Comment 9 for bug 235399

This is a problem of how the printer is supported by its driver, or even of the printer's firmware.

HP has two classes of printers: Cheaper ones where the driver needs to control everything and more expensive ones where the driver sends an RGB image and the printer does automatically what it thinks to be the best.

In the former case check whether the option "Quality" gives you choices for using only the black cartridge.

If such choices are not there, you have perhaps one of the more intelligent HPs. Here you cannot influence the printer by software which cartridges to use. At least some of them print only with the black cartridge if no color cartridge is installed. Try this out.