Microsoft KB Archive/76586

PUB: Electronic Whiteout Doesn't Work with HP LaserJet

= PUB: Electronic Whiteout Doesn't Work with HP LaserJet =

Q76586
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Publisher for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.0a, 2.0, 2.0a - Microsoft Publisher for Windows 95, version 3.0

SUMMARY

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If you try and print a publication to a Hewlett-Packard (HP) LaserJet series printer, it will be impossible to obscure text by placing an opaque white object in front of it. The text will show through the object when printed, even though it will be invisible on the screen.

The most common reason for wanting to obscure text is to prevent a page number or other background text object from appearing on the first page of a publication. Chapter 3, page 122 of the &quot;Microsoft Publisher User's Guide&quot; gives instructions for this procedure, calling it &quot;electronic whiteout.&quot;

This problem only occurs if the text is formatted for any typeface that the HP LaserJet recognizes as text. This includes resident, cartridge, and downloadable fonts. This does not include any of the Windows vector typefaces, Modern, Roman, or Script, any type created with WordArt, nor does it include any typeface provided by an &quot;on-the-fly&quot; font generator such as Bitstream FaceLift or Adobe Type Manager (ATM). Text formatted in any of these typefaces is treated by the printer driver as a graphic that simply happens to look like text. Truetype fonts are sent as downloadable fonts are are treated as regular text unless you set the option in the HP Laserjet driver for &quot;Print Truetype as Graphics&quot;.

However, if you use the HP LaserJet III and driver version 30.3.85 or 30.3.86, you can hide text by placing an empty text frame over the text you want to hide.

MORE INFORMATION

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This is not a limitation of Publisher, nor is it a limitation of the Windows 3.0 or 3.1 HPPCL and HPPCL5A printer drivers. This is a limitation of how the HP LaserJet printers work. When a LaserJet prints a page of mixed text and graphics, the text is imaged first, and the graphics are then overlayed on top of the text. Thus, the only kind of graphic that will be able to obscure text is a black object.

Because the LaserJet images all the graphics at the same time, if there is a graphic that happens to look like words or numbers, it can be obscured by an opaque white graphic that has been placed on top of it.

Reference(s):

&quot;Microsoft Publisher User's Guide,&quot; version 1.0, chapter 3, pages 122

Additional query words: pub10 Prt Hide Hidden 1.00 mspub 1.00a 2.00 2.00a 3.00 pub3