Expert: LizaL - 7/7/2005

Question
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Calibration bars option not available

Using Photoshop CS on Win 2000 platform

I'd like to print the calibration bars on the page along with the image self.

After selecting "output" in the "print with priview" menu, the checkbox calibration bars remains
gray.

Even if I reduce the image size, giving enough space for the bars, the option remains unavailable.
What should I do?

Thanks for any useful hint.



Answer -
Hi Diana,

This sounds more to me like your printer driver(s), rather than Photoshop. It's kind of tricky to
get the two to coincide sometimes. Generally speaking you can use Photoshop's printing options,
or that of your printer software. Sometimes you forfeit some options while using one or the
other, but you don't usually have to give up something like calibration bars, so this is sort of
suspicious.

Let me ask you this: Is the calibration bars option the only one that's grayed out? Or can you
access the others?

If calibration bars is the only option you can't use, I'd say the issue does lie with Photoshop, and/
or the image you're trying to print. Are you having any other problems with Photoshop, especially
with printing? Is this a recent installation of Photoshop, by any chance?

If the other options are grayed out as well, I'd say the issue lies with your printer driver(s). In this
case you need to go to the manufacturer's Web site and make sure your drivers are up to date
and installed properly.

Another question: What printer are you printing to, by the way?

I can't find any similar issues online, right off the bat. I also opened a large photo in Photoshop
and I'm able to use Print with Preview, and all the options are available to me -- and this holds
true with all three of my printers (including one laser printer).

So check your drivers -- but if the problem still persists, please post back and let me know about
the accessiblity of the other options, and we'll go from there!

Lisa


Dear Lisa,

I could solve the problem, by means of another hint on the net: the option was grayed out
because it was not a Postscript printer. As soon I corrected this issue, all options by Print with
preview were available. Thanks anyway for your time. Cheers,

Diana  

Answer
Great!! I'm glad you found the answer. I had a feeling it had to do with your printer, rather than your file. Inkjet printers do have some drawbacks, and not as many options as Postcript, but I think this issue is getting better as printer technology gets better.

Again, glad you found your answer. Now, print those bars!  :-)

Lisa