How Do I Print in Black Ink Only?

Color ink may add flair to your documents, but it is an expensive option for day to day printing. If you’re in the habit of hitting "print" frequently, your ink expenses will add up and your color ink may be wasted on web page ads and other colorful images that don’t lend anything to the item you were printing. For documents, web printouts, forms and other basic items, the use of color ink is a waste. Set up your printer to only print the color items you really need.

Instructions

1. Select the document or text that you want to print. If you are printing off the web, highlight only the text that you are interested in printing and leave out colorful banner ads and sidebars.

2. Click "File," then "Page Setup." Depending on the type of document you are printing, this may give you the option for setting the printout to black and white. In Microsoft Excel, for example, the “Sheet” tab has an option for “Black and White.”

3. Go to "File." then click "Print." The screen that you see will vary depending on your printer and settings. Open the "Properties" window to access the most detailed view of your printer settings.

4. Look over the available options for your printer properties. The choice to print your document in black in white, or to print color images as black and white images, should be among them. This is often in the “Advanced” options.

5. Change your settings to "black and white" printing and print your document. If you want this to be your default setting, open the "Devices and Printers" window of your computer and open the options for your printer. Adjust the print options to default to black and white printing.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have difficulty locating the correct option for your specific printer, check your user’s guide or the manufacturer’s website.

References

• InfoPackets: Print Web Pages in Black and White