topic Re: PIXMA TR8520 Not Printing Black in Documents in Desktop Inkjet Printers

PIXMA TR8520 Not Printing Black in Documents

JasW — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 13:11:55 GMT

Suddenly having the same blank page printing problem on my Pixma TR8520, I went through PEdit's steps (save for 5-7), and the print nozzle check pattern test page printed out absolutely fine. But I'm still printing out blank pages from applications.

I noted, though, that when I went to print out a PDF document from Adobe that was all black text except for a color image of my blue ink signature that I had inserted, only the signature itself printed out. Then it occurred to me to try changing the color of the text in an MS Word document from black to blue to see what would happen. The doc printed out fine with blue text. Going back to black, not at all.

This is not a problem with the black ink cartridges or nozzles. As you can see from the print nozzle check pattern test page below, black printed out just fine. It's only when printing from applications that black doesn't print out.

I'm totally stumped. This printer is just under 2 years old. I bought it at Best Buy for $80, and the same model is now $180; similar models have had the same jump in price. So it's not as easy to give up on a "cheap" inkjet as it used to be, 'cause they ain't cheap anymore.

Re: PIXMA TR8520 Not Printing Black in Documents

amandaTR8520 — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 03:47:38 GMT

Having exact same issue. Any resolution?

Re: PIXMA TR8520 Not Printing Black in Documents

JasW — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:51:52 GMT

Yes and no. Support tells me that there should be two black printouts on the print nozzle check pattern test page shown above corresponding to the two separate black ink cartridges—the one missing should be on the top, and it's for the thick black ink cartridge. Support suggested (and sent me gratis) a new ink cartridge to see if that would fix it, and said if it didn't, to clean the print head. Neither worked. According to support, there's nothing else to be done, and I'm welcome to buy a new unit from them at some presumed discount.

Re: PIXMA TR8520 Not Printing Black in Documents

TheHipe — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 20:49:52 GMT

I had the same problem. Finally after deep cleaning several times, which did not work, I replaced the 280 XXL black cartridge which was empty anyway. That solved my problem.

Re: PIXMA TR8520 Not Printing Black in Documents

TheHipe — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 20:52:33 GMT

I can only guess the black ink in the cartridge was somehow defective. It was not supposed to be a recycled one that I purchased from Amazon.

Re: PIXMA TR8520 Not Printing Black in Documents

johncooper2013 — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:51:10 GMT

I have the same issue.

Test page prints fine but printing from Word/pdf or Excel, all colours print except black.

Why won't black print ?

I have tried 3 different computers, multiple differrent docs and replaced both black cartridges with Canon branded ones.

Re: PIXMA TR8520 Not Printing Black in Documents

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:49:21 GMT

@JasW wrote:

Suddenly having the same blank page printing problem on my Pixma TR8520, I went through PEdit's steps (save for 5-7), and the print nozzle check pattern test page printed out absolutely fine. But I'm still printing out blank pages from applications.

I noted, though, that when I went to print out a PDF document from Adobe that was all black text except for a color image of my blue ink signature that I had inserted, only the signature itself printed out. Then it occurred to me to try changing the color of the text in an MS Word document from black to blue to see what would happen. The doc printed out fine with blue text. Going back to black, not at all.

This is not a problem with the black ink cartridges or nozzles. As you can see from the print nozzle check pattern test page below, black printed out just fine. It's only when printing from applications that black doesn't print out.

I'm totally stumped. This printer is just under 2 years old. I bought it at Best Buy for $80, and the same model is now $180; similar models have had the same jump in price. So it's not as easy to give up on a "cheap" inkjet as it used to be, 'cause they ain't cheap anymore.

Your pigment black cartridge isn';t printing. It is the PGBK 280 cartridge. It is used for printing text.

Re: PIXMA TR8520 Not Printing Black in Documents

johncooper2013 — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:41:21 GMT

Thank you for the reply.

But I have done all the nozzle checks/maintenance/cleaning.

And changed the cartridge - twice. So tried 3 PBK280 cartridges.

Are you saying that it is a technical issue beyond repair?
Or perhaps blocked below the cartridge that needs a manual clean?

Re: PIXMA TR8520 Not Printing Black in Documents

jrhoffman75 — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:42:30 GMT

The head could be clogged. Check YouTube for head cleaning ideas.