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Go back to my question macOS / Earlier Operating Systems User profile for user: Christopher Davis2 Christopher Davis2 Author User level: Level 1 102 points In Preview how print in black & white?

From Preview I would like to print a document in black & white. In the print dialog box there are absolutely no options to simply print in black & white. I am not sure if this dialog is a function of Preview or my printer though. Seems like a simple enough option....

My profile may say OS 10.5.8 but I have updated and am now on Snow Leopard 10.6.7.

Posted on Jun 29, 2011 8:34 AM

Me too (517) Me too Me too (517) Me too Reply Question marked as Top-ranking reply User profile for user: clliiii clliiii User level: Level 1 4 points

Posted on Dec 20, 2016 12:17 PM

I just had the same problem my self. But!, after a little searching and trial and error, I finally figured it out.

In this Print Preview version (for Canon printers?) you have to go to the "Quality & Media" drop down menu. Once there select "Custom" under "Print Quality". Selecting "Custom" reveals a checkbox for "Grayscale Printing". Check it and you are then able to print in black & white.

Only took 5 years!

But hopefully this will help someone else

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply User profile for user: clliiii clliiii User level: Level 1 4 points

Dec 20, 2016 12:17 PM in response to Christopher Davis2

I just had the same problem my self. But!, after a little searching and trial and error, I finally figured it out.

In this Print Preview version (for Canon printers?) you have to go to the "Quality & Media" drop down menu. Once there select "Custom" under "Print Quality". Selecting "Custom" reveals a checkbox for "Grayscale Printing". Check it and you are then able to print in black & white.

Only took 5 years!

But hopefully this will help someone else

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User profile for user: Mouat81 Mouat81 User level: Level 1 4 points

Jul 6, 2017 10:22 PM in response to Christopher Davis2

Hi, I'm using the latest version of MacOS Sierra. Have an Epson Workforce 625 printer but that's probably irrelevant to most people.

I struggled with this for a few minutes, but luckily thought "I'll click on the Preview drop down menu just to see what other options there are".

One of the options from the drop down menu was "Print Settings", and sure enough, the option seems to be in there.

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User profile for user: John Guo John Guo User level: Level 5 5,353 points

Jun 29, 2011 8:42 AM in response to Christopher Davis2

After selecting Print, you need to click on the Paper Type/Quality tab, then select click on Colour and select grayscale.

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User profile for user: cr8383942 cr8383942 User level: Level 1 23 points

Oct 12, 2017 11:04 AM in response to clliiii

2017 and I have a Canon driver that hides this again. It's pretty clear this is not a mistake by Canon and others. They make their money from selling ink, so when people (unnecessarily) print in colour, they sell more of it. It's the same reason, Canon won't even let you print in black & white if one of your coloured inks is empty (even if you have a plenty of black ink). This screams out for Apple to standardize as they always did in the past. It's crippling UX in order to force ink sales.

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User profile for user: Christopher Davis2 Christopher Davis2 Author User level: Level 1 102 points

Jun 29, 2011 9:05 AM in response to John Guo

I must be on Planet Mars or something I can't believe this is such a hassle. Shouldn't there be some easier way? SInce I don't have hours and hours and hours to continue to deal with this (hunting printer drivers, etc) I guess I'll have to save as black & white then print.

Thanks Apple!

UPDATE: Ok I found it. "Color Option" is a teency weency at the very bottom with a drop down triangle where you can then select grayscale. It totally disappeared and appears to be some vanishing afterthought. Well that only took 45 minutes to print in black & white.

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User profile for user: St3v3h3 St3v3h3 User level: Level 1 4 points

Sep 7, 2017 11:34 AM in response to Grateful Ryan

I lost the ability to print in black and white after I downloaded a new printer driver from HP, they also keep telling me my cartridges are fake, they should discuss this with AMAZON

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User profile for user: etresoft etresoft User level: Level 9 56,810 points

Jun 29, 2011 8:55 AM in response to Christopher Davis2

It depends on your printer driver. You may have to hunt around for it.

Another option is to use Preview to save a black and white version of the document using a black and white Quartz filter in Save As.

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User profile for user: StephieWeffie StephieWeffie User level: Level 1 4 points

Oct 7, 2015 11:23 AM in response to DaniTessa

I just noticed that Preview doesn't give me colour options when I'm printing to our laser (B&W only) printer, but if I choose the colour inkjet printer it adds Color Options to the drop down list (Paper feed, Layout, etc. list) so it must depend on the printer drivers.

From what I can tell, this "Color Option" drop down is not part of Preview by default but only shows up when the selected printer supports it. However, I have had some luck choosing Export then save with either a b&w or greyscale Quartz filter as etresoft suggested above.

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User profile for user: vbwilson vbwilson User level: Level 1 8 points

Feb 25, 2017 9:07 AM in response to Christopher Davis2

I went through "presets" clicked on "Quality & Media" and found the greyscale option. When I clicked it however, nothing happened. I don't understand how tough it is for Apple to figure out a better system. In the meantime, I'll just have to waste my money on coloured ink.

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User profile for user: Grateful Ryan Grateful Ryan User level: Level 1 8 points

Jul 12, 2017 5:51 PM in response to clliiii

Yes, that does work - but it would be nice if the "preview" reflected that the B&W option is selected! (mine still shows the preview in color, even thought it actually prints B&W. Also, if you open in PDF, or save in PDF, it doesn't show that in B&W either! Would be nice to be able to review something exactly as it will print, BEFORE printing it. Save a few trees...

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User profile for user: John Guo John Guo User level: Level 5 5,353 points

Jun 29, 2011 8:56 AM in response to Christopher Davis2

I'm using a different OS so it might look different than yours but its there.

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User profile for user: Christopher Davis2 Christopher Davis2 Author User level: Level 1 102 points

Jun 29, 2011 8:48 AM in response to John Guo

There is no color select option. That is what I wsa looking for, but it's not there.

Under "Paper Type/Quality" there is

"Paper Type" (I select Plain)

"Quality" I select Normal or Fast Draft

"Source" (Tray 1 or whatever by default)

That's it.

I also opened it up in Adobe Reader and it was the same print dialog box. I can't believe this is so difficult. It seems like absolutely the most basic thing in the world.

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User profile for user: Liteyear Liteyear User level: Level 1 35 points

May 7, 2017 12:26 PM in response to Christopher Davis2

None of the listed answers worked for me. Looks like it's quite specific to your printer, which *****.

What did work for me:

1. Save as PDF from the printer dialog.
2. Open PDF and print.
3. Select "Grayscale Print" from the "Presets" dropdown. Oddly enough, this preset is not available in the original document (which was a png).

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User profile for user: DaniTessa DaniTessa User level: Level 1 10 points

Oct 6, 2015 11:31 AM in response to Christopher Davis2

Hi I know it's been a long time.. but this stupid program won't let me print in black and white and I was wondering where you found the 'drop down triangle' you reffered to earlier? thanks

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User profile for user: JoshuaHarlan JoshuaHarlan User level: Level 1 4 points

Jan 18, 2017 3:13 PM in response to clliiii

Thank you so much!! Wow. This saved me $209 in colored ink receipts for all these lab manuals I have to print for class. Amazing you are!!!

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