Printing with Black Cartridge Only option grayed out: Officejet 6000

Trying to print a black and white photo in gray scale using only the black ink cartridge, unfortunately that option is grayed out. Is there some setting that has to be chosen first before black cartridge only option becomes available?
I feel like I've tried just about every combination, but maybe I'm missing some minuscule, unintuitive step.
Thanks

Nope, its not a bug. When you choose borderless the print region actually becomes bigger than the page to make sure there are no white gaps. The ink that does not make it to the page is caught in a trough filled with foam just below the print zone.
The color ink is a dye ink (like food coloring). The black ink is a pigment ink - like carbon dust suspended in water. When it is over-sprayed in the trough it piles up until the pile of pigment starts dragging and smearing on the back of every subsequent page! Not good, so we do not allow the black cartridge to print when set to borderless.
Say thanks by clicking "Kudos" "thumbs up" in the post that helped you.
I am employed by HP

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Hi,
Many printers from all vendors will not print with just one empty ink cartidge, it doesn't matter which one. Some printers allow users to print but at slower than snail speed. Whichever way, we have to have ink carridges to be able to print (even scan).
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Hey @VIC-GEISH ,
Thank you for taking the time to post on the HP Forums today! Hope you enjoy the experience.
So there are a few things that I have to let you know. No printer, HP or not can print only black that is an InkJet. The reason for this is because many people would print only black with their multi-colour printers and the ink wells for the coloured cartridges would dry out and never be usable. So whether you select black only or greyscale you are still going to be printing some colour in those printouts so that the printer will be able to print colour when you need it to.
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I worked for HP.

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Under Color selection the program used to give 2 selctions for Black Ink Printing.
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MY HP program is up to date.
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Nope, its not a bug. When you choose borderless the print region actually becomes bigger than the page to make sure there are no white gaps. The ink that does not make it to the page is caught in a trough filled with foam just below the print zone.
The color ink is a dye ink (like food coloring). The black ink is a pigment ink - like carbon dust suspended in water. When it is over-sprayed in the trough it piles up until the pile of pigment starts dragging and smearing on the back of every subsequent page! Not good, so we do not allow the black cartridge to print when set to borderless.
Say thanks by clicking "Kudos" "thumbs up" in the post that helped you.
I am employed by HP

I want to print with black ink only, the OFFICE DEPOT salesman told me that he turned off the color.

I want to print with black ink only, the OFFICE DEPOT salesman told me that he turned off the color. I don't want to buy colored ink, I don't use it.

HI,
Welcome to the HP Forum!
topdog3647 wrote:
I want to print with black ink only, the OFFICE DEPOT salesman told me that he turned off the color. I don't want to buy colored ink, I don't use it.
Please identify your notebook/pc /printer.
Look at the base/rear/side of the notebook/pc/printer at the barcoded sticker.
Post item number 2 as seen on the following example of an HP notebook's barcoded sticker. The barcode on your HP product may be slightly different in appearance, but will still have the important information needed for us to help you.
###Do not post the serial number of your product as it is personal information.###
If your printer is a laser printer then simply go to print preferences and select grayscale printing
Best regards,
erico
****Please click on Accept As Solution if a suggestion solves your problem. It helps others facing the same problem to find a solution easily****
2015 Microsoft MVP - Windows Experience Consumer

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This question was solved.
View Solution.

OK so this is weird.
Just thought to plug in my windows 7 netbook onto the printer.
It printed fine with black cartridge!
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After trying the suggested solutions to this problem on the last 20 forum pages with no luck, I took the new black cartridge out of the printer. Later, forgetting there was no black cartridge in it, I proceeded to print a page and finally got a full page printed in black. What does that mean? other than it's a messed up printer. No more HP for me. My old Epson worked for 8 years with no problems. Someone hit the nail on the head when he called the software " invasive". Does HP ever read this board? If they did, one would think they would be concerned about some very angry customers.

fu wrote:
After trying the suggested solutions to this problem on the last 20 forum pages with no luck, I took the new black cartridge out of the printer. Later, forgetting there was no black cartridge in it, I proceeded to print a page and finally got a full page printed in black. What does that mean? other than it's a messed up printer.
It is a bit difficult to diagnose your issue with absolutely no details of printer model or any other relavant data. It appears you have a recent printer with a black and a tri-color cartridge. Your black cartridge is clogged or out of ink or otherwise non-functional. When you remove the black cartridge your printer automatically switched to "reserve mode", generating black using the color cartridge. A fresh working black cartrdige should resolve your issue.
Bob Headrick, HP Expert
I am not an employee of HP, I am a volunteer posting here on my own time.
If your problem is solved please click the "Accept as Solution" button ------------V
If my answer was helpful please click the "Thumbs Up" to say "Thank You"--V

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I have a HP photosmart c6280. I only want to print in black only but my colored ink keeps expiring and needs to be replace too frequently. I have tried grayscale but it still drains my color ink. what can be done about this?????

