How to Print Background Colors and Graphics in Safari

This article provides a quick guide on how to enable or disable background colors and images when printing a webpage from the Safari web browser. By default, Safari excludes background graphics to conserve printer ink and keep text readable, but you can easily toggle this setting directly within the browser's print dialog menu to capture the full visual design of a webpage.

To toggle background graphics and colors when printing in Safari on a Mac, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Webpage: Launch the Safari browser and navigate to the specific webpage you want to print.
  2. Open the Print Menu: Click File in the top menu bar and select Print, or press Command + P on your keyboard.
  3. Access Advanced Options:
    • On newer macOS versions (Ventura and later): Scroll down the right side of the print dialog box and click the arrow next to Safari to expand the browser-specific settings.
    • On older macOS versions (Monterey and earlier): If you do not see detailed options, click the Show Details button at the bottom of the print window.
  4. Toggle the Background Setting: Locate the option labeled Backgrounds (or Print backgrounds).
    • Turn it on (Checked): Safari will include all background colors, shading, and background images on your printout.
    • Turn it off (Unchecked): Safari will strip away background elements, leaving mostly text and foreground images against a plain white background.
  5. Confirm in Print Preview: Look at the preview pane on the left side of the print window. It will automatically update to show you exactly how the page will look with the setting enabled or disabled.
  6. Print the Document: Once the preview matches your preference, click the Print button in the bottom-right corner.

Safari will remember your choice for future print jobs, so you can follow these same steps to switch the setting back whenever necessary.