I don't need color printing-can it use just black ink?
1374179
Yes. The printer comes with black + colors. If you use only black, it will be happy. If you use up the colors, leave the empty color cartridges in place. It will nag you to replace the empty ones but you can ignore that. There are super-size black cartridges available and I suggest you use them for lower cost. I have 2 of these printers used mostly for scanning and printing 11x17 engineering drawings and have no complaints after about 2 years.
1374180
Pretty sure you still have to buy the color cartridges and install so the machine responds, but as another post said, just select black & white printing.
1973068
No. After it runs out of a certain amount of color ink it will absolutely refuse to print, even with a full new black ink when you are trying to print in just black. It's really a rip off and I don't plan on buying one of these again. Right now I have a complete paperweight until I can afford some color ink, even though I never print in color.
489559
As long as you have black ink, you can make black and white copies. The color cartridge is only needed for color copies. Also, if you don't have a color cartridge and try to print a color copy, it will just come out black and white.
1302344
this printer does not use color cartridges to print B&W--; at least not by default. If you are low or out of B&W; ink the printer will ask you if you want to use the color cartridges to create black. This was a major selling point for me because I used to hate how HP printers required color to print B&W.;
2229192
No, it doesn't. According to tech support it mixes color in with the black to get a "richer" black. So even if you only print black and white, you are still going to have to buy color cartridges to have it run.
1656244
No color, it is a thermal printer. Doesn't use ink, uses heat to transfer the data to the paper. You need special paper for it.
1121931
I don't know the answer when you're printing full color, but when you print grey scale or B&W, you can force the printer to use black only (through the print options.)
1968041
you can but If you are out of color, it won't let you print until you replace the cartridge...even if you switch it to black only.
493950
There is an answer to this question. No. The 8550 does not allow for solo Black printing without the "color ink Cartridges". According to HP there is nothing that can be done. But owners of the HP8550A have experimented. See http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Other-Printing-Questions/Officejet-Pro-8500-How-can-you-print-without-color/td-p/124181/page/5
1212896
Doesn't require cartridges to scan. You can scan with no cartridges installed. Yes, it does use color to print only black by default but you can set it to use the black cartridge only when printing only black (read the manual, it's on Page 14). http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02497809.pdf
96216
The Lexmark software has an option to use Black ink only. If you don't select this, even when you print an all-black document the printer uses a little bit of the color ink (as I understand it). So when I am printing a b&w; document I make sure I select "Use Black ink only" and it seems to stretch out the life of my color cartridges...IMHO
416575
after reading all of this im still confused....will THIS PRINTER IN PARTICULAR print black & white even if the color ink isn't in the printer?
1315147
No. This printer will ensure you must purchase ink cartridges even if you intend to print greyscale only and even though there is NO COLOR INK needed to print greyscale!
1185518
this printer does not use color cartridges to print B&W-- at least not by default. If you are low or out of B&W ink the printer will ask you if you want to use the color cartridges to create black. This was a major selling point for me because I used to hate how HP printers required color to print B&W.
1867574
Yes. It only prints in black. The reason I got this is because if u print in black most of the time u use less ink versus the multi-color printers. Multi-color printer uses all colors even if u are printing in black only, therefor ink runs out quicker and its a bigger expense. Hope this helps.
1301772
I was able to do this however, the method for setting this up is somewhat dependent on your computer operating system. I have Windows 7 and I was able to open what's called an HP Printer Assistant application. From there, I selected "Set Preferences". From there, select the "Layout" tab and the "Advanced" option. Once in this advanced settings, there is a line for "Print in Grayscale" that has an option for "Black Ink Only". Alternatively, everytime you go to print, there should be an advanced option for doing the same thing.
856906
You can set the default setting to just use black ink. You can even put security settings that only certain people can use the color ink.