What are the initial troubleshooting steps for a Canon IP2770 not printing black?

The first steps are to check the ink cartridges (especially the black one) to ensure they are properly installed and have sufficient ink. Also, verify that the ink cartridges are the genuine Canon ones and haven't expired. Next, run the Canon printer's built-in cleaning utility to try and clear any clogged print heads. Finally, check the print settings in your application to ensure black ink is selected and not set to grayscale or draft mode.