K100% printing

[toyofuta313-640]

I would like to print with 100% (black) without any contamination of CMY on HP Color laser Printer CP-5225dn. I shall be glad if anybody will teach me how to do it.

[tonyharmer]

Hi.

Is this a question relating to Photoshop? I suspect it is but could you confirm, please?

[Norman Sanders]

If the file was to be printed in offset lithography and you planned to submit a CMYK file   (a choice I do not recommend without consulting the lithographer), you could choose Edit > Color Settings > click on CMYK. and when that opens, choose Custom CMYK... and in that menu choose GCR, Maximum. Note the Gray Ramp curve.

But you are feeding in an RGB file. In that case, you would have to consult the printer manufacturer regarding ways to modify his conversion to CMYK software (which may or may not reference the Photoshop CMYK settings) for the adjustments they recommend.

Also consider, using your printer in its current fashion, the additional color inks in the deep black areas help size the sheet so that the ink sits on top of the sheet a bit more rather than being absorbed into it, producing a darker black.

[gener7]

If you are planning to print to a color laser, Rich Black (sometimes called Photoshop black) would be the better option:

Photoshop 101: True Black (CMYK)

I know inkjet printers are RGB-aware even if they have CMYK cartridges. If you are working in Illustrator, you are encouraged to export the CMYK .ai file as RGB if you are taking it in to Photoshop.