"Publisher cannot print CMYK composite to a black and white printer" error message when you print a publication as CMYK composite on a color printer

When you try to print a publication as composite cyan-magenta-yellow-black (CMYK) on a color printer, you may receive the following error message:

This problem may be caused by one of the following conditions:

• The PostScript Printer Definition (PPD) file for your printer driver does not support color printing.
• You are printing to a non-PostScript printer.

Microsoft Office Publisher 2003 can generate CMYK process model print files only by using PostScript printer drivers that support color printing.

Make sure that you have the correct driver for your printer. To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Page Setup.
2. In the Page Setup dialog box, click the Printer and Paper tab.
3. In the Name list, select the driver for the printer that you want to use, and then click Properties.
4. In the Properties dialog box, click the Paper/Quality tab.
5. Under Color, click to select the Color check box, and then click OK. If this setting does not appear on the Paper/Quality tab, the PPD file for your printer driver does not support color printing. In that case, you must install a different driver to print the publication.

If you are trying to create a CMYK composite file for use with a trapping or imposing application, you can use the Generic Color PS for Commercial Printing printer driver that is included with Publisher 2003. For more information about how to install this printer driver, click Microsoft Publisher Help on the Help menu, type Install the Generic Color PS for Commercial Printing printer driver in the Search for box in the Assistance pane, and then click Start searching to view the topic.

If you are trying to create a CMYK composite file for use with an Imagesetter printer that supports in-RIP separation, download the latest PPD file for that Imagesetter printer from the printer manufacturer’s Web site or from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Note To use the PPD files that you obtain from Adobe Systems Incorporated, you must also download the Adobe PostScript driver for Microsoft Windows.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

For information about how to contact the third-party companies mentioned in this article, visit the following Microsoft Web site: The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products. Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.