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Troubleshoot printing problems in Photoshop CS4 (Windows XP)

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What's covered

This document provides troubleshooting steps to help you resolve general printing problems in Adobe Photoshop CS4 on Microsoft® Windows® XP.

You may find a solution to a specific printing problem by searching the Adobe Support knowledgebase at www.adobe.com/support/.

Before you begin

Before you can troubleshoot the problem, you need to determine its cause.

To determine the cause of the printing problem:

  1. Print a Photoshop sample image, such as the Ducky TIFF file. Sample files can be found in folder to which you installed Photoshop, which defaults to \Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\.

  2. Print another type of file (for example, a .txt file) from another application (such as Microsoft Word or WordPad).
    • If that file prints correctly, the problem isn't system-wide--it's specific to Photoshop. However, the way Photoshop interacts with the system may affect printing performance. Go to Step 3 to eliminate some system-related causes of the problem.
    • If the file doesn't print correctly, the problem is system-wide--it isn't specific to Photoshop or your files. The problem could be low system resources, insufficient memory on your printer, or a poor connection between your computer and the printer. Go to Step 3 to eliminate some likely causes of the problem.
  3. Restart your computer, and then print your image.
    • If the image prints correctly, your system may have been out of memory or resources.
    • If the image doesn't print correctly, go to Step 4.
  4. Turn off your printer for at least 15 seconds to flush its memory, and then turn it back on and print your image.
    • If the image prints correctly, the printer's memory was too full.
    • If the image doesn't print correctly, go to Step 5.
  5. If you are using a network printer, print from another computer.
    • If the image prints correctly, the computer you first tried to print from may be unable to connect to the printer or the network correctly. Contact your network administrator, consult your network documentation, or contact the printer manufacturer to help resolve your problem.
    • If the file doesn't print correctly, go to Step 6.

  6. Print your image to another printer.

    • If the image prints correctly, the computer you first tried to print from may be unable to connect to the original printer because of a communication, hardware, or memory problem. Make sure that the printer is turned on and connected properly, and then run a self-test on it to make sure that it's working correctly.

      For instructions, see the documentation that came with the printer or contact the printer manufacturer. If you are using a network printer, you may also want to contact your network administrator for assistance.
    • If the file doesn't print correctly, see "Resolve problems printing any file from any application" in this document.

Resolve problems printing a specific image from Photoshop

If you have problems printing an individual image from Photoshop, work through the tasks in this section in the order they are presented, printing after each one.

1. Save the image as a new file.

Resave the document by choosing File > Save As, and giving the file a new name. The Save As command causes Photoshop to rewrite the file.

2. Rasterize layers or flatten your image.

When you print an image from Photoshop, only the content that is visible on-screen is printed. Rasterize layers or flatten your image to improve performance when printing.

Important: Rasterizing layers or flattening your image removes editable content, such as type and Smart Objects. Before proceeding with this task, make a backup of your existing image.

To rasterize layers:

  1. Select the layers you want to rasterize.
  2. Choose Layer > Rasterize, and then choose an option from the submenu.

For more information about rasterizing layers, see "Rasterize layers" in the Photoshop CS4 Help.

To flatten your image, choose Layer > Flatten Image.

For more information about flattening your image, see "Merge and stamp layers" in the Photoshop CS4 Help.

3. Print a composite of the file.

If you encounter problems printing an image with color separations, print a composite of the file to determine if a color plate is the problem. When you print a composite, all the colors print on one plate, regardless of whether individual colors have been selected.

If the problem with your specific image persists after performing the above steps, your file may be damaged. It is also possible that the way that Photoshop interacts with your system is causing the problem. Proceed to "Resolve problems printing to any type of printer from Photoshop" for further troubleshooting steps.

Resolve problems printing any file from any application

If you have problems printing any file from the computer, contact Microsoft Technical Support or the printer manufacturer. Make sure that the printer is on, and check the physical connections between the printer and the computer. The solution may be as simple as reconnecting a loose cable.

Also, note any recent changes to the computer system that may affect printing, such as the following:

  • Updates of your hardware or software.
  • New hardware or software.
  • Removal of software.
  • Installing or removing fonts.
  • Connecting to a network, or other changes to your network configuration.
  • Re-arranging or cleaning up of files on your hard drive.

Keep a record of changes made to the system to help you troubleshoot printing and other problems. If the problem persists, work through the other sections in this document, as applicable.

Resolve problems printing to any type of printer from Photoshop

If you have problems printing from Photoshop, work through the tasks in this section in the order they are presented, printing after each one.

