Unable to print multi-page .tif images under OS X 10.5

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Level 1

4 points

Unable to print multi-page .tif images under OS X 10.5

I have found that I am unable to print multi-page .tif images to any printer under OS X 10.5. Specifically -

I cannot print using either Preview or Adobe Reader 9 or Adobe Acrobat Professional 8. When I go to the print dialog, and click print, the program will spool all of the pages in the .tif file to the printer. The printer will then print the first page, but then give an "insufficient memory" error and refuse to print any subsequent pages. It does not matter which printer I'm printing to, I get the same or similar error.

It does not seem to be a problem with a particular file. I see it with any multi-page .tif file. Also, I am able to print these files just fine under Windows XP running in VMWare Fusion, using Windows Picture and Fax viewer. The same printer that failed to print under OS X works just fine printing from Windows XP.

It's common for me, and others at my office, to have to print a dozen or more such files on a daily basis, and having to switch into Virtual Windows is not an ideal solution.

Any advice is appreciated.

intel iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Aug 3, 2009 1:46 PM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Aug 3, 2009 2:45 PM in response to TomRinOK

I just saved a 3-page PDF file as TIFF, opened it, and printed all three pages with one command. What happens if you resave it as TIFF?

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Answer 2

TomRinOK Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 3, 2009 2:55 PM in response to baltwo

I just tried opening a tiff in Preview, and chose "Save As" from the file menu & saved it as a tiff under a new name. I printed the new file, but got the same result - the first page printed and the printer gave an "insufficient" memory error and didn't print the remaining pages.

- Tom

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Answer 3

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Aug 3, 2009 3:01 PM in response to TomRinOK

Then, there's something else going on. I suspect it's with your printer. Open Print & Fax prefPane, delete and readd the printer, restart, and try again. You might also shut the printer off and back on. I'm using an HP PhotoSmart C4280 AIO.

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Answer 4

Aug 3, 2009 4:14 PM in response to TomRinOK

What printer is it? If it is PostScript, you may not have enough memory for the entire file, and a Windows machine which is printing using PCL may not have the same problem.

I recently ran into memory trouble printing many copies of a file on my laser printer, and realized it was because I still had "Collated" checked. That was sufficient to fill up the memory.

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Answer 5

TomRinOK Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 4, 2009 7:20 AM in response to Bruce De Benedictis

It's an HP P3005dn (duplex+network) printer. OS X simply recognized the printer on the network and set itself up accordingly (without the option of selecting PCL or Postscript). The Windows computers in the office, though, - ugh - it was ugly getting them set up. None of them would recognize the printer on the network, and couldn't even browse for it and find it. I wound up having to download Bonjour for windows, and set it up that way. I downloaded the drivers from HP.com, and believe I set them all up to print using PCL.

It sounds like PCL v. PostScript may be the issue; is it possible to print using PCL on Macs?

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Answer 6

TomRinOK Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 4, 2009 7:32 AM in response to TomRinOK

Switching to one of the Gutenprint Generic PCL driver's solved the problem.

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