Choose Color or Black & White on Mac and Save Print Settings

Questions

  • How do I print in color on my Mac?
  • How do I print in black and white on my Mac?
  • How do I switch a single print job between color and black & white (grayscale) on macOS?
  • How do I print in grayscale on a Mac?
  • What is Find-Me-Print-Color and when do I use it?
  • Why isn't my color print job printing in color?
  • How do I save presets so I can quickly choose black & white or color each time I print?
  • Can my Mac remember my last print choice for a printer?
  • Why don't I see a black & white or color option in the print window?
  • How do I stop printing in color by default to save my print balance?

Environment

This article applies to:

  • Who: Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff printing from a Mac
  • OS: macOS Sequoia (15.x) or Tahoe (26.x)
  • Printers: Any local, network, or AirPrint printer installed on the Mac, including Find-Me-Print and Find-Me-Print-Color

The exact names and locations of color settings can vary by printer model and application. Black & white (grayscale) is available only if the printer and its driver support it. No administrator permissions are required.

Resolution

Students — color printing: Student color printing is available at the H&L Library basement and Hatch Science Library. To print in color as a student, you must do both of the following — doing only one will not produce a color print:
  • Select Find-Me-Print-Color as your printer destination (not the standard Find-Me-Print queue)
  • Set the color mode to Color in the print dialog (see steps below)
If you select Find-Me-Print-Color but leave the color mode set to Black & White, your document will print in black and white — and you will still be charged the color rate. If you select Color in the dialog but use the standard Find-Me-Print queue, the job will print in black and white.

Switch between color and black & white for a single print job

  1. Open the file you want to print, then choose File > Print or press Command + P.
  2. If the print window looks small, click Show Details to see all options.
  3. Look for a drop-down menu in the print window. For Find-Me-Print or Find-Me-Print-Color, select Printer Features and make sure you are on the Basic feature set.

    Animated GIF showing how to select black and white or color for the Find-Me-Print printer in the macOS print dialog under Printer Features.
  4. Change the color mode:
    • Choose Black & White or Grayscale to print without color.
    • Choose Color to print in color.
  5. Review other settings (paper size, two-sided, pages), then click Print.

Create reusable presets for black & white and for color

  1. Open the print window (File > Print) and click Show Details if needed.
  2. Set all options the way you want them for black & white — choose Black & White or Grayscale, two-sided on or off, paper size, etc.
  3. Open the Presets menu at the top of the window and choose Save Current Settings as Preset.
  4. Name it clearly (for example, Black & White) and choose whether it applies to Only this printer or All printers.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Repeat steps 1–5 to create a second preset for color.

Next time you print, open the Presets menu and pick Black & White or Color before clicking Print.

Have your Mac remember your last choice

In the print window's Presets menu, choose Last Used Settings. Print once using your preferred setting (for example, black & white). Many apps will continue to use your last-used settings for that printer the next time you print.

Don't see a black & white or color option?

  • Make sure the printer supports color — some models only print in black and white.
  • Try a different section in the print window: Color Options, Media & Quality, Printer Features, or a brand-specific panel.
  • If the printer was added with AirPrint and color options are missing, check under Color Options in the print window — some features appear only there.
  • Update the printer's software if an update is available, then try again.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

Additional Resources

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