How to print only b&w (greyscale)?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Roger - 28 Aug 2005 14:57 GMT

Hey all, I noticed when PC printers are out of a certain color ink it
prints anyway by default, what you print just comes out missing those
tones. But my Mac (e.g. printing from Safari to an Epson 820, Panther)
just won't print when it's missing color ink (new black cart is there).
Is there a way I can get it to print anyway? i don't care if it's
missing certain tones, or can I just tell it to print a greyscale
version of the page?

Thanks for any suggestions,
Rog

Reply to this Message

Shane Badham - 28 Aug 2005 20:33 GMT

> Hey all, I noticed when PC printers are out of a certain color ink it
> prints anyway by default, what you print just comes out missing those
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Thanks for any suggestions,
> Rog

Colour printers do grayscale by mixing the colours to give shades of
black. If your printer has lost a colour due to a fault or empty tank,
it will print an incomplete grayscale from the remaining colours and
will take on a shade from whatever combination of colurs that are left.

Epson obviously stop the process because the printer is incapable of
creating true greyscale. In addition, because you are mising a colour
the quality is not as good, even if you can accept the colour cast.

As I understand it pure b&w printers did it by dithering, i.e spreading
the black ink more thinly for lighter grays.

Signature

Regards, Shane
"A closed mouth gathers no feet!"
Website: http://www.wonk.demon.co.uk/

Reply to this Message

Roger - 28 Aug 2005 22:26 GMT

> > Hey all, I noticed when PC printers are out of a certain color ink it
> > prints anyway by default, what you print just comes out missing those
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> As I understand it pure b&w printers did it by dithering, i.e spreading
> the black ink more thinly for lighter grays.

Ahh, I see, thanks Shane.

Rog

Reply to this Message

Tom Stiller - 28 Aug 2005 22:52 GMT

> > > Hey all, I noticed when PC printers are out of a certain color ink it
> > > prints anyway by default, what you print just comes out missing those
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Ahh, I see, thanks Shane.

If you're printing images, you can dither the image in advance with
something like GraphicConverter.

Signature

Tom Stiller

PGP fingerprint = 5108 DDB2 9761 EDE5 E7E3
7BDA 71ED 6496 99C0 C7CF

Reply to this Message

Mac Forum / General / Hardware / August 2005

How to print only b&w (greyscale)?