Skip to main content
Inspiring
March 4, 2019
Question

Photoshop won't print in color

  • March 4, 2019
  • 6 replies
  • 17138 views

I recently bought a new inkjet printer.  Photoshop will not print in color, it always prints in B&W.  Other applications (Word, IrfanView, etc.) print in color but not Photoshop.

Anybody have a fix?

    6 replies

    Participant
    October 4, 2024

    Same here. Brand new HP and Photoshop and will not print in color. Makes me crazy.

    NB, colourmanagement
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 9, 2024

    @Lisisme have  a look at all the settings including in printer setup/settings - perhaps others a "printing black and white" checkbox activated in there somewhere?  

    You can also make a useful test with a known to be good image: please go here and download the Adobe RGB testimage: https://www.colourmanagement.net/index.php/downloads_listing/

     

    I hope this helps
    neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
    google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management
    Help others by clicking "Correct Answer" if the question is answered.
    Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here. "Upvote" is for useful posts.

    NB, colourmanagement
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 4, 2020

    William5C81

    If the Jpeg you made can be opened in other applications and is in colour I expect the Jpeg is actually OK.

    It may help to reinstall the printer driver

    Or to reset Photoshop

    Have you tried resetting preferences? Although user preferences do not contain print settings, resetting also restores Photoshop's internal preferences which are saved when Photoshop closes. If they become corrupt then various issues can occur. [Thx DavesCM]

     

    I suggest you try reset Photoshop’s preferences & see if it helps? 

     

    https://t.co/ulJI7cGn1G

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

    You may want to backup your settings beforehand: 

    https://t.co/4dX7gkr36D

    https://helpx.adobe.com/in/photoshop/using/preset-migration.html

     

    It may be time to reinstall photoshop. Use the Adobe CC cleaner tool to remove all traces first.

     

    Uninstall photoshop BUT make sure to choose the option “Yes, remove app preference”.

     

    Once that process finishes, start the installation process and look into the “Advanced Options”. Uncheck “Import previous settings and preferences” and choose to “Remove old versions”.

     

    https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2405286

     

    I hope this helps

    thanks
    neil barstow, colourmanagement.net :: adobe forum volunteer
    [please do not use the reply button on a message within the thread, only use the blue reply button at the top of the page, this maintains the original thread title and chronological order of posts]

    October 3, 2020

    I have same problem. Win 7.  It used to work fine but no longer. Only in Photoshop. Convert to PSD and it works. Convert to PDF and works. Only JPG fails to print color in Photoshop. Will recreate JPG image and assume it will work. It's not the printer, it's the JPEG file.

    NB, colourmanagement
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    January 4, 2023

    That's pretty strange

     

    2 suggestions:

    1: please go here and download the Adobe RGB testimage: https://www.colourmanagement.net/index.php/downloads_listing/

    can it print in colour?

     

    2: 

    Perhaps try resetting Photoshop preferences? 

    (read this entire post before acting please)

    Resetting restores Photoshop's internal preferences, which are saved when Photoshop closes. 

    If they become corrupt then various issues can occur.

     

    Here’s some info on how to do that:

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

    Manually removing preferences files is the most complete method for restoring Photoshop to its default state: 

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#Manually

     

    Note re macOS: The user Library folder is hidden by default.

    To access files in the hidden user Library folder, see here for how to access hidden user library files. 

    https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/access-hidden-user-library-files.html

     

    Unexpected behavior may indicate damaged preferences. Restoring preferences to their default settings is a good idea when trying to troubleshoot unexpected behaviors in Photoshop. check out the video

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#reset_preferences

     

    Learn how to access and modify Photoshop preferences and customize per your frequent workflows

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

     

    And here’s an earlier forum discussion as an aid to understanding

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/quick-tips-how-to-reset-photoshop-preferences/td-p/12502668

     

    You may want to backup your settings and custom presets, brushes & actions before restoring Photoshop's preferences.

    Here is general info about that:  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#BackupPhotoshoppreferences

     

     

    Before you reset your preferences

    in case of future issues, I suggest you make a copy as Adobe may need one to check problematic references. 

    Quit Photoshop.
    Go to Photoshop's Preferences folder

    Preferences file locations: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/preference-file-names-locations-photoshop.html\


      [on MacOS see: Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings

      Note for those on macOS: - be aware that the user Library folder is hidden by default on macOS. 

      https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/access-hidden-user-library-files.html

      In the Finder, open the “Go” menu whilst holding down the Option (Alt) key. 

      Library will now appear in the list - below the current user's “home” directory. ]

     

    Now you can drag the entire Adobe Photoshop [Version] Settings folder to the desktop or somewhere safe as a back-up of your settings.

     

     

    Note for those on macOS:

    Preference preservation is affected by macOS permissions, 

    you’ll need to allow Photoshop ‘Full Disk Access’ in your Mac OS Preferences/Security and Privacy

     

     

     

    It may even be time to reinstall Photoshop. 

     

    It’s recommended that you use the Adobe CC cleaner tool to remove all traces first. 

    (See above about preserving preferences though! Its worth preserving them unless they are corrupted.)

     

    https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

    Uninstall Photoshop BUT make sure to choose the option “Yes, remove app preference”.

     

    Once that process finishes, start the installation process and look into the “Advanced Options”. Uncheck “Import previous settings and preferences” and choose to “Remove old versions”.

     

    I hope this helps

    neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer

    google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

     

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 5, 2019

    Why does it say sGray under printer profile? I know it doesn't matter as long as you have "Printer Manages Color" - but maybe it has turned on a B/W setting in the printer driver.

    Temporarily set "Photoshop Manages Color" to change it to sRGB. No, that's not the right profile either, but it's a color profile and maybe it resets the printer driver.

    Then go back to "Printer Manages Color". You have to use this option because HP don't ship icc profiles with these all-in-one printers.

    i_am_jimAuthor
    Inspiring
    March 6, 2019

    Why does it say sGray under printer profile? I know it doesn't matter as long as you have "Printer Manages Color" - but maybe it has turned on a B/W setting in the printer driver.

    I don't know why is says sGray but as I mentioned in my OP it prints in color in other applications (Word, IrfanView, etc.) just not Photoshop.  It also prints in color from my wife's computer.

    . Windows 10 -- Premiere Elements 2018 -- Photoshop CC
    luanarebello
    Participant
    May 31, 2020

    I have the same problem. I noticed that you are using a network printing setup, just like me. But when I connect the print cable to the computer and switch to the local printer, several print profiles appear (in Color Manipulation: Photoshop manages colors), in place of the sGray annoying profile. It is an alternative solution. Note: Even the Printer manages color option works. Adobe should have a better explanation.

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 4, 2019

    Capture all Photoshop Print and Printer device driver settings.

    JJMack
    i_am_jimAuthor
    Inspiring
    March 4, 2019

    I was unable to find "Current Settings"

    . Windows 10 -- Premiere Elements 2018 -- Photoshop CC
    JJMack
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 5, 2019

    You have set printer manages color and there are two more tabs of Printer settings.

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    March 4, 2019

    Is it giving you printing options when you print?  And if so,  are you making sure its in color?