Wierd Watermark when I try to print

[Steve L]

For a while I have been struggling with watermarks and printing,
thinking it was my laser printer driver BUT I have just added an HP
Inkjet and I get exactly the same problem.

I insert a picture using CLIP ART and then format it as a watermark
using the "format picture". Looking at it on screen is fine BUT when I
print preview it the image is all made up of blue and green tones.

This does not happen on photo's but ony on clip art and similar images
made up of block colours.

If I lift the transparency the colours slowly begin to reappear as I
lift the level of transparency towards 80% after that the colours are
fine, but of course it's not transparent anymore.

Same happens if I use the Insert Watermark function.

Any ideas what's happening? and useful solutions to try

(I don't remember the same problem in Office X)

Steve

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Steve,

I just tried to make a piece of clip art into a watermark and had no
trouble. It looked fine in Print Preview. I don't have a color printer so
I couldn't check how it printed.

Since a watermark is just an image inserted into the Header of a document,
here's what I did:

1. Insert a clip art image into the body of a Word document.

2. Select it and hit Command>x (or File>cut). This copies is to the
clipboard and deletes it from the document.

3. Go to View> Header and Footer.

4. Paste the image into the Header (Cmd>v or File>paste).

5. Use Format>Picture to change the transparency.

Done.

So try those steps and see if it makes a difference.

--
***Please always reply to the newsgroup!***

Beth Rosengard
MacOffice MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
(If using Safari, hit Refresh once or twice ­ or use another browser.)
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org>

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Steve,

I forgot a couple steps . You also need to use Format>Picture>Layout to
change the layout setting to "Behind Text". The image will no longer be
'inline with text'; it will "float" instead, even though it still lives in
the Header. Once it's a floating object, it can also be repositioned on the
page by dragging it.

Beth

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Steve-

Since what presents in Print Preview is generated by the currently selected
printer driver, you might not want to rule that possibility out just yet.
Even though the inkjet is newly installed doesn't necessarily mean it has
the latest driver needed for your current OS version (which you didn't
mention). Have you checked the mfr's sites for updates? I recently installed
a new Epson R800 & found that the driver had been updated the week before it
arrived. Same thing with a scanner I just got for my birthday. Once the
updated drivers were downloaded & installed both run like a charm.

What happens in Print Preview if you choose "Any Printer"? What happens if
you actually print? Is the image from the MS Clip Art collection or another
source?

I'm a little confused by

If you're _increasing_ the transparency from 0% to 80% the image should
become _less_ visible, or more transparent. The more towards 0%, the more
opaque. If you have changed the transparency setting, that could be a part
of the problem. Not all printers handle transparency issues very well. Try
setting the transparency back to 0%. As long as the image is in the
Header/Footer with Image Control set to Watermark no change to Transparency
should be necessary. If the image is still too dark, maybe adjusting
Brightness & Contrast will work a little better.

HTH |:>)

 

[owaisgsm]

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bye

 

[Steve L]

Hi all, Thanks for the advice, Beth and CT, BUT...

Just for the record I am using OS X10.4.3

My drivers are fully up to date (I checked thinking this was the prob)
and both drivers have the same problem.

To clarify the transparency thingy - You are right CT I got my % the
wrong way round. The lighter I make the image the deeper these strange
blues and greens get.

I said that I see them on Preview - I mean in the small preview box at
the print menu. Strangely in Print Preview (from the file menu) it all
looks fine.

The pictures this effects is any clip art from any source I have that
is NOT a photo. Photographs are NOT effected in any way, they behave
themsleves and go light properly.
It seems to be something to do with the block colours of 'clip-art'
type images.

CT asked what happenbs if I actually print - It comes out exacty like
it does in the small preview frame - all opaque blues and greens

It is baffling me and currently the best way for me to do this is to
get things done using all the nice tools of 2004 then fire up Office X
and use that to print as I don't get the prob with the word version in
office X

Any hep will be wella ccepted.

Thnaks

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Steve,

Okay, I tried it again and this time I looked at the Preview in the Print
dialog. All the colors are fine! This was with about 75% transparency.

Since Word's Print Preview looks normal for you but the Print dialog's
Preview does not, I would have to conclude that your Printer has a problem
with the format of Clip Art images. They're .pictClipping files, which is
not the same as .pict files. I know that GraphicConverter does not
recognize them at all (I tried to convert one to a JPEG and couldn't but if
you can convert the image in some other app, maybe that will do it).

Sorry about misunderstanding your original post somewhat. I thought you
were having trouble creating the Watermark itself, but that's obviously not
the case.

--
***Please always reply to the newsgroup!***

Beth Rosengard
MacOffice MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
(If using Safari, hit Refresh once or twice ­ or use another browser.)
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org>

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Steve -

As I don't often use Clip Art for Watermarks, I had never witnessed this
behavior, but I now see what you mean.

The same clip art looks & prints fine in either the doc layer or the H/F
layer as long as you don't use the Watermark feature, and the preview
thumbnail shows as it should. Clip Art Watermarks on my system behave
exactly as you describe, however, so I would categorize this as a bug. I've
done this a few times in other MacWord & WinWord versions without this
aberration.

Hopefully one of the MVPs will bring this to the attention of MacBU, as I
would like verification/explanation of it, myself.

I've also determined that no matter what printer settings you use for Color
Management, ColorSync, etc. you get the same result.

