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Black and White Printer Test Page
Removing colour from the equation isolates density, toner coverage and fine detail problems.
Set scaling to 100%. Choose Actual Size in the print dialog, never Fit to page — scaling distorts every measurement on this sheet. The Download PDF button hands you that same sheet as a ready-made file, so there is no scaling decision to get wrong.
How to print the Black and White Printer Test Page
- Print in mono/black-only mode if your driver offers it, otherwise standard mode.
- Scaling must be Actual Size / 100%.
- Check the solid block first for uniformity.
- Walk the greyscale wedge from white to black; note the first pair of steps that merge.
- Read down the line pairs until individual lines can no longer be separated.
- Try to read the smallest type line — note the size at which it fails.
Reading the result
| The solid block is uniform and deep | Black density is correct. Banding here is a drum or fuser fault on laser, or a blocked row on inkjet. |
| Grey wedge steps are all distinct | Tonal separation is working. If two neighbouring steps merge, density is compressed — check the print quality setting and the driver's toner density. |
| Line pairs blur together early | Effective resolution is lower than the setting suggests. Confirm the print quality is at maximum and that the driver is not applying any smoothing or "economy" mode. |
| Text at 1.2mm is illegible | Normal for many printers at default settings. Reprint at Best quality — if it is still broken, the fuser (laser) or paper type setting (inkjet) is wrong. |
| A colour cast appears in the greys | The driver is not using black ink alone. Switch to greyscale/mono printing, or enable "print colour as grey" so CMY inks are not mixed in. |
Also check
- Greyscale ramp — Adds neutral steps between the extremes, so it separates a compressed tonal range from an outright density fault.
- Resolution chart — When the wedge reads correctly but fine detail still blurs, measure the line pairs directly instead of judging them from type size.
- Nozzle check — Inkjet only: banding inside the solid block usually traces back to a blocked nozzle row rather than to a density setting.
- Colour test page — Print it alongside this sheet when a monochrome problem turns out to be a driver setting — colour mode left enabled is a common cause of black output that reads as grey.
Related test pages
- Greyscale printer test page — A grey ramp with no colour in it makes tonal problems, colour casts and scaling errors impossible to miss.
- DPI Chart printer test page — Printers advertise one resolution and deliver another. This chart measures what you actually get.
- Alignment printer test page — If lines that should be straight come out crooked, or text looks doubled, the printhead is out of alignment. This sheet measures it.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my black print grey rather than black?
Toner or ink is low, the density setting is turned down, or the driver is using a draft mode. On laser, also check the drum — a worn drum produces exactly this symptom.
What is the greyscale wedge for?
It shows whether your printer can distinguish tone steps at all. Printers that compress tone produce flat, muddy greys long before they produce outright failure.
Can I use this page on a colour printer?
Yes, and you should — it tells you whether a monochrome-looking problem is in the black channel specifically or in the whole device.
Why is my black printed as dark grey on brand new toner?
Eco and draft modes deliberately lay down less coverage to extend cartridge life, and the density control can be left turned down from an earlier job. Reset the quality to standard or high before replacing anything — a full cartridge in eco mode looks exactly like an empty one.
How is this different from the greyscale page?
This page tests the extremes and fine detail: solid black, wedge separation, line pairs and small type. The greyscale page tests the middle of the range, where tone clipping and colour casts appear before either end shows a visible fault.
What does the line-pair column actually tell me?
It separates resolution from density. If the wedge reads correctly but the lines merge early, the printer is placing dots accurately at insufficient spacing, which is a print-quality setting rather than a supply problem. Raise the quality and reprint — the point where the lines merge should move.