Printing completely black pages

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Level 1

18 points

Printing completely black pages

I'm not sure where to start because I don't know if this is an app, driver or system software issue but here goes ...

For some reason when I print from photoshop CS5 to my HP6L, the page is completely black. Can print fine from other apps and using other printers. Reset photoshop prefs. Restarted everything. Removed and added the printer. Changed the toner cartridge.

Since the last time I used this printer, I upgraded to Sierra 10.12.6 and also updated my Gutenprint drivers to try to use some newer old printers. (I need to use old laser printers and old toner for an ongoing art process for my work.)

I am unable to find anything called Gutenprint on my computer in order to uninstall and try to revert back to an older driver.

Any attempt to install a new version of Gutenprint failed. (Error said 'no files to be found'.) However, this morning the printer was using the 5.2.15 driver and now it is using the 5.3.3 driver.

If I can't figure out and fix this problem, my work will be at a standstill. I welcome any tips but I cannot upgrade by OS or printers. Thank you!

MacBook Pro 13″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Mar 21, 2022 7:25 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Mar 21, 2022 9:39 AM in response to lcoolss

Here's gutenprint...

Gutenprint for Mac OS X (sourceforge.net)

But have you tried the Generic PCL or Generic Postscript drivers?

Does the Preview also show all black?

Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at startup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode? Could take 10 minutes or more.

Safe mode attempts to repair Disks & clears lots of caches & loads safe Drivers, & prevents loading of 3rd party extensions, so if Safe Mode works try again in regular boot.

Mac OS X: About the Reset Printing System feature ...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1341?viewlocale=en_US

In System Preferences>Fax & Print, Right click or Control+click on the Printers list Sidebar, choose Reset Printing System.

if you hold option and click the "-" tab it resets the printing system.

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20031215144430486

Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup).

Any devices that previously appeared in your Printer List and Fax List will need to be added again after resetting the printing system.

Resetting the printing system in Mac OS X

To use the Reset Printing System feature in Mac OS X, follow these steps:
Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu.
Choose Print & Fax from the View menu.
Control-click on list of printers on the left side of the window, then choose "Reset printing system" from the contextual menu. If you don't see a list of printers, Control-click on the text "Click + to add a printer or fax" and select "Reset printing system..."
As an alternative, if you currently have one or more printers listed, you can Option-click the "-" (Remove printer) button.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1341

Reboot.

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Mar 21, 2022 3:45 PM in response to lcoolss

Hmmm, & you Reset the Printing System?

Code would likely be Postscript code, so the printer isn't understanding that!?

I had a hp 1000 that needed a $300 Postscipt cartridge to print PS.

Did You try the Generic PCL driver?

Are there settings on the Printer itself?

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Mar 21, 2022 11:19 AM in response to lcoolss

Gutenberg files should all be in Library>Printers>Gutenberg.printerDriver folder.

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Answer 4

lcoolss Author

Level 1

18 points

Mar 21, 2022 5:04 PM in response to BDAqua

Yes, I reset the printing system a few times. No settings on the printer that I'm aware of. It's very old and simple - but usually pretty great;). I don't believe the 6L is a postscript printer. I didn't see a PCL option for this printer.

I ran out of ideas and brought out 1200 to try again and had similar results with CS5 crashing. I looked it up and that at least seems like a Sierra / CS5 issue. So right now, I'm looking into doing a dual boot and adding an older OS. 🤞

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Answer 5

lcoolss Author

Level 1

18 points

Mar 24, 2022 4:03 PM in response to BDAqua

No, nothing has worked so far.

I may have been thrown off track when CS5 started crashing. Perhaps that resulted from reseting the prefs. I saw a tip to right-click and choose Get Info on the app icon and choose to load with 32 bit. So far, that's stopped it from crashing when printing.

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Answer 6

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Mar 21, 2022 11:13 AM in response to lcoolss

Never can tell, the log may help.

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Answer 7

my ginger

Level 5

4,928 points

Mar 23, 2022 1:49 PM in response to lcoolss

Try resetting the printer itself.https://smallbusiness.chron.com/reset-laserjet-6p-63430.html

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Answer 8

lcoolss Author

Level 1

18 points

Mar 21, 2022 9:58 AM in response to BDAqua

I am only unable to find Gutenprint on my computer. I wanted to clean off all Gutenprint files and start fresh since I want to try a previous version and also, the installer was failing.

I didn't know that Generic PCL or Generic Postscript drivers was an option. I've always used gimp/gutenprint for this printer. I'll do some research.

No, it shows the correct image in preview.

I will try Safe Boot.

Thank you!

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Answer 9

lcoolss Author

Level 1

18 points

Mar 21, 2022 10:51 AM in response to lcoolss

I tried safe boot and still got the black page.

I reset the printers, rebooted, added the generic driver and then the gutenprint 5.3.3 and both caused photoshop at printing:/

I tried resetting the printers and photoshop prefs again.

I can post the error log from photoshop if that might be helpful.

I was able to print from photoshop to my other printer.

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Answer 10

lcoolss Author

Level 1

18 points

Mar 21, 2022 1:41 PM in response to BDAqua

Thank you! I don't seem to have that folder. Even though I had previously installed the then latest drivers.

So, I did another print test in order to get the crash report but this time it just printed 10-20 blank pages and then some code. I unplugged the printer for awhile to clear the memory and afterwards it was back to printing pages of black.

I discovered that it will print an unsaved page from photoshop rather than a jpeg or psd but the quality is not good. The images have visible dots. Previously the images were crisp.

The thing is, I bought a couple newer old HP laserjets (1018 & 1200) and was not able to get them to print at the quality of the 6L, which didn't make sense. I was getting dotty prints and at one point I got some blown up images and all black prints. I assumed it was a driver issue and that I'd have to go back to the HP 6L. But now it turns out that the 6L won't print right either. I'm really stuck:/

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Answer 11

lcoolss Author

Level 1

18 points

Mar 22, 2022 11:16 AM in response to BDAqua

Interesting, thank you! I do have Gutenprint although the install was glitchy and I don't see it in my files. I may have to figure out how to uninstall and reinstall. Currently, I am about to try an install of an older OS on a partition in case it's an OS / CS5 conflict.

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