I only use black in for my printed copies. Is it necessary to have ink in the color cartridge in order to print

1. Confirm that the colors are incorrect by printing a Print Quality Check Sheet

a. Press INK.

b. Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Test Print.

c. Press OK.

d. Use the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Print Quality.

e. Press OK.

f. Press COLOR START

The machine will generate the Print Quality Check Sheet.

2. The LCD will ask "IS QUALITY OK? 1. YES 2. NO"

a. Press STOP/EXIT to return to the "Date and Time" display.

3. Evaluate the Print Quality Check Sheet.

On the Print Quality Check Sheet each of the four colors is represented by a slanted square pattern made up of 96 individual blocks. The colors should appear in the following order from left to right: Black - Yellow - Cyan - Magenta.

NOTE: Cyan is the light blue color and magenta is the pinkish color.

a. If the colors on the Print Quality Check Sheet do not match the sequence listed above then the ink cartridges are most likely installed in the wrong order. Continue to STEP 4 to resolve this.

4. Open the Ink Refill cover.

5. Open the cartridge covers of the colors that do not appear in the correct order.

6. Remove the cartridges and reinstall them in the correct slots. On Brother Genuine Cartridges the color of the label will match the color of the cartridge cover.

7. Run a "Setup Purge". A Setup Purge is necessary to replace the ink in the ink supply tubes with the correct color. One or more of the ink cartridges may run empty during this process. If they do, replace the empty cartridge with a Brother Genuine Ink Cartridge before continuing the process.

a. Press MENU - BLACK START - MENU. The LCD will display Maintenance.

b. Press 7-6, The LCD will display CLEANING ALL

c. Press 6, the LCD will display eINIT__P ALL

d. Press the RIGHT ARROW key until one of the colors that was installed incorrectly is displayed. i.e. eINIT__P CYAN.

e. Press the BLACK START Key.

• After the machine completes the Setup Purge it will return to the Standby Display.

8. Print another Print Quality Check Sheet

a. Press INK.

b. Press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Test Print.

c. Press OK.

d. Use the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to select Print Quality.

e. Press OK.

f. Press COLOR START

9. The machine will generate another Print Quality Check Sheet.

a. If all four colors printed correctly the issue is resolved.

b. If one or more of the colors are still not printing in the correct order repeat STEPS 4 - 8.

Hello cockie ,

You can diagnose most problems by checking the control panel LED's for ink out, paper-out or copier problem.
If a problem occurs while you're printing, you'll see an error message in the progress window on your computer.
It may also be helpful to try running a printer nozzle check.

See the following message problems and solutions:

Error Message Probable Cause No color or black ink cartridge - - >
Press the Color Copy button to install a new ink cartridge. The indicated cartridge is not installed or it is installed incorrectly. Color or black ink out - - >
Press the Color Copy button to begin replacing the ink cartridge. The indicated cartridge is out of ink Ink cartridge error - - >
Press the Color Copy button to begin replacing the ink cartridge. There is something wrong with the ink cartridge. Paper jam or misfeed - - >
Press the Color Copy button and clear the paper jam by hand if necessary. Paper is jammed. Press the Color Copy button to clear the jam.
See the User's Guide for more troubleshooting tips. Paper out - - >
Load paper in the sheet feeder and press the Color Copy button. Paper is out. Load paper in the sheet feeder, then press the Color Copy button to continue printing. Scanner unit open - - >
Close the scanner unit. Scanner cover open. Carefully lower the scanner cover and press it down until it clicks securely into place. Scanner error - - >
See your documentation and call Service if necessary. Press the On button to turn off the EPSON CX3200. Check the transportation lock and unlock it, if necessary. Turn on your EPSON CX3200 again. If the error message still appears, contact your dealer or EPSON. Printer error - - >
See your documentation and call Service if necessary. Press the On button to turn off the EPSON CX3200, then press it again to turn it back on. If the message still appears, contact your dealer or EPSON.

