Graphics with HP LaserJet 4L

Hi,
I picked up an inexpensive HP LJ 4L for printing simple b/w graphics.
The images i print
are 300dpi or less so i thought this printer would be ideal. Whenever i
print a graphics however,
I get really poor quality prints. I have played around with the
advanced controls under the Windows
XP drivers and still get poor graphics.
http://largebuttons.com/hp/

Is there something i am doing incorrectly or can i just not print with
the quality i need?

Thanks for your help.
Chuck

On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:53:02 GMT, chuck clark <chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu>
wrote:

>Hi,
> I picked up an inexpensive HP LJ 4L for printing simple b/w graphics.
>The images i print
>are 300dpi or less so i thought this printer would be ideal. Whenever i
>print a graphics however,
>I get really poor quality prints. I have played around with the
>advanced controls under the Windows
>XP drivers and still get poor graphics.
>http://largebuttons.com/hp/
>
>Is there something i am doing incorrectly or can i just not print with
>the quality i need?
>
>Thanks for your help.
>Chuck


B/W Printing is a problem with these LaserJets, I have seen the same problem
with Copiers as well.

Do you have the Extra Ram fitted..?

Can you point me to a Image so I can try it myself..

puss@purrpurr.com wrote:

>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:53:02 GMT, chuck clark <chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu>
>wrote:
>
>
>
>>Hi,
>> I picked up an inexpensive HP LJ 4L for printing simple b/w graphics.
>>The images i print
>>are 300dpi or less so i thought this printer would be ideal. Whenever i
>>print a graphics however,
>>I get really poor quality prints. I have played around with the
>>advanced controls under the Windows
>>XP drivers and still get poor graphics.
>>http://largebuttons.com/hp/
>>
>>Is there something i am doing incorrectly or can i just not print with
>>the quality i need?
>>
>>Thanks for your help.
>>Chuck
>>
>>
>
>
>B/W Printing is a problem with these LaserJets, I have seen the same problem
>with Copiers as well.
>
>Do you have the Extra Ram fitted..?
>
>Can you point me to a Image so I can try it myself..
>
>

Hi,
I only have 1 meg of ram. I will buy a second meg if i knew i could
print in a higher quality/

http://largebuttons.com/hp/
This link has the original image(left) and the image after i printed it out and scanned it(right).
The printed image is unacceptable to what i am trying to do. Can someone print out the left
image and see if they can get a better print? Thanks!!!
Chuck

On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 16:53:43 GMT, chuck clark
<chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu> wrote:

>puss@purrpurr.com wrote:
>
>>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:53:02 GMT, chuck clark <chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>Hi,
>>> I picked up an inexpensive HP LJ 4L for printing simple b/w graphics.
>>>The images i print
>>>are 300dpi or less so i thought this printer would be ideal. Whenever i
>>>print a graphics however,
>>>I get really poor quality prints. I have played around with the
>>>advanced controls under the Windows
>>>XP drivers and still get poor graphics.
>>>http://largebuttons.com/hp/
>>>
>>>Is there something i am doing incorrectly or can i just not print with
>>>the quality i need?
>>>
>>>Thanks for your help.
>>>Chuck
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>B/W Printing is a problem with these LaserJets, I have seen the same problem
>>with Copiers as well.
>>
>>Do you have the Extra Ram fitted..?
>>
>>Can you point me to a Image so I can try it myself..
>>
>>
>
>Hi,
> I only have 1 meg of ram. I will buy a second meg if i knew i could
>print in a higher quality/
>
>http://largebuttons.com/hp/
> This link has the original image(left) and the image after i printed it out and scanned it(right).
>The printed image is unacceptable to what i am trying to do. Can someone print out the left
>image and see if they can get a better print? Thanks!!!
>Chuck
>

Best guess from viewing your image is a dirty printer. If you bought
the printer used, you plrobably need to replace the transfer roller
and/or the fuser as well. Might even want to clean the lenses and
mirrors in the scanner. I'd also have the cartridge checked if at all
possible. The simple printing jobs you have will not print any better
with more memory installed. Memory has nothing whatsoever to do with
your problem here. Best regard.

