Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

I only want to print black with color printer.

Sep 29, 2004 11:04AM PDT

I have an Epson Stylus C80 that I use for black ink printing only. Unfortunately this is one of those printers that won?t let you print in black if the color cartridges are empty. I have no interest in printing in color, and I would like to somehow fool it into thinking that the color cartridges are full. I checked all the settings and options and there?s no way to override this. Even when I tick black and white instead of color on the general tab, I still get the red light indicating that my cartridges are empty and it won?t print. Has anybody found a work-around for this problem?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re: I only want to print black with color printer.
Sep 30, 2004 12:39AM PDT

Please contact me at Relztrah@hotmail.com. Thank you.

- Collapse -
printing in only black and white
May 3, 2009 4:54AM PDT

is there a way to print in only black and white on my printer if some of my other colors of ink are low my printer is epson cx8400 i would appriecate a response later michael bye

- Collapse -
Sadly such days appear to be long gone.
May 3, 2009 5:32AM PDT

You'll find some members FLAME and RANT over the passing of this feature.

- Collapse -
how to get Epson C86 to pring only b & w w/one of the color
Jan 10, 2010 2:03AM PST

Hello All:

See question above. Is this possible?

Thank you for considering my question.

Bob

- Collapse -
Hi Bob
Jan 10, 2010 7:07AM PST

After more time on this issue I think the days of doing this are long gone. Maybe if you fill all carts with black ink?

- Collapse -
B&W Is real B&W, its a combo of color as well...
May 3, 2009 10:53AM PDT

Unless you're an electronics engineer consider this a lost cause. You can't under the typical anything revamp the printer to actually print in B&W w/o color involved. It's that way for one very important reason, inkjet printers no matter who makes them tend to clog. Thus, as unused color ink carts with a B&W only output would when color was needed, become less and less stable as time passes. A typical B&W output is actually using minute color ink to keep the color inkjets refreshed. It serves the minor cause of losing color ink in the process, but at least you'll happy when color demand is needed. Since all ink levels are being monitored when color is low, it has to be replaced to continue on. You may call this a plot/conspiracy but the hope is the inkjet printer has less ink clogs over its lifetime.

Some aftermarket vendors may offer a huge ink tank system upgrade for alot of ink usage. If the C80 falls into this category, good luck.

tada -----Willy Happy

- Collapse -
B & W only...
Jan 10, 2010 9:58PM PST

Thank you very much for your reply re my question. Looks like I have to try other options for B & W only...

Bob

- Collapse -
epson support and buy an ink cartridge ressetter
Aug 15, 2011 7:42AM PDT

Then use the instr... and you will reset the empty cartridge as new... done, 2 use the epson utility / preferences under propierties and set to only black ink...done.
If you do not have this utility, go to support, and downloaded it and installed...done