This issue will only occur if an ink cartridge(s) is or was installed inthe wrong position (slot) in the machine. When a cartridge is installed, the ink tube system is filled with the ink from the cartridges, to prepare the machine for printing. If the cartridge is inthe wrong position the tube will fill with the wrong color.

NOTE: If you just installed or replaced the ink cartridges and your printed documents are missing colors please refer to the solution - I just installed or replaced my ink cartridge and my printed documents aremissing colors. What can I do? Blank

To resolve this issue you will need to clean the print head.

NOTE: It may require 10 to 15 cleanings to clean the ink tubes and print head. During the cleaning process, the ink in the cartridge(s) will be consumed. Additional ink cartridges may be required to completethe cleaning process.

1. First verify the position of the ink cartridges:

a. Open the ink cartridge cover and check to make sure the ink cartridges are in the correct order.

b. Starting from the left side, the correct order is Black, Yellow, Cyan(blue), and Magenta (red).

- If the ink cartridges are installed in the correct order, close the ink cartridge cover and continue to STEP 2.

- If the ink cartridges are not in the correct order, remove the ink cartridges that are installed in the wrong position by pressing down on the release lever(s), located above the ink cartridge and remove the cartridge(s) from the machine.

Next, reinstall the ink cartridge(s) in the correct position in the machine by gently pushing the cartridge in until it clicks.

When all the cartridges are installed, close the ink cartridge cover.

2. After closing the ink cartridge cover, the LCD will prompt - Did youchange XXXX (XXXX = the color) This message will be displayed for ink cartridge that was removed. Press the - (Minus Key for No). This willkeep accurate data of how much ink is left in the cartridge.

1. Press the INK key.

2. Press OK to select Test Print.

3. Press OK to select Print Quality.

4. Press the COLOR START key.

5. Review the Check Sheet. The colors on the Check Sheet should be in a specific order: Black, yellow, Cyan (Blue) and Magenta (red).

a If the colors on the Check Sheet are in the correct order and are notmissing any dashes, press + (Plus Key for Yes) on the key pad and continue to STEP 7.

b If the colors on the Check Sheet are not in the correct order, are missing dashes or blank or a color other than Black, Yellow, Cyan or Magenta printed press - (Minus Key for No) on the key panel and continueto STEP 6.

6. The machine will need to perform cleanings to flush out the incorrectcolor or dried ink from the ink tubes and print head.

a. The LCD will ask you BLACK OK. If black is fully printed and is the correct color, press + (Plus Key for Yes). If it#s blank, missing dashes or is the incorrect color, press - (Minus Key for No).

b. The LCD will ask you COLOR OK. If any of the 3 colors (yellow, cyan (blue), and magenta (red) are fully printed and are the correct color, press + (Plus Key for Yes). If it#s blank, missing dashes or is the incorrect color, press - (Minus Key for No).

c. The LCD will say START CLEANING + for YES and - for NO. Press + for YES to start cleaning. The machine will go through a cleaning cycle that will take approximately one to two minutes.

d. After the cleaning is completed, the LCD will say PRESS START. Pressthe BLACK START key. This will print out the print quality check sheet again for you to check and see if your print quality issue has been resolved or not

NOTE: If you wait 1 minute after the cleaning cycle is completed, the display will return to date and time. You will need to go back to STEP 3 to print the Print Quality Check Sheet again.

e. If the ink color order is correct and all of the dashes are present, press + on the key pad to select YES and continue to STEP 7.

If the colors on the Check Sheet are not in the correct order, are missing dashes or blank or a color other than Black, Yellow, Cyan or Magenta printed press - key to select NO. Repeat the cleaning process byfollowing STEPS 6a through 6d. You may have to perform this procedure up to 15 times in order to clean the ink tubes and print head

NOTE: During the cleaning process, the ink in the cartridge(s) will be consumed. Additional ink cartridges may be required to complete the cleaning process.

7. Test by printing the document that had the reported problem (wrong color printing).

Yes that is probably the reason that it will not print.

