Black and White Test Print Page

Professional B&W test patterns for laser and inkjet printers

Auto-prints on load
Works with all printers

About This Black & White Test Page

Our black and white test print page is designed to help you evaluate your printer's monochrome printing capabilities. Whether you're using a laser printer for documents or an inkjet for photos, this comprehensive test page will reveal any issues with black ink quality, grayscale accuracy, and fine detail reproduction.

What's Included

  • • 6 grayscale patches (0% to 100%)
  • • Text samples in multiple sizes
  • • Linear and radial gradients
  • • Line quality tests
  • • Pattern fill samples
  • • Fine detail elements

What to Check

  • ✓ All grayscale levels are distinct
  • ✓ No banding in gradients
  • ✓ Text is sharp at all sizes
  • ✓ Lines are consistent
  • ✓ No streaking or gaps
  • ✓ Solid blacks are truly black

Common Black & White Printing Issues

Faded or Light Black Printing

Faded print example

If your black prints look gray or washed out:

  • Check toner/ink levels
  • Adjust print density settings
  • Clean print heads (inkjet)
  • Replace drum unit (laser)

Streaking or Lines

Printer maintenance

For unwanted lines or streaks:

  • Run cleaning cycle
  • Check for debris on drum
  • Align print heads
  • Replace worn components

Pro Tip:

For laser printers, if you're seeing light prints even with full toner, try removing the toner cartridge and gently shaking it side to side. This redistributes the toner and can improve print quality temporarily while you order a replacement.

How to Use This Test Page

1

Print the Page

Click the print button or wait for auto-print. Use normal paper and default settings first.

2

Examine Results

Check each grayscale level, text clarity, and gradient smoothness under good lighting.

3

Troubleshoot

If issues found, follow our troubleshooting guides to improve print quality.

Black & White Printing: Laser vs Inkjet

Feature Laser Printers Inkjet Printers
Text Quality Excellent - crisp, professional Good - may show slight bleeding
Grayscale Good - uses halftone patterns Excellent - smooth gradients
Speed Fast - 20-40 ppm typical Slower - 10-20 ppm typical
Cost per Page Lower - $0.02-0.04/page Higher - $0.05-0.10/page
Best For Documents, high volume Photos, mixed media

📦 Need Supplies for B&W Printing?

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Premium Paper

Bright white for sharp text

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HP Toner

HP 58A/58X black toner

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Brother Laser

Fast B&W printing

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