Wasting colour inks when printing black and white documents.

The printer requires both cartridges to have ink before the printer will initialize and operational. Even if you are only printing black and white both cartridge have to contain ink or the printer will error out. This is standard on all ink jet printers from every manufacturer. You will have to get ink before you can print.

It could be the print setting on your computer.
If you're using Windows, with your document open, go to File > Properties/Preferences. In the Print Setup tab, make sure to select "Print using all available ink" in the Ink Use section.
On Mac you can select Color in Print Setting in any expanded print dialog.

search through your manual for grayscale options... this is usually code word for black and white...

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/norman_d2fa496dce30c65d

Select true black and white. Any other setting uses the colour cartridge to sharpen the printing.

Try changing printing preferences/properties. Click on option for color, then click on box for "black ink only" or similar. Try now. If you still cannot print after changing preferences/properties, you will need to replace color ink cartridge due to manufacturer's built-in software that prevents printing when ink is low. Great for the ink companies!!!

Most modern printers use some colour when printing Black and therefore will not print if ANY ink cartridge is showing as empty.

Unless your printer has a setting for using Black ink only (this is not the same as printing a black and white document), then you will need to purchase and install the colour cartridges before printing can take place. The good thing about this is that very little colour ink is used when printing black and white documents - so they should last a long time.

Good luck.

its ok I solved it! I didn't realise that all the photo cartridge does is gloss over the colour picture produced by the colour cartridge. I simply had to replace the colour cartridge which had run out, so now its all working perfectly!!

just take out the colour cartridge from the printer, then you will be able to print.

Whilst you rarely print in colour, its important to know that you should try to print in colour at least once a week. This will reduce the risk of your colour nozzles blocking up.

Many people have gone out to replace their 'hardly used' colour cartridges when they dont work, thinking that they have dried up, when infact its simply blocked nozzles.

If you want to keep your colour nozzles and ink ready to run, just do a full colour alignment every 1-2 weeks. Minimal ink usage there and you keep your Canon MP780 running well!

Unfortunately, like most multi cartridge ink jet printers when one ink is empty the printer will cease printing regardless of whether you just want to print in black and white and you have plenty of black ink left. I have heard of people tricking the printer into believing the cartridge is full by placing coloured tape etc in front of the ink sensing device but I am not sure how the Brother senses the ink levels as i have some aftermarket ink cartridges for mine which seem to be completely non-opaque (unlike the originals). The need to have colour cartridges in even if you only ever print with black ink is good news for Brother as the MFC-210c uses a large amount of ink during it's routine cleaning cycles (that you cant stop) and will empty all 3 cartridges in under 6 months without ever printer a single drop of colour ink. Sorry about all the bad news, at least your not alone......