Visio: Diagram Prints in Black and White on a Color Printer (307909)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visio 2000 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Visio 2000 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visio 2000 Technical Edition
  • Microsoft Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Visio Standard 5.0
  • Microsoft Visio Standard 5.0a
  • Microsoft Visio Standard 5.0b
  • Microsoft Visio Standard 5.0c
  • Microsoft Visio Professional 5.0
  • Microsoft Visio Professional 5.0a
  • Microsoft Visio Professional 5.0b
  • Microsoft Visio Professional 5.0c
  • Microsoft Visio Technical 5.0
  • Microsoft Visio Technical 5.0a
  • Microsoft Visio Technical 5.0b
  • Microsoft Visio Technical 5.0c
  • Microsoft Visio Enterprise 5.0
  • Microsoft Visio Enterprise 5.0a
  • Microsoft Visio Enterprise 5.0b
  • Microsoft Visio Enterprise 5.0c
This article was previously published under Q307909

SYMPTOMS

When you print a colored Visio drawing to a color printer, the drawing may print in black and white, or in grayscale.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when the following conditions are true:
  • The default Windows printer is a non-color device.

    -and-
  • You created and saved the Visio drawing while the non-color printer was the default printer.

    -and-
  • In the Print dialog box, you select the color printer from the list of other printers.
Visio stores the default printer information in the drawing when you save a file. When your default Windows printer is a non-color device, Visio may continue to use the capabilities of this device, even though you switch to a color printer.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, change the Windows default printer to the device that supports color, and then create a new drawing that is based on the pervious file. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers. Set the color printer as the Windows default printer.
  2. In Visio, click Open on the File menu, and then open the original drawing.
  3. On the Edit menu, click Copy Drawing.
  4. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Drawing, or use a specific template.
  5. In the new drawing, click Paste on the Edit menu.
  6. On the File menu, click Save. Name and save the file.
The new drawing will now print in full color to the color printer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:5/26/2005
Keywords:kbnofix kbprb KB307909
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.