On Wed, 28 Apr 2021 06:49:19 +0100, Charlie+ wrote:

On Tue, 27 Apr 2021 15:06:57 +0200, a wrote as underneath
:

On Tue, 27 Apr 2021 06:57:10 +0100, Charlie+ wrote:

On Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:50:29 +0200, a wrote as underneath
:

hallo,

- I'm with:
HP officejet 6830 pro
Windows 10 Home

- my aim:
save black ink

- how accomplish that:
I think (if I'm not wrong...)
it could be accomplished
by using an icc profile (edited by me)
where I substitute the 'black' color with a 'dark grey' color
and then
by telling the printer to use this icc profile,
so the printer will never print blak
and will always print dark grey

- answer:
is this method correct?
(if it is correct, I will ask you few questions
on how to tell my printer to use this new icc profile)

Have you thought of using a Print manager software, FinePrint is an
example but I'm sure if you hunt around there are others. Just reducing
K may alter all your other printed colours in ways you dont expect! C+

'Fine print' doesn't allow to reduce the 'quantity' of ink ('saturation' or
'lightness' of the black color...).
And actually I don't know any printer manager (free) that is able to do
this... If you know I'll give a try.

But trying to edit and install an icc file
is very interesting to me... :

I saw from Windows 10 'Control Panel''Color Manager'
that my HP printer uses two .icc files
(one for Black&White and another for Color).

I duplicated the Color file, opened it with an editor called 'Delcotec'
and tried to change what I think is the black value.
Then saved the new .icc file and installed it in Windows 10.

Then from the Windows 10 'Color Manager' panel
I told the HP printer to use this new .icc file (telling it is the default
profile now),
I printed a testing page but nothing has changed :-( .

Note:
I also duplicated the Black&White icc file
and tried to edit it,
but I was not able to find and change the black value.

Sorry I cant help much - and moved to laser printing years ago!
Would the old InkSaver software I remember from 15-20 years ago get you
anywhere? I think that allowed you to manipulate the separate ink
colours. C+

I searched...
I tried InkSaver, it installs on windows 10 but when lounched it hangs.

I tried GreenCloud... it installs very well and it does what it promises:
among the other features it has three setting levels to reduce the ink
(black or color) you are going to print, and they work; tried a couple of
pages... not bad till now.
But the full version is 19.00 USD

I think I'll try FinePrint you suggested, just for a comparision.
The descrition on its web site tells it has three setting levels to reduce
the ink too.
It is not freeware.

If anyone knows similar software he can suggest too,
but as far I have seen, there are not so many software
(for Widows 10 and able to reduce the ink level before printing,
and maybe free...)

I'm also waiting for Andreas to explain the method he pointed out
(Andreas are you suggesting me to use only the color cartridges?
If so, it is not a good way because the color cartridges are more expensive
than the black one...)

PS:
I'm still searching for an help on how to manage the .icc printer profile
files....