Question on ink requirements Does this printer required color cartridges to print in black and white?Does it use color ink slowly, even if never actually printing in color?Does it require color/black cartridges to use the SCANNER function only?All three of those questions sound ridiculous, I know. But my Canon MX860 currently answers yes to all those questions and I am fed up with spending $50 every 6 months on color cartridges I don't even use, only to watch them slowly empty. I would like to make sure this HP printer does not do the same thing before I purchase it. Thanks. Question on ink requirements Does this printer required color cartridges to print in black and white?Does it use color ink slowly, even if never actually printing in color?Does it... » Read More Question on ink requirements Does this printer required color cartridges to print in black and white?Does it use color ink slowly, even if never actually printing in color?Does it require color/black cartridges to use the SCANNER function only?All three of those questions sound ridiculous, I know. But my Canon MX860 currently answers yes to all those questions and I am fed up with spending $50 every 6 months on color cartridges I don't even use, only to watch them slowly empty. I would like to make sure this HP printer does not do the same thing before I purchase it. Thanks. « Show Less
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I have just tested it myself and it doesn't require a color cartridge to be installed. It will use up more of the black ink, since even black & white printing use up color ink. They use it to somehow help the black ink printouts survive longer. So if you don't mind losing those advantages...I think this particular feature is called "Reserve Mode" by HP. The only information I could find on it is for another HP printer, but with the same type of integrated cartridge/printhead as our HP Deskjet 3050 printer. https://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&dlc;=en&docname;=c00377367&lc;=en&product=357202More on HP Ink cartridges at http://h10060.www1.hp.com/pageyield/en-019/articles/howInkIsUsed.html?cCode=us%20target= I have just tested it myself and it doesn't require a color cartridge to be installed. It will use up more of the black ink, since even black & white printing use up color ink. They use it to somehow help the black ink printouts survive longer. So if you don't mind losing those advantages...I think this particular feature is called "Reserve Mode" by HP. The only information I could find on it is for another HP printer, but with the same type of integrated cartridge/printhead as our HP Deskjet 3050 printer.... » Read More I have just tested it myself and it doesn't require a color cartridge to be installed. It will use up more of the black ink, since even black & white printing use up color ink. They use it to somehow help the black ink printouts survive longer. So if you don't mind losing those advantages...I think this particular feature is called "Reserve Mode" by HP. The only information I could find on it is for another HP printer, but with the same type of integrated cartridge/printhead as our HP Deskjet 3050 printer. https://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&dlc;=en&docname;=c00377367&lc;=en&product=357202More on HP Ink cartridges at http://h10060.www1.hp.com/pageyield/en-019/articles/howInkIsUsed.html?cCode=us%20target= « Show Less
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Color and black and white are two separate cartridges. If you're not printing in color, then the color won't empty.
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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
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I'm sorry I can't answer the question about ink use yet....I've only had this printer a short while--a little over a month. What I do like about this model and my i860 Pixma (which unfortunately bit the dust) is the fact you can purchase separate color cartridges.
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Thanks for getting back to me. My problem is that the small one is the one that is getting empty, and the big one is still as full as when I first bought the printer. I print mostly documents, but don't know how to force the printer to use the big black cartridge. I am thinking of trying selecting "grayscale" more often, to see if that starts drawing down on the big cartridge. I have previously just selected color printing, even if doing only black and white documents.Again, thanks for answering my cry in the wilderness.Cheers!
1505041
The trick is that you and I have been had, honestly. We all have the exact same problem with it. I haven't printed a color image on it in over 2 years but still run out of COLOR ink constantly. I researched for quite a while looking for some kind of workaround to prevent this needless waste of ink. They've also configured the thing so that it's 50/50 whether it'll even recognize 3rd party ink cartridges. Now I've decided to just use it as a scanner, save up and get a black-ink-only laser-jet for every day printing, and not keep throwing money away on ink. Even the Canon manual says that no matter what you do to print grayscale or draft quality, the printer WILL suck out color ink anyway. Further, every time you turn it on, it does unnecessary "cleaning" which also uses ink at a ridiculous level. This is no industry secret though. All color printers do this which is why printers don't cost a whole lot. They get you on the back end for the ink. It's a shame too because this printer did a marvelous job with color photos.
