[Digikam-users] Printing Problem ?

Sherwood Botsford sgbotsford at gmail.com
Thu Apr 16 02:14:50 BST 2009


The combination of the 'starts after N square inches' and the 'started
with dk 11' makes me think that the DK's print routine
allocates a chunk of memory that is too small for the buffer, then
before the buffer is sent, part of the buffer is overwritten
by some other process.

If you haven't submitted a bug report, I would suggest that you do so.

When you do so, also include how much ram/swap you have on your
computer.  May be relevant.  May not be.

If you know of any other groups that use digikam you may want to ask
them if this same problem occurs with other printers.

On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 5:41 PM, davidvincentjones <davidvj at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Thanks for your extensive feedback::Gave me lots to ponder.
>
> As mentioned in my first report I am able to print the identical image using
> other 16 bit print routine programs that also utilize CUPS. So I somehow
> doubt that the CUPS spooler is the problem. The printer is an HP B8800
> series and I have the latest HP drivers in place.
>
> The print file size is probably fairly large:    Typically at least 200 sq."
> x (1200 x 1200) dpi. x 3 (RGB) all at 16 bit.
> Unfortunately the print test routines both by CUPS and HP only provide for
> tests on small paper sizes.
>
> I do notice that as the print size in sq." is reduced the noise starts
> further towards the end of the output.
> The noise starts 'abruptly' and across the entire print width. On a very
> large image (nearly full 13 x 19) about 20% of the image was affected ...
> when I printed with wider margins the noise was reduced to about 15% or
> maybe slightly less.
>
> This is a new phenomenon for me. Using the earlier versions of DK I was able
> to print full border-less 13 x 19 images without any difficulty so I do have
> my suspicions over the current 0.11.0 version. The problem occurs either
> when I print through the EDIT screen or while using the 'Wizard'.
>
> David
>
>
> SGBotsford wrote:
>>
>> I can the following as possibilities:
>>
>> 1.  Your printer has a buffering issue, and can't create a 13 x 19
>> image at full resolution.  Does your printer have installable memory?
>> 2.  Your printer has a hardware problem.
>> 3.  Your print spool system has a different idea of how much memory
>> than your printer actually has.
>> 4.  There is a flaw in the digikam.
>> 5.  There is a flaw in the printer driver.
>>
>> Note that if you have your OS to do automatic updates, you may NOT
>> have the same setup you used to have.
>>
>> Thoughts for debugging.
>>
>> 1.  How big is a print file.  Set your print spool to accept jobs, but
>> not print them, or allow print, but don't delete. [Does this happen
>> with particular sizes of file?]
>> 2.  If you print the same image from a different program do you have
>> the same problem?  How big is its print file?  Which programs work?
>> [Do other programs do a resolution reduction before sending it to the
>> printer.]
>> 3.  If you print an image that is not full width, but is full length
>> do you have a problem, e.g. a 4" x 19" image
>> 4.  Does the noise start at the margin, or is there a partial line of
>> noise?
>> 5.  What is the model and version number of your printer.  Often there
>> is a print test page function from the printer itself which includes
>> all this stuff.
>> 6.  If you print an image that is at a lower resolution but the same
>> page size do you have a problem?
>> 7.  If you lie  and tell it that you have an oddball paper size, such
>> as 13 x 18.5 do you still have a problem. (Is there a lookup table
>> inside that
>> has a bad entry for 13x19 specifically)
>> 8.  How much free space is there on the print spool disk?  I tore my
>> hair out for a day once because people could print 3 page memos, but
>> not 10 page reports.
>> Turned out that the print spool was on the same partition as /var/log
>> and logs had nearly filled up the disk.  Small jobs could be printed
>> and deleted, Larger
>> ones could not spool to disk and would barf.)
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 2:42 PM, davidvincentjones <davidvj at verizon.net>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> An update to my Printing situation:
>>>
>>> I have now been using/trying the "Print Wizard" and find that the problem
>>> with large images remains.
>>> When I print a typical 'letter size' everything is OK but as soon as I
>>> try
>>> to print the 13" x 19" so called Super-B then the last part of the image
>>> is
>>> overlaid with 'noise'.
>>>
>>> Another comment about the Wizard: Between prints all of my print settings
>>> are lost. It would be nice if I did not have to re-set even which printer
>>> I
>>> am using or the margin widths.
>>>
>>> Another trial with the second print wizard for multiple images on one
>>> sheet.
>>> I tried to use this for a contact sheet but could not get the file names
>>> to
>>> print with the images.
>>>
>>> A further thought: It would be nice if I could put a print icon on the
>>> main
>>> task bar.
>>>
>>> I am still using Ubuntu Intrepid with release 0.11.0
>>>
>>> David
>>>
>>>
>>> Bugzilla from caulier.gilles at gmail.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>> 2009/4/10 davidvincentjones <davidvj at verizon.net>:
>>>>>
>>>>> I have always used the image editor ...
>>>>
>>>> It use Qt printing interface.
>>>>
>>>>  should I be using the print-wizard?
>>>>
>>>> why not. to compare.
>>>>
>>>> Both part are coded by Angelo Naseli.
>>>>
>>>> Also, try to use Gwenview to print. digiKam image editor print
>>>> interface is inspired to gwenview (dixit Angelo comments).
>>>>
>>>> Gilles
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Digikam-users mailing list
>>>> Digikam-users at kde.org
>>>> https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
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>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Sherwood Botsford
>> Sherwood's Forests
>> Warburg, Alberta T0C 2T0
>> http://www.sherwoods-forests.com
>> 780-848-2548
>> _______________________________________________
>> Digikam-users mailing list
>> Digikam-users at kde.org
>> https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users
>>
>>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Printing-Problem---tp22989480p23069051.html
> Sent from the digikam-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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>



-- 
Sherwood Botsford
Sherwood's Forests
Warburg, Alberta T0C 2T0
http://www.sherwoods-forests.com
780-848-2548



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