Find How to Resolve “PDF Not Printing in Color” [3 Fixes]

Introduction:

It can be incredibly frustrating when you try to print a PDF in color, but it comes out in black and white or grayscale. In some reports, brochures, or presentations, color accuracy is vital. Why is my PDF not printing in color? How to fix that and how to print a PDF in color? In this SwifDoo PDF article, let’s explore and find the actionable solutions.

Common Causes of PDFs Not Printing in Color

It is helpful to resolve the “PDF not printing in color” error by learning about its common causes. Now, let’s analyze the potential causes.

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#Color Management Settings in the PDF Viewer

Some PDF viewers or readers are not configured to print in color by default. In that case, the printer can’t receive the correct color profile, causing the PDF to print in black and white instead of color.

How to check:

Open your PDF in the target PDF viewer or reader.
Access the Print dialog and find the print color settings.
If the print color is set to black and white or grayscale, change it to color.

#Printer Settings Issue

In addition to incorrect print color settings in the PDF viewer, incorrect settings in the printer can also cause the PDF not to print in color. If your printer is set to print in grayscale or black and white by default, it can override your color printing preferences.

How to check:

Open the print dialog.
Find the option like Color or Quality.
Set the option to Color or Auto.

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#Outdated Printer Drivers

If your printer driver is outdated or incompatible, it can cause issues with printing color PDFs. Meanwhile, if your printer doesn’t support color printing, it defaults to grayscale. Hence, you need to ensure your printer driver is up to date.

#Insufficient Printer Ink or Toner

Why is a PDF not to print in color? The insufficient or empty color ink or toner cartridges are another possible cause. Meanwhile, if the printer detects that the color cartridges are almost empty or depleted, some of them will still print a document in grayscale.

In addition to the 4 main possible causes above, other factors, such as incorrect PDF settings and printer configuration in networked environments, may also prevent PDFs from printing in color. How to fix that? Keep reading.

Fixes to “PDF Not Printing in Color”: Step-by-Step

If you have encountered the frustrating issue of PDFs not printing in color, follow the step-by-step guidance to resolve the issue.

Fix 1. Double-Check and Adjust Printer/PDF Viewer Settings

If your printer or PDF viewer is set to print in grayscale by default, the PDF can’t be printed in color. How to resolve it? Refer to the steps below:

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Open the print dialog from your PDF viewer (like Adobe Acrobat Reader or SwifDoo PDF).
Make sure the color option is set to “Color” and not “Grayscale” or “Black and White”. Also, you can check the print quality options.
Next, check the page size and other print settings. Finally, click Print.

Fix 2. Update Printer Drivers

A printer driver is essential for correct and proper print settings between your computer and printer. To ensure that your printer can print in color, you need to update the printer driver. Here’s how:

Visit the official website of your printer’s manufacturer.
Search and find your printer model and download the latest drivers for your operating system.
Once downloaded, install the updated driver and restart your computer and printer.
Then, test the color printing again.

Fix 3. Check Printer Ink or Toner Levels

From the common causes, we know that low or empty ink or toner levels can also cause color printing issues. Here’s what you should do:

Open the printer's control panel or the settings on your computer to check the ink or toner levels.
If the cartridges are empty or low, replace them with new ones and try color printing again.

How to Print a PDF in Color

How to print a PDF in color? Here, I take SwifDoo PDF as an example to show you how to print a PDF in color. Check the steps below:

Step 1. Click the button below to download and install SwifDoo PDF on your computer. Then, launch it to get to its main interface.

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Step 2. Open and view your PDF file in SwifDoo PDF. Next, press Ctrl/Cmd + P to open the print dialog.

Step 3. In the Color dropdown, make sure the Color option is selected, but not the Grayscale option. Then, set the page size, printer, page orientation, and other print settings. Meanwhile, you can choose to print the PDF without margins.

Step 4. Finally, click Print.

Preventive Tips to Avoid PDF Printing Issues

In this section, I’d like to offer some preventive tips to avoid PDF color printing issues.

Update Printer Drivers Regularly: Update your printer drivers regularly to avoid potential compatibility issues. Meanwhile, the updated printer drivers have improved functionality.
Set Default Printer Preferences to Color: Go to the printer settings to set the default to color printing.
Use High-Quality PDF Creation Tools: Use a professional PDF tool, such as SwifDoo PDF or Adobe Acrobat, to create PDFs, ensuring that colors are properly embedded.

Conclusion

It is necessary to print a PDF in color when the file includes some colorful elements. Due to factors such as incorrect printer settings, the PDF may not print in color. How to resolve the “PDF not printing in color” issue? In this article, I introduce you to three actionable fixes. To print a PDF in color, you can try SwifDoo PDF. Hopefully, this article can be helpful to you.