Yosemite printer problem? Black envelopes!

Question

Level 1

9 points

Yosemite printer problem? Black envelopes!

I have a Brother MFC-J870DW all-in-one printer. When I first got it, I was able print addresses onto #10 envelopes. One day I went to print an envelope, and the entire front printed black, with a 1/8" border, almost like a photo print. I'm using MS Word 2008. The print preview shows the envelope normally. I tried using Open Office Word program, and got the same result. My wife's iPad can print envelopes, but my Macbook Air cannot. It seemed to coincide with the upgrade to Yosemite, but not sure since I don't print envelopes very often. All other documents and photos print normally. I called Brother and they were useless. Made sure I had the latest driver for the machine, deleted and re-installed the driver, checked all the settings on the printer, all to no effect.

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Feb 6, 2015 4:03 AM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

685,341 points

Feb 6, 2015 4:58 PM in response to schobo

If you haven't done so already, try resetting the printing system.

OS X Mavericks: Reset the printing system also Yosemite

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Answer 2

schobo Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 7, 2015 4:27 AM in response to Eric Root

Did that. No change.

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Answer 3

Apr 13, 2015 9:18 AM in response to schobo

I'm experiencing this same problem with a new HP OfficeJet 8620. Thought it was the printer, but I'm suspecting Yosemite. I'm printing from Contacts to #10 envelopes.

The last time I printed about 10 envelopes and only one came out all black. This time 4 out of 4 came out all black.

Did you have any luck tracking down the cause? Thanks.

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Answer 4

schobo Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 13, 2015 3:15 PM in response to Brian C Toth

No, I gave up. As I said, I don't print envelopes very often, so it wasn't life-altering. I was able to print an envelope using Apple's Pages program. I found it hard to use, but that's probably because I'm so used to MS Word. Printing envelopes on the Brother machine is a PITA anyway, since you have remove the paper tray, remove the paper, adjust the whatchamacallits to envelope size, insert envelope, replace paper tray, and print. I thought machines were supposed make our lives easier!

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Answer 5

Apr 13, 2015 3:38 PM in response to schobo

Thanks for that. If it helps at all, I found that my printer was installed using the AirPrint drivers. When I reinstalled it using the normal HP Photosmart drivers provided by Apple, the envelopes worked.

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Answer 6

leroydouglas

Level 10

200,980 points

Aug 30, 2015 5:46 PM in response to schobo

I just bought an HP 8620. I go to print an envelope from Contacts.app it comes out solid black.

This was never an issue with the old EpsonCX9400

I am running Yosemite 10.10.5, last hp driver update 3.1

I searched the HP support pages and I see the issue with no resolve.

Any help on this issue. I am dead in the water with this HP

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Answer 7

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Aug 31, 2015 6:20 AM in response to leroydouglas

Did you do what Brian (just above your post) did?

Airprint is a (crippled) no Print Driver Required setup. From a Mac (not iPad or iPhone), always use the regular driver.

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Answer 8

leroydouglas

Level 10

200,980 points

Aug 31, 2015 7:48 AM in response to greg sahli

greg sahli wrote:

Did you do what Brian (just above your post) did?

Airprint is a (crippled) no Print Driver Required setup. From a Mac (not iPad or iPhone), always use the regular driver.

Yes. Never attempted AirPrint or wireless printing trying to avoid problems.

This is USB connection with Apples latest HP Driver update 3.1. This is HP Inkjet 3 Driver 4.1.1

I have also gone to HP looking for a more recent update.

Can anybody successfully print envelopes from the Contacts.app using the HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 ???

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), i7 500GB 16GB RAM iPhone5 iOS8.4, Paralles10.2.2

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Answer 9

Nov 13, 2015 5:43 PM in response to schobo

I just experienced this same problem trying to print 4"x6" index cards with a Brother MFC-J475DW. Solid black. I noticed the words "AirPrint" somewhere, but certainly made no deliberate change to my printer setup so that it would use "AirPrint" vs. a regular driver (because after 40 years of personal computing, it's AWESOME how far standardized printing has evolved).

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Answer 10

Nov 13, 2015 5:45 PM in response to Brian C Toth

Brian, how do you see what driver your printer is using and how do you change it? (Macbook Pro running Yosemite) Thanks.

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Answer 11

kdmski

Level 1

0 points

Mar 14, 2016 5:01 PM in response to schobo

Upgraded to Yosemite and I have had the problem for two days. I just went to system preferences and opened up Printers and Scanners. I noticed three printers were listed, two old ones which are not in use and the Brother which I am now using. I decided to delete the two unused printers and bingo, it worked.

Good Luck,

Kevin

TuneMySkis.com

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Answer 12

mdkelley

Level 1

4 points

Jul 13, 2016 11:44 AM in response to schobo

I am printing from Apple Contacts OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 and have experienced the same Black Envelope issue. I am able to print the addresses by selecting "Black Only" in the print screen. Although that does print the addresses, envelopes have ink marks on the envelope - not what I want. Corrects the all black, but not a professional looking envelope. Has anyone upgraded to OS X El Capitan? If yes, has that corrected the issue? Thanks.

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Answer 13

mdkelley

Level 1

4 points

Jul 13, 2016 11:48 AM in response to leroydouglas

I posted earlier but didn't include that printer is HP OfficeJet Pro 8620. I can print from the contacts app by selecting use Black Ink only from the print screen. An envelope is printed, but I'm experiencing ink smears on the envelopes (not all), but very frustrating as ink smears isn't what I want as well. Using iMac with OS X Yosemite Version 10.10.5 installed.

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