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it uses ink jet cartridges not sublimation ink. you can feed pretty much any printing paper in it print wise. But it is not compatible with sublimation ink cartridges. Best advice call Canon directly and let the salesman give you all the bells & whistles. Then when you find your price search amazon & compare the price. so far this printer works like a charm & have had no problems. Scans fine,copies and does what a printer supposed to do. Work and print and ask for ink once in a while. No errors
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The black ink is 240XL or 240XXL. You can use either one. The XL and XXL only refer to how many papers the ink will print before running out (XXL prints more). I don't know if it will operate with only one cartridge or not. I've never tried it with my Canon. I know that my Epson printer refuses to work at all without all of its ink colors--it won't even do non-printing functions like scan. At the very least, even if does work, it will probably print strangely...and you will use up your color ink a lot faster. I find to conserve ink, it is best to use both colors.
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No, if any of the color cartridges are empty it doesn't print black (as in text). It doesn't print anything. p.s. Just happened to notice the black print option on the actually printer, and tried it out (the printing option is the only one that doesn't seem to respond to this option) but copying certainly did. Sorry for the incomplete answer.
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All cartridges must have some amount of ink left to continue printing, even if you're printing in black and white. See below for how fast the color drains on the 901, it does not drain like my Canon did.
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I think this is a ploy to force customers to buy color cartridges even if you are only printing in black & white. There's no solution that I know of except to buy store brand ink cartridges. I still don't understand why you need cartridges in the printer in order to scan and fax - that still has me stumped, but I think it's a design flaw.
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Rebecca, Very hearening to hear it may not be 'just me'. The real problem seems to be that there are two modes of printing in grayscale with the HP6500. 'Black ink only' is just what it implies; grayscale rendered with the black ink cartridge only - and with perfectly good grayscale quality too. The other option: 'high quality' is actually a color dependant mode that, for some obscure reason, sprays a coat of Yellow ink onto the image area, in addition to black ink. At least that is the explanation given to me by the HP Customer Care people. The real problem lies in my inability to use the 'black ink only' option AND any 'double-sided printing' option both at the same time. You may find relief in using the 'black ink only' mode by making sure the 'double-sided printing' option is set to OFF. If you are still awake after all of this, I include my recent post to all and sundry trying to get someone out there to at least confirm that this phenomenon actually exists, and not just some bizarre short-coming in my specific situation; as HP has implied for almost a week now... In short, my opinion is that it is some bug in their software. Good Luck with your problem... ------------------------------- I need to print grayscale / black ink only AND use the double-sided printing option at the same time. Both have perfect functionality when used seperately, but the 'black ink only' grayscale option automaticaly reverts to the (color dependant) 'high quality' option as soon as any double-sided printing option is invoked. Is it just me ? I trouble you with this only after nearly a week and countless e-mails with the HP Customer Care people - and many, many hours following up on all of their fruitless directions for a fix. They will not even admit to being able to duplicate this printer preference shortcoming. I thank you in advance for any assisstance. Michael Keller
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If you do mean can it print with only a black cartridge only, the answer is no. When it prints grayscale it actually uses some colored ink as well. It's annoying because when a color cartridge has a "replace" status you will no longer be able to print in B&W; until you replace that cartridge.
394114
No, I think you have to scan it to your desktop or whatever and send as an attachment... It prints only in black/white, but is so fast and the cartridges last forever.
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I have had the canon mx 700 for over a year and i have replaced 3of the four at least twice and I have to replace cyan and magenta as we speak . Good quality printing, very expensive to maintain ink. My suggestion..buy a HP
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No. Color laser printers need not only color cartridges, but the harware that allows 4 different colors of toner (3 primaries and black) to be metered separately but applied in one pass. Then the waste of throwing the color cartridge away when the most-used color runs out. Same problem with color inkjets. I now print only in black. For color photos, I email files to CVS or Walgreens and in 1 hour I can pick up ACTUAL 4x6 PHOTOS made on $50,000 machines for 19 cents each
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That actually depends on which settings you use. However, on "normal" settings with "normal" white paper, it is quite efficient with ink. What makes this printer exceptional with ink, is each color has its own reservoir. You only need to replace the color that is low. Whereas on other printers you have to replace the entire "color" ink cartridge, which is a waste.
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I have had several Canon scanners. I've never tried making black/white copies without the color cartridge installed, but, the black/white copying still works after the color cartridge runs out. I just leave the color cartridge in the scanner until the black/white one runs out.
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You have to use color. In fact my printer will not print unless ALL the cartridges have ink. Which is infuriating because the magenta runs out very quickly & then I have to buy a new pack of ink. Epson doesn't sell just 1 color cartridge. You have to buy all 3 & you have to buy Epson brand. These printers are set up to not print if you put a generic brand in. It's a ok printer but the issues with the ink infuriated me to the point that I threw it away. My advice- don't buy Epson!