PIXMA TR8520 Black and White vs. Color for black text?

[Alan-Editor]

We have a TR8520 inkjet. Almost everything we print is black text or b&w line drawings. Our color cartridges tend to register as low, so we replace them. What is the difference between setting the printer for Black and White and for Color for black text? Is one more economical? What is the difference between black and PG black? We use standard, non-glossy paper and standard setting (Draft is not available). Thanks!

[jrhoffman75]

Hello. I have a TR8620; I'm not sure if this will work for your printer. Note that it only works for certain papers.:

The PG black cartridge is pigment ink. 

See if you have this option in your printer:

[rs-eos]

I'm not 100%, but I believe if printing black via the color cartridges, you'd be using the same amount of ink vs a black cartridge.  I believe it takes equal amounts of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) to make black.  So am guessing that for each particular area of the paper, you'd either be using 3 parts black, or 1 part each of C, M, Y.  Also, I don't think it will be the blakest of blacks.  CMYK black tends to be a very dark gray.   So you may possibly get better B&W output if using the black cartridge.