Note: This section contains troubleshooting steps you can take for most types of printers. For solutions specific to PostScript printers, see "Resolve problems printing to a PostScript printer" in this document. For solutions specific to non-PostScript printers, see "Resolve problems printing to a non-PostScript printer" section.

1. Verify that you meet or exceed the minimum system requirements for Photoshop CS4.

Photoshop may not run correctly on a system that doesn't meet the following requirements:

  • 1.8GHz or faster processor
  • Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (Service Pack 3 recommended) or Windows Vistaâ„¢ Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise with Service Pack 1

    Note: Certified for 32-bit editions of Windows XP and 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista.
     
  • 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)
  • 1GB or more of available hard-disk space; additional free space required during installation (Cannot be installed to flash-based storage devices.)
  • 16-bit video card with display resolution of 1,024 x 768 or greater (1,280 x 800 or greater recommended)
  • Some GPU-accelerated features require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
  • DVD-ROM drive
  • Apple® QuickTime® player version 7.2 required for multimedia features
  • Broadband Internet connection required for online services

For an updated list of system requirements, see System requirements | Photoshop.

2. Use an updated printer driver.

Many printer manufacturers frequently update their software drivers. If you haven't updated the printer driver recently, contact the printer manufacturer for an updated driver, or download one from the manufacturer's website.

3. Delete temporary files from the system.

Excess temporary files can cause Photoshop to freeze or appear to freeze when you print.

See Delete temporary files using the Disk Cleanup utility (Windows XP) for details.

4. Re-create the Photoshop preferences file.

Re-create the Photoshop preferences file to eliminate problems that a damaged preferences file might cause.

Note: When you use this solution, Photoshop will create a new preferences file and you will lose custom settings associated with your current preferences file. However, the file you rename in step 3 is your original preferences file. If you determine that the preferences file is not causing the problem, then you can restore your custom settings by following the instructions below.

To re-create the Photoshop preferences file:

  1. Quit Photoshop.

  2. In Windows Explorer, navigate to \Documents and Settings\[Your User Name]\Application Data\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings\.

    Note    :     The file path above includes a hidden folder. By default, Windows Explorer does not display hidden files and folders. To show this hidden folder, see Show hidden files, hidden folders, and all file name extensions in Windows Explorer (Windows XP).
     

  3. Rename the Adobe Photoshop CS4 Prefs.psp file (for example, to Adobe Photoshop CS4 Prefs.psp.old).
  4. Start Photoshop. Photoshop creates a new preferences file.

If the problem continues, the preferences file isn't the cause. To restore custom settings, quit Photoshop, delete the new preferences file, and then restore the original name of the previous preferences file.

5. Move the image to a local hard disk.

If the file that won't print is stored on a removable drive (for example, a USB hard drive) or on a network drive, move the file to a local hard disk. Adobe recommends storing files on a local hard disk when you open, save, or print them to reduce potential problems and damage to your files.

6. Create additional free disk space.

Make sure that plenty of free hard disk space is available on your system drive and, if different, the drive on which you have the file stored. Adobe recommends that free space is equivalent to three to five times the size of the file you print.

To create more space, search for and delete temporary (.tmp) files on your computer, clear your temporary internet files, or remove unnecessary programs from the computer. For instructions about clearing the temporary internet files, see the documentation for your internet browser. For instructions on removing programs, see the documentation for each program or search in Windows Help.

You can also free up disk space bypassing the spool file, which stores temporary files to the system drive during printing. For instructions for bypassing the spool file, see the documentation included with Windows or contact Microsoft Technical Support.

7. Print to a local printer.

If you print to a network printer, try printing the file from a computer that is connected directly to a local printer.

If the file prints correctly, network-related issues or problems with your printer or its device drivers may be the cause. Contact your network administrator, consult the documentation for your printer, or contact the printer manufacturer for assistance.

8. Run Photoshop while no other applications are running.

Some applications or services may cause problems when running concurrently with Photoshop. Before printing from Photoshop, disable startup items and the non-Microsoft services that run when your computer starts up.

See Disable startup items and services (Windows XP) for details.

9. Optimize the performance of Photoshop.

For instructions and additional information, see "Optimize performance of Photoshop CS4 on Windows XP and Vista.

If the problem persists after performing tasks in this section, proceed to "Resolve problems printing to a PostScript printer" or to "Resolve problems printing to a non-PostScript printer" for further troubleshooting steps, as applicable.

