After not using printer for a few years, (brand new) I tried printing but photos came out only yellow and black. Any suggestions?

SOURCE: Printer will not print black ink

I had the same problem. My color cartridges printed fine, but the black did not print -- just blank. I called Cartridge World and they suggested the problem could be a clogged line. They recommended a nozzle rocket cartridge, sort of a "Drano" for print cartridges. I brought in my black cartridge and they dumped the black ink and filled it with a cleaning solution (at no cost). I placed this back into the printer and proceeded to start printing multiple pages in black in order to allow the solution to move through the lines and break up any clogs. It took about 30 pages, but the light gray color finally began to come through (it should look light gray, not black). I was told to try and use the entire cartridge before replacing with a regular black ink cartridge. Worked great!

SOURCE: CANON S400 PRINTING PROBLEM

What printer do you have? Clean heads, clean heads, clean heads, etc. Then do the test print to see if the heads are open. I had similar problem with an Epson, had to clean the heads often, finally got to where the heads wouldn't clean so threw it away and bought another one (HP this time, the heads are included in the ink carts, haven't had to clean the heads at all.)

SOURCE: Printing problem with Canon iP2600

Appears to be a defective color cartridge. Verify the printing is not set to fast or draft.

SOURCE: changed black ink cartridge to LD brand. Now

Canon printers do not like non Canon inks. Maybe other printers have similar issues but it seems that Canon is particularly finnicky.

SOURCE: Canon Pixma MP630 not printing all colours

Colour not printing. Check vent hole on cartridge not blocked by glue or bit of the orange tape, cleared mine with knife now works fine