Expert: James Fritz - 4/26/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi James,
I'm banging my head against a brick wall here.  I am currently working with Indesign (CS4).  Doing simple postcard designs and I keep having trouble with my images printing to long and narrow, compared to the image on the screen.  Basically they are to skinny.  I'm basically placing cover scans of books and they look proportional on the screen, but when they print they become long and narrow.  Any ideas on how to correct this problem.

Thanks,
Eric
estrouse@stantons.com

ANSWER: Eric,

That is strange behavior. Make sure that your links are not missing or modified. Also try making a pdf first and then printing the pdf.

Does this happen on all printers or just one in particular?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I just double checked to make sure that the images had links and they do.  It prints this way on all printers and it prints this way as pdf.  It actually get's the height of the image right, it just narrows the picture and scrunches the image to fit.

ES


Answer
That is strange.

Here are a few more things to try.

1. In the print window go to graphics and change "send data" to all

2. Try exporting your file to an indesign interchange file (.inx) and opening it. Then try printing.

3. Reset your preferences and try printing

4. Give the file to someone else and have them try printing it out to see if it is the file, your printer or your machine (maybe a combination)

5. Check for InDesign updates. Help menu > check for updates.

6. Copy and paste the graphic into a new file and try printing

7. Edit the original file in PS and save the image as a .psd and replace the link. Then try printing.