HP Store Online

Do color printers pull ink from the color cartridge to make black?

I know there are two cartridges but my Canon Pixma MP150 goes through color ink at an amazing rate. I use it strictly for business printing and on the rare occasion that I need color, it for my business cards only which have only a fine green line on them. That is the only color. If this is the case, can I run the printer with only the b/w cartridge and put the color in as needed?

Public Comments

1. This really makes no sense. Color usage should be nearly nothing. Is it possible that your text color is set to something other than pure black? Just a wild shot in the dark. I don't know if your printer will work the the color cartridge out but why not give it a try?
2. Some printers will use color to make black when they think the black is low. Usually it asks you first. I know someone who was warned his black was low, should it use the color to make black, he answered yes and even after he replaced the black his color kept going down while his black hardly moved. He had to go back into the printer settings and change it. Almost all inkjets will use some color even if you only print in black. This is to protect the heads. Read http://www.ccs-digital.com/inkjetcare.asp for details
3. no the printer doesn't take color to make the black. i've seen printers that allowed u to print without color cartridge but it's not every printer that allow this for instance my hp office jet doesn't so i guess for u the best way to find out is to try is it doesn't work u'll have your answer.