Grayscale test page.
Print a full range of grays to check for banding, color tints and blocked-up shadows — the truest read on your printer’s tonal quality.
How to read the results
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| The smooth gradient shows visible steps or stripes | Banding from low resolution, a draft mode or an aging printhead — raise the DPI and reprint. |
| Gray patches look warm, pink or greenish | A color cast: grays are mixed unevenly from color inks. Try “print in grayscale / black only”. |
| The dark steps merge into one solid black | Shadow detail is blocked up — lower density in the driver, or the paper can’t hold that much ink. |
| The lightest steps are pure white with no tone | Highlight steps are dropping out; raise density or check the light-gray reproduction. |
| All 21 steps are distinct and neutral | Excellent tonal range and gray balance — nothing to fix. |
Frequently asked questions
What is a grayscale test page for?
It prints a full range of grays — a stepped ramp, a smooth gradient and neutral patches — so you can judge tonal range, banding and gray balance. It’s the clearest way to see whether your printer renders grays smoothly and without a color tint.
Why do my grays print with a color tint?
Most inkjets build gray from colored inks, so an unbalanced or low cartridge tints the gray warm, pink or green. Choose “print in grayscale” or “black ink only” in the driver for neutral grays, or run a nozzle check.
What causes banding in the gradient?
Banding — visible steps in a smooth fade — comes from low resolution, draft mode, clogged nozzles or a head that needs aligning. Raise the DPI, clean and align the head, then reprint.
What does the invert toggle do?
It flips the sheet to white-on-black so you can judge highlight steps and light grays, which are hard to see on white paper. It’s a screen preview only — print the normal version for the standard test.
Is this grayscale test page free?
Yes — completely free, no download or sign-up, and it works with any printer. Print it whenever you want to check gray reproduction and banding.
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