Frank

magpie@shinythings.com wrote in message news:<3ojppvc0dgvavf1t69nf2onaak1mo47don@4ax.com>...
> On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 16:53:43 GMT, chuck clark
> <chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
>
> >puss@purrpurr.com wrote:
> >
> >>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:53:02 GMT, chuck clark <chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu>
> >>wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>Hi,
> >>> I picked up an inexpensive HP LJ 4L for printing simple b/w graphics.
> >>>The images i print
> >>>are 300dpi or less so i thought this printer would be ideal. Whenever i
> >>>print a graphics however,
> >>>I get really poor quality prints. I have played around with the
> >>>advanced controls under the Windows
> >>>XP drivers and still get poor graphics.
> >>>http://largebuttons.com/hp/
> >>>
> >>>Is there something i am doing incorrectly or can i just not print with
> >>>the quality i need?
> >>>
> >>>Thanks for your help.
> >>>Chuck
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>B/W Printing is a problem with these LaserJets, I have seen the same problem
> >>with Copiers as well.
> >>
> >>Do you have the Extra Ram fitted..?
> >>
> >>Can you point me to a Image so I can try it myself..
> >>
> >>
> >
> >Hi,
> > I only have 1 meg of ram. I will buy a second meg if i knew i could
> >print in a higher quality/
> >
> >http://largebuttons.com/hp/
> > This link has the original image(left) and the image after i printed it out and scanned it(right).
> >The printed image is unacceptable to what i am trying to do. Can someone print out the left
> >image and see if they can get a better print? Thanks!!!
> >Chuck
> >
>
> Best guess from viewing your image is a dirty printer. If you bought
> the printer used, you plrobably need to replace the transfer roller
> and/or the fuser as well. Might even want to clean the lenses and
> mirrors in the scanner. I'd also have the cartridge checked if at all
> possible. The simple printing jobs you have will not print any better
> with more memory installed. Memory has nothing whatsoever to do with
> your problem here. Best regard.
>
> Frank

Ok now it's my turn for a best guess. After looking at the iamges it
looks like you are using the HP LaserJet 4, 5, 6 PCL5e Driver instead
of the HP LaserJet 4, 5, 6 PostScript Driver. Try switching drivers.

Bill Frankel (www.theaschergroup.com)

On 27 Oct 2003 21:09:05 -0800, bfrankel@theaschergroup.com (Bill
Frankel) wrote:

>Ok now it's my turn for a best guess. After looking at the iamges it
>looks like you are using the HP LaserJet 4, 5, 6 PCL5e Driver instead
>of the HP LaserJet 4, 5, 6 PostScript Driver. Try switching drivers.
>
>Bill Frankel (www.theaschergroup.com)


I'll be a monkey's uncle if I don't learn something new every day in
this group. Thanks for the insight. :-)

Frank

Hi Bill,
I hope you don't mind me contacting you directly. I seem to be
getting no where on the group. I
followed your advice and installed the PS drivers for the laserjet 4L .
Whenever I print, i just get
a mess of code and useless numbers and letters. I have since learned
that the 4L is not a PS printer,
which makes me wonder why there are PS drivers for it. Have you
succesfully printed with the
PS drivers?
Thanks for your time,
Chuck

Bill Frankel wrote:

