redmonkey
Level 2 (222 points)
Apple TV

Q: iMac won't print black on EPSON or HP Printer

I have had a reoccuring problem where my iMac (Intel) running Mac OS X 10.8 will not print black type on my HP printer. First, I assumed it was an ink issue, and replaced the black ink cartridge. The problem remained. I downloaded new drivers and installed and still had the same problem. Cleaned heads, and still discovered black type will not print, while full-color images do. It got to the point where I assumed my printer was broken. So, I bought a new EPSON printer to replace it and am having the same problem. Re-installed EPSON drivers. Etc.

 

Now I have discovered if I save a file as a screenshot (PNG) it will print black. But will not print black off the Web, Numbers, Pages, etc.

 

Here's the kicker - I tried to print off my MacBook Air and encountered the same problem. Is the issue the printer or the OS?

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ANY IDEAS AS TO WHY THIS WOULD BE?

 

The only thing common between the two printers is they both printed wirelessly.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jun 30, 2013 11:18 AM

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redmonkey

Q: iMac won't print black on EPSON or HP Printer

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jun 30, 2013 1:09 PM in response to redmonkey
    Level 10 (208,044 points)
    Applications
    Jun 30, 2013 1:09 PM in response to redmonkey

    Do you have the same problem in all applications?

     

    Does the print preview show the text to be printed?

  • by redmonkey,

    redmonkey redmonkey Jun 30, 2013 4:12 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 2 (222 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 30, 2013 4:12 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Good question. And yes. Every application exihibits the same symptom if there is black text, however if it's an image the black prints fine or if the text is a screenshot (essentially an image). Bizarre. I thought it might be a typeface too, but it happens with any "live" text.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jun 30, 2013 4:14 PM in response to redmonkey
    Level 10 (208,044 points)
    Applications
    Jun 30, 2013 4:14 PM in response to redmonkey

    And the previews?

  • by redmonkey,

    redmonkey redmonkey Jun 30, 2013 8:10 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 2 (222 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 30, 2013 8:10 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Preview works fine, as does Photoshop if I flatten the image (remove any editable type). It has me totally stumped. Makes no sense to me.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jun 30, 2013 8:50 PM in response to redmonkey
    Level 10 (208,044 points)
    Applications
    Jun 30, 2013 8:50 PM in response to redmonkey

    I'm not sure whether you're answering the question I asked. I'm not asking about the Preview application. I'm asking whether the preview in the Print dialog of any application shows text.

  • by redmonkey,

    redmonkey redmonkey Jul 1, 2013 6:06 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 2 (222 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 1, 2013 6:06 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Oh, I see. I just checked and yes, it appears fine on screen or at least representative of what should print. For example, I tried printed this discussion out of Safari, looks fine in the preview window. However, only Blue bubbles, emoticons or anything color prints (including a very light gray, but no type.)

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jul 1, 2013 7:28 AM in response to redmonkey
    Level 10 (208,044 points)
    Applications
    Jul 1, 2013 7:28 AM in response to redmonkey

    Please read this whole message before doing anything.

    This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

    The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, or by a peripheral device.

     

    Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
       
    Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output andWi-Fi on certain iMacs. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.

    The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

     

    Test while in safe mode. Same problem?

     

    After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

  • by redmonkey,

    redmonkey redmonkey Jul 1, 2013 8:29 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 2 (222 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 1, 2013 8:29 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Rebooted into safe mode and was hopeful this might work (and expose the problem), however the print exhibits the same problem.

  • by redmonkey,

    redmonkey redmonkey Jul 1, 2013 8:33 PM in response to redmonkey
    Level 2 (222 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 1, 2013 8:33 PM in response to redmonkey

    ... and still prints incorrectly after rebooting. Trying to identify what's been installed if anything from the point where it quit printing correctly. (Adobe Acrobat update, Java update, and...)

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jul 1, 2013 8:42 PM in response to redmonkey
    Level 10 (208,044 points)
    Applications
    Jul 1, 2013 8:42 PM in response to redmonkey

    Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:

     

    ☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

     

    ☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

     

    ☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.

     

    Select "/var/log/cups/error_log" from the file list on the left side of the Console window. If you don't see that list, select

    View ▹ Show Log List

    from the menu bar. Then select the messages from the time of the last failed printing attempt. Copy them to the Clipboard (command-C). Paste into a reply to this message (command-V).

     

    If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don’t post many repetitions of the same message.

    When posting a log extract, be selective. In most cases, a few dozen lines are more than enough.

    Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.

  • by redmonkey,

    redmonkey redmonkey Jul 4, 2013 10:23 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 2 (222 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 4, 2013 10:23 AM in response to Linc Davis

    My first take-away here is that it appears to be still trying to print to the old HP printer. I now have an EPSON XP-600 and that isn't showing up in these logs. A clue?

     

    Here are a list of unique errors:

     

    E [12/May/2013:16:54:39 -0600] [Job 64] Print file was not accepted.

    E [05/Jun/2013:18:00:17 -0600] [Job 48] Unable to queue job for destination "ipp://Monkey-iMac.local:631/printers/Officejet_4620_series_AirPrint".

    E [21/Jun/2013:18:55:13 -0600] [Job 25] Unable to queue job for destination "ipp://Monkey-iMac.local:631/printers/Officejet_4620_series".

    E [23/Jun/2013:17:42:06 -0600] [Job 71] Unable to queue job for destination "ipp://Monkey-iMac.local:631/printers/Officejet_4620_series_AirPrint".

    E [24/Jun/2013:06:34:38 -0600] Unknown directive BrowseOrder on line 7 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf.

    E [24/Jun/2013:06:34:39 -0600] Unknown directive BrowseAllow on line 8 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf.

    E [24/Jun/2013:06:34:39 -0600] Missing value for BrowseRemoteProtocols on line 120 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf.

    E [24/Jun/2013:06:34:43 -0600] [Job 71] Unable to queue job for destination "ipp://Monkey-iMac.local:631/printers/Officejet_4620_series_AirPrint".

    E [30/Jun/2013:11:56:23 -0600] Unknown directive BrowseAddress on line 121 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf.

    E [30/Jun/2013:12:20:52 -0600] Unknown directive BrowseOrder on line 22 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf.

    E [30/Jun/2013:12:20:52 -0600] Unknown directive BrowseAllow on line 23 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jul 4, 2013 10:40 AM in response to redmonkey
    Level 9 (74,238 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 4, 2013 10:40 AM in response to redmonkey

    Information.

     

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jul 4, 2013 12:07 PM in response to redmonkey
    Level 10 (208,044 points)
    Applications
    Jul 4, 2013 12:07 PM in response to redmonkey

    Reset the printing system as directed in this support article:

     

    OS X Mountain Lion: Reset the printing system

  • by AnotherKnownothing,

    AnotherKnownothing AnotherKnownothing Aug 18, 2013 8:39 AM in response to redmonkey
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 18, 2013 8:39 AM in response to redmonkey

    Hi Linc, I've tried all the steps you've posted about Epson printer error "Print file was not accepted", reset print system several times, but still get same error regardless of what I try to print.