You can set your printing preferences, or the printer control panel setting, to print color as black and white. When this setting is used, the color in your picture or document is converted to high-quality grayscale. Both black and a small amount of color ink are used to create the quality grayscale image.

When printing documents that do not require color, set your printer to automatically print in black and white:

For computers with a WINDOWS Operating System:

  1. From your computer, select Start > Settings > Printers and Faxes.
  2. Right-click the name of your printer.
  3. Select Printing Preferences.
  4. Select the Advanced tab, then under the Color printing section, select Print Colors as Black and White.
  5. Click OK.

For computers with a MAC OS:

  1. Open the document or picture in the software application you are using.
  2. Change the print mode to black and white.
  3. Save and print the document or picture.

    NOTE:  If there is no option to save to black and white, save to grayscale instead. Printing documents or pictures saved as grayscale will reduce the amount of color ink used. See your software application Help for directions on saving the document or picture as black and white or grayscale.

When copying documents or photos, set the printer to print in black and white:

  1. From your printer control panel, press Home.
  2. Select Copy Document or Copy Photo.
  3. Select Black and White.
  4. Select Save as Defaults, then select OK.
    NOTE:     Depending on your printer model, you can prepare your document or photo for copying, then press the Black Start button.  

Your printer also uses a small amount of color ink when performing printer maintenance.