PIXMA TS8220 -how to print B&W on just the black cartridge

[tazzz4short]

I'm using windows 10,  Printer is Pixma TS 8220. I want to print black and white text documents.  I thought the printer was just using the black ink but it uses all the tanks including the pgbk cartridge when I select either black and white or greyscale.  how do i get the printer to quit wasting all the other inks and just print on the black cartridge?

[Patrick]

Hi tazzz4short,

To print with only the PGBK ink tank from your PIXMA TS8220, please follow the steps outlined in this article:

TS8220 - How Do I Print With Only the Black or Color Inks? - Canon Knowledgebase

Did this answer your question? If so, please click the Accept as Solution button below so that others may find the answer as well.

[tazzz4short]

Hi,  Thanks for the reply and the help!  I do have one question though.  Why is the only choice for printing with just black the PGBK cartridge - why not a choice to use the other black cartridge which is much cheaper to replace?

[Patrick]

Hi tazzz4short,

The PGBK ink tank contains pigment based black ink. This ink provides dark and sharp black text on plain paper. The bigger black ink tank is used when the paper type is set to plain paper.

The smaller black ink tank (BK) is a dye based ink. The BK ink is not intended for printing text.  This ink provides greater contrast when printing photographs.

Did this answer your question? If so, please click the Accept as Solution button below so that others may find the answer as well.

[tazzz4short · Accepted solution]

Ah, that explains it.  I thought it was the opposite - that the PGBK was for photos and that the PGBK stood for Photo Gray & Black.  

Thanks for your help!