Pages v10.3.9 still cannot print the black lines

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Level 1

8 points

Pages v10.3.9 still cannot print the black lines

Hello. I just updated from pages v8.1; thought this issue would have been fixed. I've read the prior suggestions on checking the sliders, grayscale, CMYK. Nothing has worked for me in either version.

I am trying to print a page with some thin black solid lines and they come out as dotted grey lines unless I use 0.75/1pt thickness for the lines, all come out grey.

Got off the phone with Apple Sr. Specialist, not familiar with issue, took some screenshots, bringing it to Engineering..

Anyone have any work arounds?

Appreciate any help.

Thanks

MacBook Air

Posted on Jan 24, 2021 6:44 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Community+ 2024

Level 10

116,777 points

Jan 25, 2021 8:31 PM in response to drbeauty10

Sorry, I was using lines from the Shapes tool and that supports line styles. No such animal in table lines and borders.

You can set the globe color CMYK Device setting to C:100 M:100 Y:100 B:100 and leave it open to set the lines to that color model. The resultant lines at .25pt are so thin in the table that they appear gray in Pages at 400%, and even lighter gray at 600% enlargement in a Preview PDF. No dots though.

If you need darker .25 pt as a table grid, then I do not believe Pages is the right tool for the job.

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Answer 2

Jan 25, 2021 7:31 AM in response to drbeauty10

We are fellow users and have no access to your prior communication with an Apple Specialist via phone support. Comes out as dotted grey lines on your screen, or from a PDF printed on a printer capable of 600 - 1200 DPI?

In Pages v10.3.9 and on Big Sur 11.1, the following two screen captures were at 400% enlargement using full CMYK black:

The problem with Pages is that although one can set CMYK values, the saved, or printed content will be RGB anyway, and on a lower resolution color printer, that can take a toll on fine detail clarity.

I cannot reproduce any dots in these lines, not in Pages, and not when exported to PDF and viewed at 600% in Preview. I see no dots when sent to my monochrome laser printer set to 600, or 1200 dpi on coated paper.

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Answer 3

drbeauty10 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 25, 2021 1:48 PM in response to VikingOSX

Hi. Thanks for replying, was hoping you would.

Wish my black looked like that.

What do you do for full CMYK black?

So my printer is an HP color laser jet; just looked up prints 600X600 DPI color and black.

I have no issues printing thin black lines if it is an insert (form) downloaded as PDF from different shops. This only happens when I make the inserts myself on Pages.

On my MB air 2017, my 0.25-0.65pt show grey on screen and print out the same.

I took some screen shots; 1st on Pages at 400% and 2nd on Preview (don't see a %). But you can see they look grey on both, not a full black which is what I am looking for.

Thanks for your help, really appreciate it.

I would think it was my printer if it always happened, but only on Pages.

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Answer 4

Jan 25, 2021 9:28 PM in response to drbeauty10

I use a discontinued, 1200 dpi Samsung ML-2955ND Monochrome laser via Apple AirPrint. It came home without my input, and yet has been quite dependable and reasonable on toner. This was a replacement for my venerable HP LaserJet 4M Plus that I had used as a new purchase in 1994 through 2014 when it finally gave up.

Here is a table that I just created in Mellel v5.05. The top and bottom lines are 1pt, and all others are 0.25pt in 100% Device CMYK. Notice the fade on the thin lines.

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Answer 5

Jan 25, 2021 2:32 PM in response to drbeauty10

Set the line to the setting I have shown above, and then with the line selected, click the + symbol in the Line Styles gallery to add that stygian CMYK line style. For future lines, insert them, and while selected, click that specific line style as previous. Ad libitum.

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Answer 6

drbeauty10 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 25, 2021 8:56 PM in response to VikingOSX

Ahhhh thank you!!! athat makes sense.. Ok.. ughh come one Pages!! It's so easy for me to use.. Will have to look into another program then.. bummer 😭😭😭..

Thanks sooo much for all your help..

Mind me asking what printers do you use? And suggestions on another program?

Tnks

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Answer 7

drbeauty10 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 26, 2021 3:18 PM in response to VikingOSX

Wow 20yrs is great !!! I've had to change my printer 3x in like 2yrs because something always goes wrong. They stopped making things the way they used to, cut corners and manufacturing costs but not selling prices..sucks...

I do see the fade on thinner lines. Ughh.

Thanks for all your help. I will have to look for another program :-(.

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