Regards |:>)

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Thanks, CyberTaz! I will definitely pass this on. It never occurred to me
that there would be a difference between inserting directly into the Header
and inserting as a Watermark. Sure sounds like a bug to me!

Beth

 

[Beth Rosengard]

I take it back . I can't reproduce this. Here are the steps I'm using:

1. Insert>Watermark

2. Select a Clip Art image and insert it

3. Check or uncheck Washout (I tried it both ways)

4. In the document, View>Header and Footer.

5. Select image

6. Go to Format Picture and change transparency to 75% (or more or less).

7. Hit Cmd-p (File-print) and look at Preview

Result: It looks just fine.

As I said before, I don't have a color printer so I can't print it; but
Steve said he saw the color change in the printer's Preview so ...

Are you guys doing something different?

--
***Please always reply to the newsgroup!***

Beth Rosengard
MacOffice MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
(If using Safari, hit Refresh once or twice ­ or use another browser.)
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org>

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Beth -

Following your steps exactly produces the oversaturated cyan effect in Quick
Preview as Steve describes & that is how the image prints. This is
regardless of which clip art I use or what the transparency setting. If the
clip art is a .pict-png-gif file, that is what happens.

This is also regardless of whether I Insert>Watermark or simply
Insert>Picture>Clip Art then format as Watermark. I have also tried
inserting the .pict into the doc, then cutting & pasting to the H/F with no
change in the result. I have further used the Save As Picture command to
save as a png, pict & gif, reinserting the new copy as Watermark... All with
the same result. The only thing that seems to work is if I insert the image
as a Watermark, save it as jpg, then delete the original & insert the new
jpeg as picture>from file (_or_ as Watermark without Washout). IOW, if the
image format is anything other than tiff or jpeg the cyan problem occurs.

I have tried numerous combinations with the printer set as Any Printer as
well as my Epson R800 without any difference in the behavior. The key issue
seems to be using Watermark on pngs, picts & gifs, _not_ with the driver.
Even so, it is more puzzling because the Watermarks display perfectly in
Print Preview but still Print with the cyan saturation as displayed in Quick
Preview.

Regards |:>)

 

[Steve L]

Hi both,

So the exact phrase is oversaturted cyan, at least it has a name.
To add to the puzzle - I have both Office 2004 and the earlier Office-X
at my disposal - not a problem in Office-X, only since I upgraded to
Office 2004. I have also done all of the permissions stuff that is
encouraged too.

I hope that MS can do something about it as it is frustrating me just
now.

Looking forward to further thoughts for you and anyone else who has had
and can conquer the problem

Steve L

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Steve-

Meant to post back last night but the sandman got me. It's a real b***h
going back to work after nearly 3 weeks vacation.

The only workaround I have found is to just insert the image into the
doc, Cmd+Click it, choose Save as Picture & select jpeg as the file
type. Then use the new jpeg for your Watermark. Not quite as bad as
going around your ankle to get to your elbow.

As for the 'exact phrase', that's just my way of putting it... I know
it ain't Yellow, Magenta or Black, so Cyan's the only one left &
there's too much of it. 'Oversaturated Cyan' sounds good & requires
less typing ;-)

Regards |:>)

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi CyberTaz,

I don't know what to say. The most I can do is report this to MSFT and see
if they can reproduce it. I'll post back on this thread if I get any
answers.

Beth

 

[CyberTaz]

Thanks Beth-

I'm sure it isn't a priority for most, as I wasn't even aware of it
until I read Steve's 2nd post & tested a little further. Since we're
talking about two separate systems, several different pinter drivers &
Steve, himself, says it only happens in '04, not in v.X, I tend to
think there is some sort of bug or at least a conflict of some kind.

Any feedback would be appreciated, and let me know if any more info is
required. I'm not so concerned about using clip art for watermarks as I
am that there may be other unforseen effects stemming from the same
issue.

BTW- Happy New Year

Regards |:>)

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Guys,

Well, I got a fast answer from MSFT! They can definitely reproduce it. The
reason *I* couldn't reproduce it is because I'm in Panther, not Tiger, and I
should have thought of that <duh>.

So it's a conflict between Tiger and Office 2004. When it will be fixed and
who's responsible for fixing it (Apple or MSFT or both), I can't say. But
it's now confirmed and logged.

Thank you both for your persistence!!

--
***Please always reply to the newsgroup!***

Beth Rosengard
MacOffice MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
(If using Safari, hit Refresh once or twice ­ or use another browser.)
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org>

 

[Steve L]

Thanks Beth, thanks CyberTaz
I'll try the workround and see if my elbow is closer than my ankle now.
It does look like a conflict in some part of the prog, and like CT I
too would be keen to get any feedback from you, Beth, if anything comes
from MSFT.

Ta again for helping out

...and a great new year to you both from me too...


Steve

 

[CyberTaz]

Hat's off to you for your follow-thru, Beth... I may even overlook the
Panther gaffe ;>)

Regards |:>)

 

[CyberTaz]

I found that there was a bit of chatter on this issue in Apple Discussions
going back to early October of last year (at least). There was no indication
of any resolution there but I did post a reply to update the users in that
Forum.

Regards |:>)

 

[Beth Rosengard]

I'm not surprised. It had to have been noticed before now: Tiger's been
out a long time (in computer terms .

Beth