Microsoft KB Archive/25001

PowerPoint: Imported Bitmaps Print Slowly or Do Not Print PSS ID Number: Q25001 Article last modified on 01-04-1991 PSS database name: M_PowerPt

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MACINTOSH

Summary:

Microsoft PowerPoint slides containing pixelmaps or MacPaint or other bitmapped graphics usually print very slowly on the LaserWriter. It may take 45 minutes or longer to print a single slide. Occasionally, a LaserWriter error may be returned or the slide never prints.

This problem is more extreme when printing in Wide orientation, as a result of the translation the LaserWriter must perform to print the bitmap in Wide orientation. PowerPoint slides are usually printed in Wide orientation. Older and slower LaserWriters, such as the original LaserWriter and the LaserWriter Plus, are more likely to exhibit this problem than the faster LaserWriters, such as the LaserWriter II NT and the LaserWriter II NTX.

Printing bitmap graphics in Tall orientation may help. Also, draw/object-oriented graphics should be used instead of bitmap graphics whenever possible.

For additional help in printing bitmap graphics, use version 6.0 or earlier of the LaserWriter driver and do the following:

1. From the File menu, choose Page Setup.
2. Uncheck the “Faster Bitmap Printing?” option.
3. Optionally, uncheck the “Graphics Smoothing?” option (called “Smoothing?” for LaserWriter driver versions 5.0 or earlier) and click the Options button and check the “Precision Bitmap Alignment (4% reduction)” option.

These settings will affect the appearance of your printout. In most cases, unchecking only the “Faster Bitmap Printing?” option corrects the problem while still giving quality results.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1991.