[chc214]

I have an Epson Color Stylus 740. It is out of color ink but there's a brand new black ink cartridge in there. The red light indicating no color ink is on.
Why can't I print a document using the brand new black ink?
On OSX it simply won't print. In OS 9 I keep getting a message saying the computer's not connected to the printer (this may be an unrelated problem)
Is me not being able to print using black ink when the color ink is out, and vice versa, standard procedure? I can't recall ever running into this before.
Thanks!

[SueG]

Weird. Our Epson would switch without asking. There was a dialog box from the Epson driver that allowed you to choose color or black printing every time a job was sent to the printer - nothing like that, now?
I pretty much kept extra cartridges available after listening to one round of complaints when the kids had to hand in blue printed homework after the black ran out.

[chc214]

In OS 9 there is a dialog box that pops up which allows you to choose how much ink to use, and color or black ink, but not in OS X.
That sucks. I wish you could specify how much ink to use. Lke if you want it super sharp or just good enough to be legible.

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
We have the 740i at home and it seems that Epsons, or at least that model, is very picky about that. Neither of the HPs I've owned care as much. Plus the fact that most HPs can print back-to-front. I'm not against Epson but I think they need to do a little work on the drivers, etc.
MacCheetah3
"Monkey Man to the rescue"

[Peter]

chc,
You can do the same thing in OSX. On the toolbar go to File-Print. The print dialog box will open up. There you will see a arrow box that by default says Copies and Pages. Click on the arrows and look for Print Settings. When that box opens you will see the option to choose Color or Black ink. By default it always reverts to Color. Whenever I print I go here and select which to use.

[dcipjr]

Well, if you don't feel like going out and getting another color cartridge right now, you can always just take out the color cartridge and put it right back in. The printer will think you put a new cartridge in--just print in black and white until it comes time to replace your black and white cartridge. Then, replace both at the same time.
If you're lucky, you might be able to squeeze out some more color from it (from my experience, the printer says it's out before it actually is).

[chc214]

DCPJR and Peter, your suggestions worked. Thanks. I've been wasting color ink this whole time. Sucks. Now I know better.