How to Fix Black Graphics and Missing Areas When Printing PDFs to a Brother Printer
Question details
Users experience printing errors where PDFs output with solid black blocks, pixelated graphics, or missing sections when sent to a Brother printer.
- Product
- PDF Reader / Brother Printer
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a PDF document containing graphics or images to a Brother printer.
- Observed behavior
- The printed output has solid black or pixelated graphics, missing page areas, or is incomplete, despite printing correctly on other printer brands.
Before altering printer settings, ensure that your Brother printer firmware is up to date and print a standard test page to rule out low ink or physical hardware issues.
Use the Print as Image Option
Bypassing the printer's standard processing by sending the PDF as a simple image often resolves complex rendering issues with graphics.
When a PDF contains complex layers, transparencies, or heavy color profiles, the printer driver may struggle to interpret the data correctly. Forcing the PDF reader to rasterize the document and send it as an image bypasses these interpretation errors.
Open the problematic PDF document in your PDF reader, then click on 'File' and select 'Print' (or press Ctrl+P).
Click on the 'Advanced' button located near the top of the print dialog box.
Check the box labeled 'Print as Image'. The exact location of this box may vary slightly depending on your PDF reader version.
Click 'OK' to close the advanced settings, and then click 'Print' to see if the graphics render correctly on the printed page.
Update or Reinstall the Brother Printer Driver
Outdated or corrupted drivers can misinterpret PDF graphic data, causing black boxes and missing areas.
Adjust the Printer's Color Profile Settings
Incorrect color profile conversion during the print spooling process can cause graphics to render as solid black.
Print PDFs Flawlessly with WPS Office
If you are encountering persistent rendering issues with other PDF software, try printing your documents using WPS Office. Its built-in PDF reader offers optimized print processing to ensure graphics, layers, and text are sent to your Brother printer accurately without black boxes or missing elements.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official website.
- 2. Open the PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your problematic PDF file using the built-in WPS PDF tool.
- 3. Print the Document: Click on the 'Print' icon in the top toolbar or press Ctrl+P.
- 4. Select Printer and Print: Select your Brother printer from the dropdown menu, adjust any necessary layout settings, and click 'Print'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do PDFs print correctly on an HP printer but have black graphics on a Brother printer?
Different printer brands use varying page description languages and drivers. A Brother printer might process complex PDF layers, transparencies, or color profiles differently than an HP printer, leading to rendering errors if the driver is outdated or struggles with the specific file's encoding.
Does the 'Print as Image' option affect the print quality?
Printing as an image rasterizes the document, which can slightly reduce the sharpness of small text and take slightly longer to process. However, it is the most reliable way to ensure complex graphics and transparent layers print exactly as they appear on your screen.
How can I tell if the printing issue is with the PDF file or the printer?
Try printing a different PDF file that contains images or graphics. If the new file prints correctly, the issue is likely isolated to the original PDF's formatting or layers. If all PDFs print with black graphics, the problem is likely related to the printer driver or software settings.
What information should I gather before contacting Brother printer support?
You should note your PDF reader version (e.g., Adobe Acrobat, WPS PDF), your Brother printer model, the current driver version, and whether the issue happens with all PDFs. Taking a screenshot of your advanced print settings can also help support agents diagnose the problem.
