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Correct answer yoavy82012241

I was suffering from the same issue with an HP LaserJet:

  • image capture to tiff works.
  • Hp Easy Scan works
  • Adobe Acrobat in B&W works
  • scan tool shows preview, but then when scanning in color complains about color format

 

 

  1. Go to System Preferences >> printers&scanners and remove the printer.
  2. Go to the HP website to download drivers. The link here happens to be for my printer.. but it may differ for other models (although I doubt it,  the software looks like it's intended for all HP printers).
  3. DO NOT GO with the recommended "HP Smart App". Instead, look under "drivers" and download "Install HP Easy Start". 
  4. When running the above it will identify your printer, and prompt you to install the latest HP Smart Software....   AGAIN DO NOT DO THAT...  Instead click on the red X to close the window.  Doing so will open a pop-up giving you the option of  "Skip to Software Download".
  5. Select both "Essential Software" and "HP Easy Scan", and hit Install.  This should finally update your driver correctly.
  6. Run Adobe Acrobat X or whatever, and try to scan (it worked for me).

 

Yes, all these instructions actually do is update your driver (pretty much the recommendation Adobe gives, but HP makes that VERY VERY hard as they keep pushing you to use the HP Smart app instead).

 


once again try to route you to the HP Smart App.  Skip and install the old stuff instead: 

13 replies

JR Boulay
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 18, 2025

[MOVED TO THE ACROBAT DISCUSSIONS]

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
Participant
June 12, 2025

Hi,
In MacOS 15.x I've fixed this issue by installing the printer/scanner Drivers (Brother DCP-L2550DW)

Cheers,

 

skillful_cause16B6
Inspiring
February 22, 2023

February 2022, I got a brand new HP Laser JetTank 1602w and got this error, I can only scan in black and white. 🙎

yoavy82012241Correct answer
Participant
June 20, 2022

I was suffering from the same issue with an HP LaserJet:

  • image capture to tiff works.
  • Hp Easy Scan works
  • Adobe Acrobat in B&W works
  • scan tool shows preview, but then when scanning in color complains about color format

 

 

  1. Go to System Preferences >> printers&scanners and remove the printer.
  2. Go to the HP website to download drivers. The link here happens to be for my printer.. but it may differ for other models (although I doubt it,  the software looks like it's intended for all HP printers).
  3. DO NOT GO with the recommended "HP Smart App". Instead, look under "drivers" and download "Install HP Easy Start". 
  4. When running the above it will identify your printer, and prompt you to install the latest HP Smart Software....   AGAIN DO NOT DO THAT...  Instead click on the red X to close the window.  Doing so will open a pop-up giving you the option of  "Skip to Software Download".
  5. Select both "Essential Software" and "HP Easy Scan", and hit Install.  This should finally update your driver correctly.
  6. Run Adobe Acrobat X or whatever, and try to scan (it worked for me).

 

Yes, all these instructions actually do is update your driver (pretty much the recommendation Adobe gives, but HP makes that VERY VERY hard as they keep pushing you to use the HP Smart app instead).

 


once again try to route you to the HP Smart App.  Skip and install the old stuff instead: 

FilmLizard
Participant
April 2, 2023

You are a Genius!
This ⬆ Totally Works for an HP Ink Tank Wireless

Participant
August 2, 2021

I found a workaround for scanning into PDFs (if you have access to Photoshop)


Since Adobe insists blantantly ignoring a not-so-rare issue for the better part of a decade, I figured I should at least post this for the poor souls doomed to deal with this issue forever so that they at least have a chance...

If you happen to have Photoshop installed, you can fire it up and use the "File -> Import -> Images from device" feature, and change the "Format" to "PDF". (You can also tell it what to name the file(s), where to store it on your computer, and whether to store each page together as 1 file, or each as its own file). I also recommend using the document feeder if your printer is equipped with one, as it will automatically pull in the next sheet each time. Then just click scan and just close each photoshop document as it opens up.

You should now be able to open, edit, etc. the PDF file(s) in Adobe Acrobat/Reader as normal. No issues whatsoever.

Of course this means that Adobe has already fixed this exact issue for Photoshop years ago, and just hates their own Acrobat customers for some reason.

I am on a Mac and this is the only solution I have found so far that works well and allows me to scan in color.