>magpie@shinythings.com wrote in message news:<3ojppvc0dgvavf1t69nf2onaak1mo47don@4ax.com>...
>
>
>>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 16:53:43 GMT, chuck clark
>><chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>puss@purrpurr.com wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:53:02 GMT, chuck clark <chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu>
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>I picked up an inexpensive HP LJ 4L for printing simple b/w graphics.
>>>>>The images i print
>>>>>are 300dpi or less so i thought this printer would be ideal. Whenever i
>>>>>print a graphics however,
>>>>>I get really poor quality prints. I have played around with the
>>>>>advanced controls under the Windows
>>>>>XP drivers and still get poor graphics.
>>>>>http://largebuttons.com/hp/
>>>>>
>>>>>Is there something i am doing incorrectly or can i just not print with
>>>>>the quality i need?
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks for your help.
>>>>>Chuck
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>B/W Printing is a problem with these LaserJets, I have seen the same problem
>>>>with Copiers as well.
>>>>
>>>>Do you have the Extra Ram fitted..?
>>>>
>>>>Can you point me to a Image so I can try it myself..
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Hi,
>>> I only have 1 meg of ram. I will buy a second meg if i knew i could
>>>print in a higher quality/
>>>
>>>http://largebuttons.com/hp/
>>>This link has the original image(left) and the image after i printed it out and scanned it(right).
>>>The printed image is unacceptable to what i am trying to do. Can someone print out the left
>>>image and see if they can get a better print? Thanks!!!
>>>Chuck
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>Best guess from viewing your image is a dirty printer. If you bought
>>the printer used, you plrobably need to replace the transfer roller
>>and/or the fuser as well. Might even want to clean the lenses and
>>mirrors in the scanner. I'd also have the cartridge checked if at all
>>possible. The simple printing jobs you have will not print any better
>>with more memory installed. Memory has nothing whatsoever to do with
>>your problem here. Best regard.
>>
>>Frank
>>
>>
>
>Ok now it's my turn for a best guess. After looking at the iamges it
>looks like you are using the HP LaserJet 4, 5, 6 PCL5e Driver instead
>of the HP LaserJet 4, 5, 6 PostScript Driver. Try switching drivers.
>
>Bill Frankel (www.theaschergroup.com)
>
>

On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 04:08:03 GMT, chuck clark
<chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu> wrote:

>Hi Bill,
> I hope you don't mind me contacting you directly. I seem to be
>getting no where on the group. I
>followed your advice and installed the PS drivers for the laserjet 4L .
>Whenever I print, i just get
>a mess of code and useless numbers and letters. I have since learned
>that the 4L is not a PS printer,
>which makes me wonder why there are PS drivers for it. Have you
>succesfully printed with the
>PS drivers?
>Thanks for your time,
>Chuck
>

The HP 4L has a fuser sleeve. I upgraded the OS on my work computer,
I'm using an HP3D, going from 98 to win 2000 the printer driver was a
big DOWN GRADE in graphic printing. Most likely its a poor printer
driver, in XP. For good graphic printing you have to get a newer
printer as MS will not give you any drivers that will do good graphics
on these older printers.

Gordon

Chuck:

Yeah I just found out the same thing. Well there is no good way to
put this. You can emulate PS with a PCL printer but it will never
work quite the same. That's why HP offers PS on some printers (PS is
Adobe and PCL is HP). The only thing I can think of to do is to
convert this into a GIFF, TIFF or JPEG and then print it from a non PS
program like Paint or Microsoft Image. You're going to lose a little
but not as much as you are right now. The reason why I knew that it
was a PS problem was that the image was getting through just not very
clearly. When you emulate PS you lose some of the sharpness in
graphics. All of this is kind of a guess for me (since I always get
or spec PS printers in graphic intensive situations).

If the printer is not postscript (which it's not) then you have to
send it from a program (and/or format) that does not require PS.
Sorry.


