Select black only
Choose Black & White, Monochrome, or Grayscale in the printer dialog. Start at Normal quality with toner-save or draft mode disabled.
Black / grayscale test
Black printer test page
Test black ink or toner without burning through a full solid page. The grayscale ramp, fine grid and type samples expose fading, streaks, ghosting, and weak small text.
- Ink-efficient black coverage
- 11-step grayscale ramp
- Fine lines and type from 18 pt to 6 pt
01 / Test type
02 / Paper
Generated locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
PRINTCHECK / DIAGNOSTIC 01A4 • 100% SCALE
PRINTER OUTPUT TEST
Black / grayscale
GRAYSCALE0 → 100% K
TYPE SHARPNESS18 pt — Sharp edges & rich black12 pt — The quick brown fox jumps over 0123456789
8 pt — Fine text should remain crisp, evenly filled and easy to read without halos, feathering or broken strokes.
6 pt — If this line is legible and consistent, your printer is resolving small type well.Print it right
Three settings make the test useful.
A scaled or economy-mode print can look like a printer fault. Start with a controlled print before changing ink, toner, or hardware.
Keep scale at 100%
Use Actual size and the paper format loaded in the tray. Scaling can blur fine lines and makes margin or alignment checks unreliable.
Compare all three tests
Read the gray steps, inspect the grid for gaps or echoes, and check whether the smallest text stays filled and sharp.
Read the result
Read density, edges, and repetition separately.
What you seeLikely meaningNext move
Black looks pale everywhere
Draft mode, low toner or ink, a weak cartridge, or an incorrect media setting is reducing density.
Disable economy mode, verify supplies, gently redistribute removable toner, then retest.
White lines cross dark areas
Inkjet nozzles may be blocked, or a laser cartridge/drum may have a coverage defect.
Use the printer’s own diagnostic. Clean inkjet heads once; inspect laser consumables for repeating defects.
Gray steps merge together
Shadow or highlight detail is being clipped by density, driver, or media settings.
Reset the driver, select the correct paper, and compare Normal with High quality.
A mark repeats down the page
A rotating laser component such as the drum, roller, or fuser may be damaged or contaminated.
Measure the repeat distance and consult the model service guide before replacing parts.
01 / Density
Why we avoid a full black flood.
A solid-black sheet uses far more ink or toner than most diagnosis requires and can stress a weak cartridge. This pattern combines a grayscale ramp, dense targets, grids and text so you can identify the same common faults with less waste.
- Distinct gray steps test tonal separation
- Fine grids expose gaps and directional streaks
- Mixed text sizes reveal edge spread and resolution
02 / Hardware
Inkjet and laser faults look similar—but are not.
On an inkjet, missing horizontal lines commonly point to nozzles or printhead alignment. On a laser, pale bands, background haze, smears or regularly repeating marks more often involve toner distribution, the drum, transfer path, or fuser.
- Do not run an inkjet cleaning cycle on a laser printer
- Do not touch a laser drum surface
- Use the built-in self-test to separate printer hardware from computer settings
FAQ
Questions before you print.
How do I test black ink on a printer?+
Print the black and grayscale sheet at 100% scale in monochrome mode. Check the darkest blocks, each gray step, the line grid and the smallest text for gaps or fading.
Why does my printer print color but not black?+
The black cartridge may be empty, vent-blocked, unseated, or clogged even when color channels work. Confirm Black only is selected, inspect the cartridge, and run the built-in nozzle or quality report.
Is a full black page a good toner test?+
It can reveal coverage defects but uses substantial toner. Start with this ink-efficient pattern. Use a full flood only when a service procedure specifically calls for it.
What should a good grayscale ramp look like?+
Every step from near-white to black should remain visibly distinct, neutral, and evenly filled. Merged dark steps suggest shadow clipping; missing light steps suggest highlight clipping.