Expert: LizaL - 9/8/2004

Question
Answers to your questions:
files saved in what format? - photoshop file and I tried one saved as a jpeg.

I created the background color in photoshop by dbl-clicking the background square and changing the color in the color picker.

For the fill colors, I used the marquee tool, then filled the inside area.  For one box, I also tried using the shape tool and filled the shape.

I am using the hp deskjet 9300 as the printer and printing on inkjet paper (tried plain and glossy)

The dimensions I am working with right now are: 2x2 square and circle and 3.33 x 3.33 circle.

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly!  Jen

Question -
Hi Liza - I am new at photoshop.  I am using photoshop 7.0 on WinXP.  I have created some labels with a background and text layers.  The problem I am having is with printing the labels.  The color looks great on screen, but when I print, the labels look 'grainy.'  The text is OK, it is the background colors and fill colors that look this way.  Solid color sections in things that I have scanned and printed in the past don't look this bad.  I have tried changing the DPI from 150 up to 600.  Again, it is just with solid colors; I'm not printing pics or anything.  I tried glossy paper and plain paper; it looks the same on both.  I have resample image checked (in image size menu), the colors are in RKB format.  Am I missing something?  I would just like the solid colors to look solid rather than grainy.  Any ideas?  Thank you for any help you can provide.  Jen
Answer -
Hi Jen,

I have a couple of questions for you!

1. How are you saving your files? That is, in what format?

2. Did you create these backgrounds in Photoshop, or did you import them from another program?

3. If you created them in Photoshop, how did you fill them? What tool(s) did you use?

4. What kind of printer are you printing to?

5. What's the typical physical size (the dimensions) of one of these files?

If you get a minute, please give me this additional info and I'll get back to you ASAP! What you're doing as far as color mode being RGB, and resampling, sound OK, BTW. But if you can help me out with the additional info, I might be able to shed some more light on things.


Thanks,

Lisa

Answer
Hi again Jen,

This is weird! I tried to re-create your problem, but I can't. I remember in an earlier version of Photoshop -- I think 6 -- this seemed to be kind of common; at least, I had it happen to me when I'd fill a circle. But I can't seem to make it happen in 7. I did what you did, used the marquee tool, and filled with the fill command, the paint bucket, and Option+Backspace, yet the color is solid and consistent.

The only thing I can think of right offhand is that you really should save the file as a GIF or a TIFF, rather than JPEG. I realize you're not saving for use on the Web, but still, this might have some impact.

Can you send me one of your files and let me take a look at it? Everything you're doing sounds fine, so that's the only thing I can think of. I can try the file on my inkjet here, and see what I get.

My email addy is lizal@little-works.com.

Thanks!

Lisa

P.S. You're not using gradient backgrounds, are you?