This appears to be a problem with Word97 rather than my printer an HP LaserJet6P. If I use the Freeform Shape to make a Drawing Object and then fill with a texture or a Pattern it prints out Black. If I select an Autoshape like a square or a circle and try the same thing it prints out fine. I have fiddled around with the Autoformat Object option but it makes no significant difference. There is a lot of data about HP Printers on the MS Self-Help, but for the reason indicated above I cannot think of why a Freeform object would print black and an Autoformat Object would print OK.