Bill Frankel (www.theaschergroup.com)

chuck clark <chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu> wrote in message news:<D2Hnb.4940$qo4.4161@twister.austin.rr.com>...
> Hi Bill,
> I hope you don't mind me contacting you directly. I seem to be
> getting no where on the group. I
> followed your advice and installed the PS drivers for the laserjet 4L .
> Whenever I print, i just get
> a mess of code and useless numbers and letters. I have since learned
> that the 4L is not a PS printer,
> which makes me wonder why there are PS drivers for it. Have you
> succesfully printed with the
> PS drivers?
> Thanks for your time,
> Chuck
>
> Bill Frankel wrote:
>
> >magpie@shinythings.com wrote in message news:<3ojppvc0dgvavf1t69nf2onaak1mo47don@4ax.com>...
> >
> >
> >>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 16:53:43 GMT, chuck clark
> >><chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>puss@purrpurr.com wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:53:02 GMT, chuck clark <chuck@no-spam.mail.utexas.edu>
> >>>>wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>Hi,
> >>>>>I picked up an inexpensive HP LJ 4L for printing simple b/w graphics.
> >>>>>The images i print
> >>>>>are 300dpi or less so i thought this printer would be ideal. Whenever i
> >>>>>print a graphics however,
> >>>>>I get really poor quality prints. I have played around with the
> >>>>>advanced controls under the Windows
> >>>>>XP drivers and still get poor graphics.
> >>>>>http://largebuttons.com/hp/
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Is there something i am doing incorrectly or can i just not print with
> >>>>>the quality i need?
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Thanks for your help.
> >>>>>Chuck
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>B/W Printing is a problem with these LaserJets, I have seen the same problem
> >>>>with Copiers as well.
> >>>>
> >>>>Do you have the Extra Ram fitted..?
> >>>>
> >>>>Can you point me to a Image so I can try it myself..
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>Hi,
> >>> I only have 1 meg of ram. I will buy a second meg if i knew i could
> >>>print in a higher quality/
> >>>
> >>>http://largebuttons.com/hp/
> >>>This link has the original image(left) and the image after i printed it out and scanned it(right).
> >>>The printed image is unacceptable to what i am trying to do. Can someone print out the left
> >>>image and see if they can get a better print? Thanks!!!
> >>>Chuck
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>Best guess from viewing your image is a dirty printer. If you bought
> >>the printer used, you plrobably need to replace the transfer roller
> >>and/or the fuser as well. Might even want to clean the lenses and
> >>mirrors in the scanner. I'd also have the cartridge checked if at all
> >>possible. The simple printing jobs you have will not print any better
> >>with more memory installed. Memory has nothing whatsoever to do with
> >>your problem here. Best regard.
> >>
> >>Frank
> >>
> >>
> >
> >Ok now it's my turn for a best guess. After looking at the iamges it
> >looks like you are using the HP LaserJet 4, 5, 6 PCL5e Driver instead
> >of the HP LaserJet 4, 5, 6 PostScript Driver. Try switching drivers.
> >
> >Bill Frankel (www.theaschergroup.com)
> >
> >

Bill Frankel <bfrankel@theaschergroup.com> wrote:

> Yeah I just found out the same thing. Well there is no good way to
> put this. You can emulate PS with a PCL printer but it will never
> work quite the same. That's why HP offers PS on some printers (PS is
> Adobe and PCL is HP). The only thing I can think of to do is to
> convert this into a GIFF, TIFF or JPEG and then print it from a non PS
> program like Paint or Microsoft Image. You're going to lose a little
> but not as much as you are right now. The reason why I knew that it
> was a PS problem was that the image was getting through just not very
> clearly. When you emulate PS you lose some of the sharpness in
> graphics. All of this is kind of a guess for me (since I always get
> or spec PS printers in graphic intensive situations).

Please don't spread misinformation. PCL printers can print the same
quality of graphics as PostScript. The dots on the page are the same.
The difference is in how they are laid out. PCL is a relatively simple
escape code language. Most stuff that prints PCL graphics just sends a
large PCL-encoded bitmap to the printer.

PostScript is a programming language. When you print with it, the
printer actually receives a program. The printer itself runs that
program, which draws the bitmap.

PCL and PostScript are just two ways to get to the same bitmap in the
end.

The original post's quality problem is due to resolution and scaling
settings in software, not the printer language. Probably this is
happening in a print driver setting or some application setting.

--
Warren Block * Rapid City, South Dakota * USA