Printing Web pages (or any other document) in black and white

When you print Web pages, often you're only interested in the text -- maybe to have a printed instructions to work with, for example. You don't always need to lay down all the ink that pictures and graphics take. I'm sure it's not a conspiracy, but many Web sites do a big favor for printer cartridge suppliers. :-)

There's an easy way to set up a printer option that only uses black ink. I haven't had a working color cartridge in any of my printers for two or three years. I get my digital photos printed at PhotoWorks because I want classic quality (photo paper) prints, and I rarely need color for anything else.

With these two options, you can make the default printer either black or color and select the alternate when you need it. "Black" actually means graphics and pictures are in half-tone, much like in a newspaper. Text will be in full black. Also, light colors, like the ones in our navigation menus, will come out white -- ink will only be used for the text.

Clone your printer

  1. Click Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > Add Printer
  2. When the Wizard opens, click Next and then uncheck "Automatically detect and install my plug and play printer.
  3. Click Next. Select the appropriate port -- usually LPT1.
  4. Click Next. Find your printer -- Manufacturer first -- then the Model.
  5. Click Next. Keep the existing driver.
  6. Click Next. Give it a name like "HP DeskJet 812C - Black Only" and decide if it will be the default printer or not.
  7. Click Next. Don't print a test page. Click Next again.

Now set up the clone

  1. Click Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > Add Printer
  2. Right-click your new clone and select Printing Preferences.
  3. Select the Paper/Quality tab. Set Color = Black & White
  4. Click OK

Using your printer options

  1. If you're printing from Firefox (and maybe other browsers) you'll probably get better results by setting left and right margins to zero: [File > Page Setup > Margins & Header/Footer > enter zero for left and right > click OK].
  2. Select the printer you want to use: [File > Print... > select the option you want to use > click OK].
  3. The option will remain the same until you close the program you're using. If you want to change the default printer (semi) permanently: [Click Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > right-click the printer you want make the default printer, and then click Set as Default Printer]. (That option won't be there if the one you right-click is already the default printer.)