P-shop CHOKING at print time...

What kind of inkjet printers? What kind of system? Mac or PC? Photoshop 5 or 5.0.2?

PC.  Win '98.  Canon Ink-Jet BJ-200e, the other is an HP, I don't know what model, running Win '95.

It could be a printer memory problem..... Some printers spit whatever they got as soon as they run out of memory and don't tell you they did.....

Try reducing the size of the image and send it to print, just as a test...

Good vibes!!

Adjusted points from 50 to 65

I'll tell you, I've had this happen before.  The problem is that the image is 8-1/2 x 11 (or 7-1/2 x 10) and we need it to print to a full sheet of paper.  You might be right about that memory problem, though, although I'm surprised that it would happen on two different printers.  I know without checking that if I reduce the image size and bring the bottom just above where that 20 pixel band is, that the image will print normally.  Nothing you can do about that?  You can't force the printer to cache?  

For the record, the "other" printer is an HP LaserJet 6L.

I'm adding 15 points, this looks like a hard one...

Dear Raydot,

        To print to an ink jet printer, your photoshop image resolution can 1/3 the size of the ink jet's dpi output.  It isn't what kind of ink jet printer or computer you have. The problem is just a resolution and file size issue.

That's not much of an answer...

Yeah, we're not printing bleeds, just right up to the edge.  Bleeds on an inkjet printer, I wish!  I think you're right, I think it is the buffer size.  The HP does not take tabloid.  Maybe I can print the two halves and do a good old fashioned paste with paste.  It's just going to copier output anyway...thanks!

Hi Raydot,


      When you are in Photoshop, what is the image size and resolution of the image you want to print?

I've already given the image size.  I tried printing at 72, 120, and 300 dpi.¨

Hi Raydot,

       What I was trying to explain or suggest was the phhotshop image ppi should be only 1/3 the size of the output dpi. Nancy

That doesnt always fly. For example an image being printed at 150dpi shouldnt be created at 50dpi. For obvious reasons. Same applies for an image being printed at 300dpi. 100dpi isnt going to cut it for most images.

Hi Weed,


     Yes I totally agree with you about the resolution of a PS image for print, you need at least 240 to 300 to print. And that depends on what your printing. BUT if you are printing to an INK JET printer you must lower the resolution of that document to 1/3 of the ink jet printer's output dpi. Nancy


     PS. I saw your work...nice!

Its certainly not a requirement. A 1440 dpi image on an epson printer capable of printing at 1440 dpi will look better if kept at 1440 than if dropped.

So what's the verdict then?  Keep it at full res or drop res?  Did 72, 150, 300 cover my bases?  Is it just something that's not going to happen?“

Keep your image at its full res. You should be able to print fine that way as the rest of the world seems to manage. I think the problem lies elsewhere. Exactly where is still the question.

BTW, I should point out that I've seen this problem not only on two different printers, but on two different computers, on running Win '95 and the other running Win '98...0

I dont suppose you have a Mac floating around that you could print from? Have you tried creating a completely new document and pasting the image into it just to clear up any weirdness that could be lurking in the file?

I don't think it's the file; like I said I've had this problem before.  I also don't have a Mac floating around...I made a compromise, this Mac gets the internet, the PC gets the printer...oh well...

It might be worth it for the sake of narrowing down the issues by trying to print from the mac. See what happens. Were running out of leads here so we need something to work with.

If the job is going to photocopier I would suggest to send it to a service that runs a Xerox Docutech. Those babies are fast (135 ppm), print form disk and can print to the edges. Prices are usually the same as paying for photocopies....

Good vibes!!

For color or black and white photographs, every printer converts the data into something called a halftone; halftones are measured in line screens. THe basic rule of thumb for the required resoltion is double the line screen. For example, newspapers output their halftones (color and b/w) at 85 lines per inch; their photoshop docs should be at a lowly 170 dpi, even though  they output it to a 1200 or 2400 dpi imagesetter. Magazines typically use 150 lpi or higher; those images are 300 dpi. It does nothing for photos to have more than double your output device's maximum line screen. Most consumer printers dont effectively go above 100 lpi.

As for your printing problem... have you checked the paper size set ups? Have you tried importing this image into a pagelayout program like Quark or Pagemaker, and then printing?

So, Raydot....... going back to the question.... Did you get the image to print as you wanted???

Nope.  Most of the comments I've been given of the "prepress" nature were things I'd tried, and the comments I was given of a technical nature didn't solve the problem.

just keep checking print preview,..

One other thing, not a solution tho..... If the job needs to be printed at high quality, say, for a presentation or something like that..... You might try sending the file to a place like Kinko's where it can be output  on a laser machine in a 11x17 piece of paper... Then you could crop it to size..

"Just keep checking print preview?"  Kinda thin given what else is here, don't you think?  

Sorry for all of the dragging out of this problem.  I think I'm just going to have to console myself with the fact that the HP personal LaserJet printers can't handle high quality output of large images, they probably just aren't designed for that.  I think you're right, Lobo, it's really going to be a question of taking it somewhere else...I'll leave this question open for another few days, and then award points somehow to someone...thanks for your help everyone...

'Dot.

No problemo, Ray.... at least we were able to direct you in some direction, even if that direction was not the ideal solution....

Good vibes!!

Points for such a charitable final comment.  Thanks guys...

THX. Ray!!!!  I hope you get the file to print somehow. I'd always recommend Kinko's. I used to work for one of those many years ago and although the place itself is not the best workplace in the world the people is quite qualified most of the time. Most Kinko's locations have Docutech machines and some also sport Docucolor systems and big format (up to 36" wide) inkjets. Please let us know how it worked!

Good vibes!!!!