How to Fix PDF Printing Orange Instead of Black and White on Mac
Question details
Users experience an issue where PDF documents intended for black and white printing produce orange output on a Mac.
- Product
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a PDF document in grayscale or black and white using an inkjet printer connected to a Mac.
- Observed behavior
- The printed document features orange text and images instead of the expected black, white, or grayscale output.
Before modifying your print settings, run a quick printer nozzle check to ensure your black ink cartridge is not empty, dried out, or clogged.
Force Grayscale or Black-and-White Printing in macOS Print Settings
Adjust the system print dialog settings to force the printer to only use the black ink cartridge.
Often, printers will attempt to mix color inks to create a composite black. By forcing grayscale at the system level, you restrict the printer to utilizing only the dedicated black cartridge.
Open your PDF document and press 'Command + P' or click 'File' > 'Print' from the top menu bar.
If you see a minimal print window, click the 'Show Details' button at the bottom to reveal advanced printer settings.
Click the dropdown menu near the middle of the window (usually labeled with the name of the app, like 'Preview' or 'WPS Office') and select 'Printer Features' or 'Print Settings'.
Locate the 'Color Mode' or 'Color' option and change it from 'Color' to 'Grayscale' or 'Black and White'. Check the 'Black Ink Only' box if your specific printer driver provides it, then click 'Print'.
Check Ink Levels and Clean the Print Head
Verify that the printer has adequate black ink and clean the print head to remove blockages.
Update or Reinstall Your Printer Driver
Remove the current printer software and install the latest manufacturer driver to fix rendering bugs.
Effortlessly Manage and Print PDFs on Mac with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a highly compatible PDF reading and editing experience on macOS. With built-in support for system print dialogs, you can easily control color outputs, manage page setups, and ensure your documents print exactly as intended.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the PDF document you wish to print.
- 2. Initiate Print Command: Click the 'Print' icon on the top toolbar or press 'Command + P'.
- 3. Access System Dialog: Click on 'Use System Print Dialog' to access your Mac's advanced printer settings.
- 4. Select Grayscale: Under 'Printer Features' or 'Color Matching', select the 'Grayscale' or 'Black Only' setting.
- 5. Print the Document: Click 'Print' to send the document to the printer with the correct black-and-white instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer substitute black ink with colors?
Many inkjet printers are designed to mix color inks (cyan, magenta, and yellow) to create a composite black. This usually happens automatically when the dedicated black ink cartridge is running low, empty, or if the black print head nozzle is clogged.
How do I force my printer to only use black ink on Mac?
In the macOS Print dialog, click 'Show Details', select 'Printer Features' or 'Print Settings' from the application dropdown, and look for a 'Grayscale' or 'Black/Grayscale' option. Some manufacturer drivers also provide a specific 'Black Ink Only' checkbox.
Can updating macOS affect my printer's color rendering?
Yes, major macOS updates can occasionally render older printer drivers partially incompatible, leading to color translation errors (like printing orange instead of black). Downloading the latest driver from the printer manufacturer's official website usually resolves this.
Does this issue happen specifically with Adobe Acrobat?
Not necessarily. While the issue can manifest when printing from PDF software like Acrobat or WPS Office, it is generally caused by hardware ink levels, clogged print heads, or the printer's driver settings rather than the PDF application itself.
