How to Print using only the Black cartridge in Ubuntu: Fixed

Running out of colored ink can be a frustrating experience, especially when you need to print a document urgently. Luckily, Ubuntu offers several ways to print using only the black cartridge, even if your printer insists on having all colors available.

Method 1: CUPS Web Interface (Easiest, when it works)

This is often the quickest way to get started. CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) is Ubuntu’s printing backend, and it has a web interface.

1. Open your browser: Type localhost:631 into the address bar and press Enter.
2. Administration: Click on “Administration.”
3. Find your printer: Select the printer you want to configure.
4. Printer Options: Look for “Printer Options,” “Administration,” or similar. The exact location of color settings varies wildly between printer brands and models, so you might need to search around. Look for things like “Color,” “Grayscale,” “Monochrome,” or “Black and White.”
5. Choose Grayscale: Select the option to print in grayscale or monochrome.
6. Save Changes: Apply or save the changes. Print a test page to make sure it worked.

Important Note: The CUPS web interface can be a bit cryptic. Don’t be surprised if the settings aren’t obvious. If you can’t find them, move on to the next method.

Method 2: Command Line (Recommended for Most Users)

The command line gives you more control.

1. Identify your printer: Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and type:

Bash

lpstat -t

This will list your printers. Note the exact name (e.g., HP_Deskjet_1234). This is crucial.

1. Set Grayscale: Use the lpoptions command. Replace <PRINTER_NAME> with your printer’s actual name:

Bash

lpoptions -p <PRINTER_NAME> -o ColorModel=Gray

Try these alternatives if the first one doesn’t work:

Bash

lpoptions -p <PRINTER_NAME> -o ColorModel=BlackOnly

lpoptions -p <PRINTER_NAME> -o ColorModel=Monochrome

If those don’t work, you can also try MediaType=Plain and Quality=Draft in addition to or instead of ColorModel.

1. Verify: Check your settings:

Bash

lpoptions -p <PRINTER_NAME>

1. Test Print: Print something to see if it worked.

Method 3: One-Time Black-Only Printing

For a single document, you can use the lp command:

Bash

lp -o ColorModel=Gray <filename.pdf>

Replace <filename.pdf> with the actual path to your file.

Method 4: PPD File Modification (Advanced Users Only – Proceed with Extreme Caution!)

This is for when all else fails.  PPD files describe your printer.  Incorrectly editing them can break your printing system.

1. Backup: Absolutely essential!

Bash

sudo cp /etc/cups/ppd/<PRINTER_NAME>.ppd /etc/cups/ppd/<PRINTER_NAME>.ppd.bak

1. Edit: Open the PPD file with a text editor (you’ll need sudo):

Bash

sudo nano /etc/cups/ppd/<PRINTER_NAME>.ppd

1. Find Color Options: Search for lines related to color (e.g., *ColorMode).
2. Modify: This is where it gets tricky. You might need to add or change lines. This varies wildly between printers. Search online for instructions specific to your printer model. Here’s an example of what it could look like, but remember, this isn’t guaranteed to work for every printer.

You might find a line like *ColorMode: Color which you could try changing to *ColorMode: Gray. Or, you might need to add a line like *Grayscale/Grayscale: True or *MonoChrome/Monochrome: True within an options section. Some PPDs use conditional logic, like:  *If: (ColorModel Is Color), *ColorMode: Color, *Else, *ColorMode: Gray, *EndIf. You could try commenting out the *If and *EndIf and associated color lines, leaving only *ColorMode: Gray. Crucially, these are just examples. Your PPD might be very different. Search online for your specific printer model and “PPD file grayscale” for better guidance.

1. Save and Restart CUPS:

Bash

sudo systemctl restart cups

Wrapping Up

These settings work across most common Ubuntu versions, including 20.04 LTS and newer. If you’re using a different version, the basic principles remain the same, though some menu locations might vary slightly. Start with the simplest method and progress to more advanced options only if needed. With these tools at your disposal, you can continue printing important documents even when your color cartridges run dry.