Why does the HP7520 need a 'special' black photo cartridge to print photos? None of the other printers I have owned have needed this.
301470
The HP7520 needs a "special" black photo cartridge to print photos because using everyday ink will not be enough to print as many as 1 photo before drying up. Especially when printing 8.5 in x 11 or a few 4x6 on a single glossy paper before having to go out and replace the everyday ink.
301471
If your printer has slots for 5 colors, one of those is for the black photo cartridge because photos require all 5.
301472
The cartridge is actually a gray ink to help with shading in photos and graphics.http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01839024&cc;=us&dlc;=en&lc;=en&j;umpid=reg_R1002_USEN
905771
Oh, thank god, this worked for me as well. This was driving me nuts. I had just bought a replacement large black tank and all I'm trying to print is text, but it wouldn't work because one of the photo tanks was out. (And I couldn't just buy that one, would have had to buy the pack of all four colors for $60)... I was about ready to just buy a new printer!
2246540
Canon wants the used cartridges back, so it is my bet that you won't know about that status of any individual cartridge. It goes out with new specs, whether used or new.
1775126
Mine is the hp psc 1100/1200 series. . . .the black cartridge did not last very long, and gave problems. Replaced it with the other and so far this month there have been no problems. Thinking I got a bad one of two!
2171375
Reading customer elsewhere and on Hp support forum, I discovered that the printer will not print in black if any of the color cartridges is out of ink - all cartridges must have ink for this printer to work. See HP Support Forum response here : http://tinyurl.com/n2f32uy .
378911
SIMILAR SITUATION..I'M LOOKING FOR PRINTER USING ONLY ONE CARTRIDGE (BLACK)I HAVE NO NEED FOR COLORED CARTRIDGES.THANKS
2065373
HP wants to sell a lot of cartridges, so when the printer "thinks" the black cartridge might be getting low, even though it may be an extra large one with plenty of ink left, it switches to color. Then, when you want color, it's all gone. I junked my HP printer and bought a Lexmark.
1912594
Here's a hint I use. When I am printing something that does not require color ink (such as a plain letter or music) I select black ink only on my printer (HP 8500) and that extends the life of the color ink greatly. Of course I use more black ink, but that's only one cartridge rather than all four. Also, I never use anything but original HP cartridges, no re-built ones - I've had bad luck with them - they're not worth it.
586473
One of the main reasons I bought the printer I have is because of these cartridges. My son has a photo only printer, and he's had no problems for years. I'm on my second set right now, and all is good.
256822
With regards to the ink jet cartridges, it seems that the smaller black cartridge and the larger black cartridge have to have ink to run the printer. Right now, the larger one is out of ink, but why does it not continue to print from the smaller black cartridge? Is there a setting for this or did I do something wrong during my initial installation of these cartridges?
1181215
Once the photo ink runs out you will get an error message stating it. This same error message will not allow you to print until it is corrected (by replacing the empty cartridge with a refilled one). So in conclusion you will need all 5 cartridges for printer to work.
431056
Ah, that explains why I suddenly cannot print black & white photos, even though the display indicates that I have plenty of Black ink left. The image I get is a reddish-gray. I bought the MP620 last month. I am still able to copy ordinary black text, though, probably because the printer comes with an extra Black ink cartridge (which is larger). So the 620 holds a total of 5 cartridges. I'm aggravated that the 5 cartridges do not come in a 5-pack... you have to buy a 4-pack & a separate pack for the extra Black one. [Just in case you're wondering, re my reddish photos, the ink display shows that I have plenty of ink in BOTH black cartridges.]
1752413
David, The way I understand it is that one is "pigment black" and the other is "photo black". I guess one works better for photos. I rarely print photos but both black cartridges seem to get used.
433733
It should print without the others. I have had one of the colors run out and just picked the black print option and I was fine.
319147
I believe this Black is used for photos and the larger, "stand-alone" Black for everything else. I have also seen a Gray, compatible cartridge, but haven't used one yet.
433869
My printer said the same thing. I was able to force it to print anyway. I think it is something the printer manufacturer has on their cartridges that isn't on these making the printer not like them. THey are trying to force you to buy the expensive ones.
561693
hello my hp is the photosmart all in one/cn216#b1h i think it will work in the 7520 check the x-ref.for hp.