Printing using context menu - driver or vista issue?

[ricardo.l]

My printer settings are econo-mode (HP P1005, FastRes) and if I print from
applications like Acrobat reader, or Paint it actually works.

However, if I right-click a file, say a b/n jpg, and select Print a wizard
opens up from which I can only come up with a fine printing, as if the driver
was set to high quality (rather than fast-res).

The only fix is not to use it,...if u know how to set it up correctly it
could be useful. Thanx, Ric

 

[Bob Headrick [MVP]]

My printer settings are econo-mode (HP P1005, FastRes) and if I print from
applications like Acrobat reader, or Paint it actually works.

However, if I right-click a file, say a b/n jpg, and select Print a wizard
opens up from which I can only come up with a fine printing, as if the driver
was set to high quality (rather than fast-res).

The only fix is not to use it,...if u know how to set it up correctly it
could be useful. Thanx, Ric

What application opens when you right click on a picture? In my case
(Vista Ultimate) I get a "Print Pictures" application from Microsoft
that has tabs to select the printer type, quality, paper type and paper
size. In the "Options" area (at the bottom right) are some printer
settings options including "Only show options that are compatible with
my printer. Certain combinations of paper type, paper size, and print
quality may not print will of be available with all printers...".
Uncheck this box, it may give you more printing options (but not
necessarily better prints, depending on your source file.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[ricardo.l]

My printer settings are econo-mode (HP P1005, FastRes) and if I print from

What application opens when you right click on a picture? In my case
(Vista Ultimate) I get a "Print Pictures" application from Microsoft
that has tabs to select the printer type, quality, paper type and paper
size. In the "Options" area (at the bottom right) are some printer
settings options including "Only show options that are compatible with
my printer. Certain combinations of paper type, paper size, and print
quality may not print will of be available with all printers...".
Uncheck this box, it may give you more printing options (but not
necessarily better prints, depending on your source file.

Ok, thank you Bob, here is my follow-up:
building on what you wrote, which is correct and it's what I see too on my
Vista HP, I could made it clear now, and whether or not it's a design choice
it was not apparent to me as a user. Basically, from "Options" area I can
access a printer settings window and I did find out that the Econo-mode
checkbox was UNchecked. So far so good, HOWEVER:
this was unexpected to me because if I open up the VERY SAME window (printer
properties, from Printers window in the CP, rather than from that Print
Pictures application) there my Economode checkbox was marked indeed!

So this explains the different behavior I observed, and to me it's not
resonable, because it is supposed to be a global setting. Once it is set, it
should show up anywhere as the same way. How could I guess it before it's too
late?

Hope you can look into that and confirm this issue, thank you again. Rick

 

[Bob Headrick [MVP]]

My printer settings are econo-mode (HP P1005, FastRes) and if I print from
applications like Acrobat reader, or Paint it actually works.

However, if I right-click a file, say a b/n jpg, and select Print a wizard
opens up from which I can only come up with a fine printing, as if the driver
was set to high quality (rather than fast-res).[snip]

What application opens when you right click on a picture? In my case
(Vista Ultimate) I get a "Print Pictures" application from Microsoft
that has tabs to select the printer type, quality, paper type and paper
size. [snip]

building on what you wrote, which is correct and it's what I see too on my
Vista HP, I could made it clear now, and whether or not it's a design choice
it was not apparent to me as a user. Basically, from "Options" area I can
access a printer settings window and I did find out that the Econo-mode
checkbox was UNchecked. So far so good, HOWEVER:
this was unexpected to me because if I open up the VERY SAME window (printer
properties, from Printers window in the CP, rather than from that Print
Pictures application) there my Economode checkbox was marked indeed!

Often programs have their own set of defaults separate from those set in
the printers folder. This is common for photo programs (such as
Photoshop Elements) where the default photo printing is typically much
different than normal plain paper printing. All I can say is "that's
the way it is" and you can set your photo printing settings from the
photo print application.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[ricardo.l]

On dec 24 I have received a notification, but found nothing appended here.
Just in case someone posted something, just to let you know there has been
some problem...