Greetings!
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tiredofinkscams wrote:
Thanks for the reply. I have the printer set to "fast draft" on everything, and always use the "greyscale" and "black cartridge only". I also never print webpages. The colored ink cartridges still gradually empty. Granted the are much slower at emptying than the black, but I want the option of NOT using and having to replace the color cartridges. I have been tweaking this for some time and I still believe the color cartridges are being used. Please tell me that that is not intentional on HP's part!
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Regards,
Bob Headrick, Microsoft MVP Printing/Imaging
Bob Headrick, HP Expert
I am not an employee of HP, I am a volunteer posting here on my own time.
If your problem is solved please click the "Accept as Solution" button ------------V
If my answer was helpful please click the "Thumbs Up" to say "Thank You"--V

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I know it won't print without a cartrige. I was trying to explain that this "problem" is one that needs to be prepared for in advance by not having empty cartriges installed. I am not trying to find a way around the way the printer is made to function. My printer came with the color cartriges that I plan on having for a long time because I rarely need to print anything in color. The link Jason posted clearly states that this printer, being a IIC, needs all cartriges installed in order for it to print. Here is the section: For example, a driver color setting (by selecting "print in grayscale with the black cartridge only" in printing preferences) specifies printing using only black ink. In addition, many IPH printers can operate in "reserve mode," which allows the user to continue to print with just the black cartridge when the color cartridge is removed or not installed. In HP IIC systems, all supplies are required to be installed in the printer for the printer to function. (empahsis mine) Why it needs all supplies installed to function? I don't know and don't care. Why does it not print with empty color cartriges installed (the first question of the person that started this thread)? I don't know and it doesn't really matter. Have one set of color cartriges on reserve in case one of the ones you have runs out of ink. Don't want to hassle with this "problem"? Own another printer that is not an IIC inkjet printer.

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Hey @VIC-GEISH ,
Thank you for taking the time to post on the HP Forums today! Hope you enjoy the experience.
So there are a few things that I have to let you know. No printer, HP or not can print only black that is an InkJet. The reason for this is because many people would print only black with their multi-colour printers and the ink wells for the coloured cartridges would dry out and never be usable. So whether you select black only or greyscale you are still going to be printing some colour in those printouts so that the printer will be able to print colour when you need it to.
If using ONLY black was what you were trying to get the instructions for, unfortunately that is not possible. If you want to print ONLY black i recommend looking into laser black only printers that are multi-function, black only printers. They don't use ink they using toner power cartridges that last a very long time but are more expensive. We have those options in our HP LaserJet line.
Hope this helps! Have a great day!
I worked for HP.

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Hello GilbertSimi, and welcome to the HP Forums.
I understand you are looking to print without full colour cartridges installed. Due to the ink system design, this model of printer requires the colour ink to be installed to print. Using it without colour ink could cause damage to the ink system.
If you have any questions about ink you can check out this document on Ink Usage in Inkjet Printers, and this document on How HP measures inkjet page yields.
Thank you for posting on the HP Forums.
Please click “Accept as Solution " if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the right to say “Thanks" for helping!
Jamieson
I work on behalf of HP
"Remember, I'm pulling for you, we're all in this together!" - Red Green.

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Hi,
Follow the steps below in order to print using Black Ink only:
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The Print window appears.
NOTE: The Print window might be minimized - Click the Show Details button to see all available settings.
2. To access the color options, click the lowest selection box listed as the name of the program (e.g. TextEdit)
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Dear user BVILLE22,
In 10.1.2, we have intentionally removed the option 'Print color as Black' from the print dialog due to its incorrect behaviour of converting all text to black. The correct one is to print it as Grayscale and for doing so, you can follow the two below mentioned methods:
Method 1:
1. Select your printer and click on its properties button.
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Method 2:
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2. click on Advance button.
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Regards
Sonal
Adobe Systems

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