Does it continue to print in black when colors are low or need to be replaced?
281765
No it won't. I disagree with the previous two answers. It automatically stops when the ink runs out on any cartridge. Your computer screen warns you first and then when the printer stops your screen shows which cartridge has run out of ink. I keep two sets of refillable cartridges so I have no down time when the ink runs out. I just replace the dry one and refill it while the printer continues doing its job.
281766
I have two colors that are very low in ink in my printer and the printer continues to print in black with no problem. I love this printer!
281767
Yes, it will continue to print black when colors are low. Replace the rest when the computer screen tells you to do it. BTW, I found that aftermarket inks will foul your inkjets and will render it useless. You can get Canon inkjets at lower prices in Amazon or eBay. As an aside, the inks last longer than other Canon printers I owned.
281768
it continues to pirint black. It has a separate tank just for that purpose. Also you can replace each color as it runs out.
1916940
Nope. That's why I hate this printer. Once you run out of color ink, all functionality eventually ceases - can't print in black, can't copy with black, can't even scan (which is perhaps the most amazing of all). Epson software allegedly lets you print with just black, but eventually all those methods stop working.
1973068
No. After it runs out of a certain amount of color ink it will absolutely refuse to print, even with a full new black ink when you are trying to print in just black. It's really a rip off and I don't plan on buying one of these again. Right now I have a complete paperweight until I can afford some color ink, even though I never print in color.
1315154
When the printer will not let me print due to color ink (yellow) being low - I am able to change my printer preferences to print in GREYSCALE and it works!!
1787228
Yes the printer requires having ALL ink cartridges installed (and none empty) to print, if you run out of a color you cannot print (even in black) until the color cartridge is replaced..
58463
No, if any of the color cartridges are empty it doesn't print black (as in text). It doesn't print anything. p.s. Just happened to notice the black print option on the actually printer, and tried it out (the printing option is the only one that doesn't seem to respond to this option) but copying certainly did. Sorry for the incomplete answer.
842560
I don't have an "official" answer, but based on my using it since January and only having to replace the black toner, I would say that it does not use the color toners -- nothing like the other printer in the office that has to have ALL the toners replaced constantly even thought almost all use is b
1830533
I don't know if it will print in black and white if the color cartridge is empty as I just got the printer and haven't emptied the cartridges yet. I assume it will continue to do black and white if you leave the empty cartridges in.
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.
1730774
There are four ink cartridges and the printer will not run if one color is empty. However, when the black runs low, it will ask if you want to use a combination of the other colors. It then runs a little longer. But, once the black is out, even that option will not work.
1730773
My black ink cartridge is running low, but it's still functioning. :) I haven't needed customer support at all.
591402
After some googling, it seems that printing in black won't use the color toner. However, if ANY of the toner runs out, it won't print. I suppose if you just want to print in black most of the time, use the color toner sparingly.
2063042
Try adjusting the settings in your printer preferences to print in black only or change to darker tone using your printer panel buttons, that's what I did when the same situation happened to me. hope this help.
1795844
You can try taking the print head out and cleaning it, but I have not had good luck with it fixing it. Sometimes it helps and then the next time I use it, it won't print black again. Basically, these are useless printers. The print head is about $50 to buy a new one and they don't last very long. I'm limping along with this and then I will buy a different brand. Sorry. Maybe cleaning it will get you a little more use.
995406
It probably will for a short period until you replace the color cartridge but long use without all cartridges will probably damage the printer. Even when setting your preference to print only black it uses a little of the color cartridge per Epson. I recommend contracting Epson for exact information. I have not run into this situation since mine is still new. Good luck.
17958
The inability to print something when any of the color cartridges is empty may be a difficulty with many (most? all?) color printers these days. I know in the past when one color ran out, I would still be able print something that just used black ink, but that's not possible with my current color ink jet printer (a Brother all-in-one). I do very little color printing, and I find it cheaper though space-consuming to own two printers, the color inkjet and a laser printer for documents that only require black ink.
295767
I have run out of one of the color cartridges and it still printed for me, so I would say yes, but installing a new color cartridge is the best bet.