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

Top-ranking reply

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Posted on Mar 21, 2022 9:39 AM

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.

View in context

Printing completely black pages

Similar questions