Resolve problems printing to a PostScript printer

If you have problems printing from Photoshop to a PostScript printer, work through the tasks in this section in the order they are presented, printing after each one.

Disclaimer: Some of these solutions require you to change the printer driver properties. The locations for specific properties vary by printer and by printer driver. Therefore, Adobe Technical Support cannot provide detailed information about the location for each property. Contact the printer manufacturer or refer to the printer documentation for more information.

1. Use an updated PPD file.

A PostScript Printer Description (PPD) file describes the capabilities of a PostScript printer for settings such as margins, color, and resolution. Incorrect or outdated PPD files can increase print times or cause other problems. Configure your printer in the Printers Control Panel with the PPD file recommended by the printer manufacturer.

To obtain a PPD file for your device, contact the printer manufacturer.

2. Set up the printer driver to output optimized PostScript code.

If you set up the printer driver to output PostScript code that's optimized for portability and in binary format, the amount of scaling the driver must do is minimized, thus preventing it from losing portions of images.

To set your printer driver to output optimized PostScript code:

  1. Choose Start > Control Panel, and then open Printers and Faxes.



    Note: You may instead need to choose Start > Settings > Control Panel, and then open Printers and Faxes.

     
  2. Right-click the printer, and choose Properties.
  3. Select the General tab.
  4. Select Printing Preferences, and then click Advanced.
  5. Expand the Document Options, and then expand the PostScript Options.
  6. Set the PostScript Output option to Optimize For Portability.

3. Install a printer driver that's compatible with your operating system.

If you use a network printer, install a printer driver that's compatible with your operating system. Print servers don't always provide drivers for operating systems running on client computers, so you may be using a printer driver that's appropriate for the print server's operating system but not for your computer's operating system.

To install a printer driver that's compatible with your operating system:

  1. Choose Start > Control Panel, and then open Printers and Faxes.



    Note    :     You may instead need to choose Start > Settings > Control Panel, and then open Printers and Faxes.

     
  2. Right-click the network printer, and then choose Delete.
  3. Double-click Add Printer, and then click Next.
  4. Select Local Printer Attached To This Computer.
  5. Deselect Automatically Detect And Install My Plug And Play Printer, and then click Next.
  6. Select Create A New Port.
  7. Choose Local Port from the Type Of Port menu, and then click Next.
  8. In the Port Name dialog box, type the path for the print server and printer (for example, \\printservername\printername), and then click OK.
  9. Follow the remaining on-screen instructions to install a driver that matches the brand and model of your network printer.

If the problem persists after performing the task in this section, proceed to "Resolve problems printing to any type of printer from Photoshop" for further troubleshooting steps, as applicable.

Resolve problems printing to a non-PostScript printer

If you have problems printing from Photoshop to a non-PostScript printer, work through the tasks in this section in the order they are presented, printing after each one.

1. Ensure that the printer has enough memory.

Ensure that the printer has enough memory to print all page elements. To print at 300 dpi, the printer should have at least 2 MB of available RAM. To print at 600 dpi, the printer should have at least 4 to 6 MB of RAM.

For instructions on determining available printer memory, see the printer documentation.

2. Enable VGA mode for your video card.

VGA mode is a startup option that forces the system into standard 640 x 480 16-color VGA mode by using a video driver that is compatible with any video adapter. Enable VGA mode for your video card to resolve problems related to your video card and it drivers.

To restart Windows XP into VGA mode:

  1. Quit all applications.
  2. Choose Start > Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK or press Enter on your keyboard.
  3. Click the BOOT.INI tab.
  4. In the Boot Options section, select /BASEVIDEO.
  5. Click OK, and restart Windows.



    Note    :     When you restart, click OK to the notification that the System Configuration Utility has made changes to the way Windows starts up. When the System Configuration Utility appears, click Cancel.

To re-enable your original video card driver:

  1. Choose Start > Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and press Enter.
  2. Click the BOOT.INI tab.
  3. In the Boot Options section, deselect /BASEVIDEO.
  4. Click OK, and restart Windows.

If you can print correctly from Photoshop using the Windows VGA driver, then the driver for your video card may be damaged, outdated, or incompatible with your printer driver or Photoshop. To obtain an updated video card driver, contact the manufacturer of your video card.

3. Use the printer's PostScript mode.

If the printer has a PostScript option, use the PostScript mode. For details, see the printer documentation.

If the problem persists after performing the tasks in this section, proceed to "Resolve problems printing to any type of printer from Photoshop" for further troubleshooting steps, as applicable.

Keywords: kb404899

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