How to Print Shipping Labels When You’re Out of Black Ink (Use Color Instead!)

Ever found yourself needing to print shipping or return labels — USPS, FedEx, UPS, Amazon, Etsy, eBay — but your black ink cartridge is empty? It happens to the best of us. Whether you’re fulfilling orders or printing return labels last minute, running out of black ink doesn’t have to slow you down.

That’s where the SuperTool Color Changer comes in. It’s a simple online tool that lets you convert the color scheme of your PDF so that what would normally print in black will instead print in another color your printer still has ink for. 

Why This Helps for Shipping Labels

Shipping labels often include:

  • Black text and barcodes
  • QR codes
  • Parcel tracking details
  • Address information
  • Carrier logos

These elements are designed to print crisp and readable — but they don’t have to be black to work. The SuperTool color changer replaces the black and grays in your PDF with your chosen output color (like dark blue, red, or green), letting you print labels using color cartridges only. 

That means:

✔ Your printer doesn’t need black ink to finish the job

✔ Barcodes and QR codes remain scannable

✔ You don’t need complicated design software

✔ It works with labels, forms, and other essential printables, not just shipping documents 

🛠️ How It Works

  1. Upload your PDF label — upload the file directly into the Color Changer tool on SuperTool. 
  2. Pick a color — choose a replacement color that your printer still has ink for. Dark blue is a popular and reliable choice. 
  3. Download the new PDF — the tool substitutes all black pixels with your selected color. 
  4. Print it! — send it to your printer and complete your shipping without missing a beat.

Real-World Use Cases

People use this tool for things like:

  • Shipping & return labels when black ink runs out 
  • Packing slips & invoices for orders going out 
  • Boarding passes, admission tickets, forms when quick printing is needed 
  • Barcodes and QR codes that still scan correctly after color change 

And it’s not limited to shipping — any PDF with black text and graphics can be converted. 

Need help specifically with USPS? See our step-by-step guide for printing a USPS label without black ink.

Get Started Now

No downloads. No software installs. Nothing complicated.

Head over to SuperTool’s PDF Color Changer and turn your black-ink problem into a color solution. (Plus, preview before you print so you always know what you’re getting!)