Participant
April 18, 2022

I am a DC subscriber, paying for the priviledge of using Acrobat DC. Still, no solution, after so many years... Gave up a couple of years ago and using some external scanning utility, developed by some guy in his garage or something like that. Shame on Adobe, they should have REAL software developers...

Participant
April 8, 2021

Still the same error nearly 5 years later - works fine through HP app which I have to regretfully use as a workaround!

Well done Adobe!

 

macOS Big Sur v 11.2.3

HP ENVY 4500 Series Driver v 3.0

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC v 2021.001.20145

Architecture: x86_64

Build: 21.1.20145.425325

AGM: 4.30.106

CoolType: 5.14.5

JP2K: 1.2.3.48161

Participant
May 9, 2021

I am so surprised, and even more disappointed that Adobe has not resolved this problem almost 6 years.  Yes, f****** 6 years.  I have this problem even today:

 

8 May 2021

MacBookPro, 2.5 GHz, 16 GB RAM

macOSBigSur

I hope Adobe does something for its users, ar at least refund us our money, which in itself is crazy expensive compared to MS Office 365 et al!

 

Participant
May 9, 2021

I also posted the above complaint on Adobe's Twitter handle, not that I feel they care for their customers!

Participant
March 19, 2021

Hello everyone, I am still getting this error. No fix after that many years?


leeb28218566
Participant
August 7, 2020

Same problem here with Mac OS 10.15.6 & HP LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw

works in B&W and Text mode but not colour

Used to work fine with my cheap and cheaful Epson Inkjet all in one printer/scanner

 

Participant
January 27, 2021

Same problem:

  • MacOs 10.15.7
  • Adobe Actobat Pro DC 2020.013.20074
  • HP Deskjet 2721 (wireless)
  • Scanning with HP Smart or MacOs Image Capture app works
  • Reproduces with color scan, no issue with text or BW
  • Changing color management in Acrobat settings (Europe, US, Japanese settings) does not help
Participant
November 28, 2019

Hi community,

I cannot belive that Adobe is still not able to provide a soloution for this issue. I raised this issue 2 years ago and still cannot make color scanning using Adobe DC. I had to buy a another solution. It would be nice that Adobe find a solution for it.

Participant
January 30, 2020

I'm getting the same issue.

 

Mac OS 10.15.2

Brother MFC-J497DW (latest drivers, and latest firmware) 

 

The "Selected Color Format is Not Supported" is the error message I get when scanning from Acrobat, and using color as the option.  The text option works, and black and white works.  

 

When I use the scan from the OS (in the scan tab on the settings) it scans just fine, all options work.   This is solidly an Acrobat problem. 

 

Participant
January 18, 2017

Hello,

Mid January 2017 and still not fixed?!?  I just paid 30 Euro for the month to use Adobe Acrobat for scanning and now I can not scan in color?!?  Seriously messed up.  It worked fine for about 5 scans and now I get the 'Selected Color Format is Not Support' message.  This only happens when I have color selected.  When scanning Black and White works fine ... but does not help me one iota when I need color documents !

I looked in Preferences everywhere but there is no Twain to Image Capture option for driver under the category of Convert to PDF.

Mac OS 10.11.6

Adobe Acrobat 15.023.20053

Scanner is HP Officejet Pro 8620 via Wifi

Selection of scanner: HP Officejet Pro 8620 (ICA) [there is an HP Officejet Pro 8620 [57BBE1] (ICA) option]

Scan in Color: NO

Scan in BnW: Yes

Scan in Text: Yes

Please fix !  Since we can not use Adobe Acrobat to scan color documents, why don't you all at Adobe provide some helpful alternatives of scanning software to use until you fix the problem.

Disgruntled about spending 30 Euro for broken software ...

WalthervD
Participant
January 23, 2017

Hello,

I do have zähe same Problem

Mac OS 10.12.2

Adobe Acrobat 2015.006.30279

Scanner is Xerox  WorkCentre 6515 (LAN)

Selection of scanner: Xerox WorkCentre6515 (ICA)

Scan in Color: NO

Scan in BnW: Yes

Scan in Text: Yes

Using OSX native program (Version 9.0 (909.12)

Scanner is Xerox  WorkCentre 6515 (LAN)

Selection of scanner: Xerox WorkCentre6515 (ICA)

Scan in Color: Yes

Scan in BnW: Yes

Scan in Text: Yes

Problem seems to be with Adobe

Please help!!

Regards

Walther van Dijck