BillisBudBarr

Q: gray scale is replaced by black boxes printing from Preview

I have downloaded PDF's from the web. There are several text boxes with black text over a grayscale background. When I print out of Preview, the boxes are completely black obscuring all of the content. This is happening with two different documents from two different web sites.  I've tried three printers without success. Any help?

 

Thanks

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Jul 11, 2016 7:18 PM

Close

Q: gray scale is replaced by black boxes printing from Preview

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by dialabrain,Helpful

    dialabrain dialabrain Jul 14, 2016 11:01 AM in response to BillisBudBarr
    Level 5 (6,440 points)
    Mac App Store
    Jul 14, 2016 11:01 AM in response to BillisBudBarr

    Try installing Adobe Reader and printing the PDFs from it.

  • by BillisBudBarr,

    BillisBudBarr BillisBudBarr Jul 14, 2016 11:03 AM in response to dialabrain
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 14, 2016 11:03 AM in response to dialabrain

    Unfortunately I had the same problem. it must be something specific to the way these documents were created.

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Jul 14, 2016 11:37 AM in response to BillisBudBarr
    Level 8 (37,946 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 14, 2016 11:37 AM in response to BillisBudBarr

    Could you post a link to any of the PDF files you're having trouble with? I'm curious to see what may be wrong with them, or if I get the same result.

     

    Edit: You could try this in the meantime. It's highly unlikely all three print drivers are damaged. So it may be an issue with the OS, or just the print system. Open the System Preferences and click the Printers & Scanners icon. Right click on any blank area in the left column and choose, Reset printing system.

     

    Screen Shot 1.png

     

    This will clear out all installed printers and reset the entire print system. You will need to add your connected printers back in. I can't recall if you would then also need to reinstall the drivers for each. Do so if necessary.

     

    Test.

  • by BillisBudBarr,

    BillisBudBarr BillisBudBarr Jul 14, 2016 1:53 PM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 14, 2016 1:53 PM in response to Kurt Lang

    Hi Kurt,

     

    Both the documents in question contain financial information so I can't provide the links.

     

    I'm on the road the next 10 days but will try resetting the printing system as soon as I'm back home.

     

    Thanks!

    Jim

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Jul 14, 2016 1:59 PM in response to BillisBudBarr
    Level 8 (37,946 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 14, 2016 1:59 PM in response to BillisBudBarr

    Thanks for the update. Hopefully, this may help.

     

    We have a similar problem with one vendor who only provides PDF invoices. Every single time, it causes the Lexmark printer to freeze and spontaneously reboot. I have to rasterize their PDF in Photoshop in order to print it.