Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Black and White Blues.
Excel allows you to create a colorful masterpiece on your screen. What you get when you print, however, depends entirely on the printer you are using. Some black-and-white printers do a great job of translating colors into shades of gray. Others, however, leave quite a bit to be desired in their output.
If you are having problems printing color Excel information on your black-and-white printer, try these steps:
Figure 1. The Sheet tab of the Page Setup dialog box.
You are now ready to print, and you should do so as you normally would. You should notice a marked improvement in your printer output.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (8641) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Black and White Blues.
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2013-12-09 10:50:23
Bryan
Another way to avoid the "black and white blues" is to follow the 10 Commandments for Excel Charts -- specifically, Commandment #2. See http://excelribbon.tips.net/T012685_10_Commandments_for_Excel_Charts.html
If you don't make ugly, multi-colored charts in the first place, then when you print them out it won't matter if they are in color or black and white.
If it's not a chart but a worksheet that is rainbow-colored, then, well, I feel sorry for anyone who has to use it...
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
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