Both cartridges have to be installed with a good amount of ink supply in both of them in order to be able to print.

Your color cartridge has to be full in order to print anything - even when your only trying to print black text and your black cartridge is full.

Both cartridges have to remain installed too. You can't remove one and try printing. The sensor will know it.

Hope this helps?

what are you trying to print?
You will need to change your printer settings ... go to the properties of the printer and then select printing prefrences there should be an option to just print black and white only ...

what are you trying to print?

Also this model will not print if either cartridge is empty ... black and colors are necessary to be full .. but you can change and set the default to be black only

Error message: No color or black ink cartridge-->Press the Color Copy button to install a new ink cartridge.
Solution: The indicated ink cartridge is not installed. Please install the necessary cartridge(s).

Error message: Color or black ink out -- >Press the Color Copy button to begin replacing the ink cartridge.
Solution: The indicated ink cartridge is out of ink. You will need to replace the necessary ink cartridge(s).


Error Message: Ink cartridge error -- > Press the Color Copy button to begin replacing the ink cartridge.
Solution: There is something wrong with the ink cartridge. Make sure the cartridge is genuine Epson ink. Also, try reseating the cartridge (remove it, and then reinstall it).

Error Message: Paper jam or misfeed -- > Press the Color Copy button and clear the paper jam by hand if necessary.
Solution: Paper is jammed. Check for any obstructions under the unit's cover, and in the paper tray.

Error Message: Paper out -- > Load paper in the sheet feeder and press the Color Copy button.
Solution: Load paper in the sheet feeder, and then press the Color Copy button to continue printing.

Error Message: Scanner unit open -- > close the scanner unit
Solution: Carefully close the scanner and press it down until it clicks securely into place.

Error Message: Scanner error -- > See your documentation and call service if necessary.
Solution: Press the ON button to turn off the Epson Stylus CX3200. Unlock the transportation lock, if necessary. If it is already unlocked, toggle the lock back and forth, 5-10 times. Turn on your Stylus CX3200 again.


Error Message: Printer error -- > See your documentation and call service if necessary.
Solution: Press the ON button to turn off the Epson Stylus CX3200. Disconnect it from power, and then reconnect it to power. Press the ON button to turn on the Stylus CX3200

Yes, this printer has fixed printheads and must have ink in each color to prevent damage to the printheads. Even when printing black only each color is spit in the servicing area to keep the printhead unclogged.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, Microsoft MVP Printing/Imaging

Im sorry to inform but yes, Epson ink jet printers require all of the ink cartridges to have ink in them in order to print any color, black and white, or grayscale images. Epson printers contain a permanent print head that needs to be charged with all colors to work. Even when users are printing black text only, a small amount of color ink is used to keep the print head charged for color printing and prevent air bubbles from entering the color print nozzles which can damage the print head. Therefore, once one of the cartridges are expended, the printer signals you to replace the cartridge in order for printing to continue.

According to " HP Officejet R, PSC 500 and Color Copier - General Copying Issues and Solutions", under the problem heading "Black is not Black", notes that:

"The unit will perform mono (or black) copies using the color cartridge to create a composite black in Normal and Best modes. This is necessary to create the correct grayscale shades. NOTE: The HP PSC 500 all-in-one product cannot perform black copies. Scan the image in and print it out in greyscale.

The color cartridge may be out of one color of ink. Run a self-test page to verify that all the colors are there. Replace the cartridge if they are not."

In other words, the device only uses the black ink cartridge when used as a computer printer. When used as a stand-alone copier, it uses the color ink cartridge, and all three ink colors must be present and working to give a black and white copy. Perhaps you can refill the color cartridge with black ink in all chambers?

I had the same problem. Had no choice but to buy the colors I ran out to make the printer work. In order to avoid future problems and save on color inked I attempted to follow the steps of a previous posting, however, that did not work for me. This is what I had did. Print, select properties, advance, continue, check box - Black ink only. Remember when you decide to print in color you must reset your setting and take out the check from the - Black ink only.