You cannot print color AutoShape objects in grayscale in Word 2003

You create a document that contains a color AutoShape object in Microsoft Office Word 2003. When you print the document to a color printer that is configured to print in black and white, the AutoShape object prints in color.

This problem occurs if you print to a PostScript printer for which the driver converts a color drawing to grayscale. This problem occurs because Word 2003 sends the PostScript PASSTHROUGH command. The PASSTHROUGH command prevents the driver from converting the color drawing to grayscale.

This problem was first fixed in a hotfix that is now contained in a service pack. If you installed the latest Office 2003 service pack, you do not have to install the hotfix.

Service pack information

This problem is corrected in Office 2003 Service Pack 3.To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Office 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
After you install the service pack, follow the steps that are listed in the "How to enable the hotfix" section of the article to set the ForceGrayscalePrint registry key and to activate the hotfix.

Hotfix information

How to obtain the hotfix

This issue is fixed in the Word 2003 post-Service Pack 2 Hotfix Package that is dated October 2, 2006. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

How to enable the hotfix

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To enable this hotfix, follow these steps:

1. Exit Word 2003.
2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
3. Select to select the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Options
4. After you select the subkey that is specified in step 3, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value.
5. Type ForceGrayscalePrint, and then press ENTER.
6. Right-click ForceGrayscalePrint, and then click Modify.
7. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
8. On the File menu, click Exit to exit Registry Editor.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

This problem was first corrected in Office 2003 Service Pack 3.