was looking for Clip Art that I intended to use for my grand-daughters' birthday decorations. I was looking for, and found, Wonder Woman clip art.. I downloaded the pictures I wanted, moved them into a PowerPoint file and printed them. No problems with these. They were in color and my glossy prints came out in color. Next, I went looking for LOL Queen Bee clip art. I found some pics, saved them to my PC, then moved them into PowerPoint (same as with the Wonder Woman clip art). I sent the pics to my printer (HP 3830 inkjet wi-fi connected), ensured the color menu choice was selected , and initiated the printing process. Low and behold instead of a nice color pic it came out in black+white !! WHY DID THIS HAPPEN ?? I tried everything under the sun including printer delete/re-add, reboot of my PC, and reboot of router. Same result. I ran a printer test page and it did print in color. I wasted many pages of photo paper and many hours of frustration. Anyone have any ideas about this ? thanks...
08-20-2022 03:09 PM - edited 08-20-2022 03:12 PM
Welcome to the HP User Community.
Wow - Clip Art. I've not really used Clip Art in years though I admit I am a fan of the art form.
For those reading: What is Clip Art? File Formats, Usage, Rights, and Where to Download
So - a few guesses - perhaps useful...
If it's only the clip art files are that not printing in color, and - in fact - only particular clip art files that behave this way,
Then
Just a guess - you might have tripped over a usage restriction / license issue.
What? Not all clip art is free for "any use".
Depending on the file format, you might be able to open the individual clip art file in your photo editing / printing software.
Example - like Paint (mspaint)
Note that in Windows 11, Paint has become an application - nicer, cleaner visual presentation, a bit smarter, similar to use, and generally "good old Paint".
What does this do?
Perhaps nothing, though you could try printing the little file on a standard piece of paper and see what it does.
Note that if the file type is .png and you save it as a .jpg file, it might well print in color.
Be Aware!
Changing the file type will also wipe out any transparent background - in the .jpg file, you could end up with a white / colored / or black background border around the little picture.
What else?
If you can do so, try Exporting the original document to PDF.
Print that.
If the PDF file balks, misbehaves, or prints "wrong",
Try printing the PDF file as an image - "image" printing does not require translation and PDF images are treated differently than are actual Image files.
Example
PDF - Print as Image
Reinstall / Update your PDF Reader (Adobe Reader DC /Optional Foxit Reader)
- HINT: Watch out for and UNCHECK unwanted extra software
- Adobe Reader DC software should be installed even if you do not open / view / print PDF files directly from the software.
If the file will not print due to unusual content (odd fonts, color schemes, tables, other oddities), print the file as an Image. Image printing does not require the printer software to translate file content.
- Save the document to your computer
- Open the offending document in Adobe Reader DC
- Click Print icon > Set other options on the menu > Click Advanced button
- Set the printer select the colors (Optional)
- Select Print the PDF file as an image
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