I won't PRINT again from LR, I'll use PRINTER...

[mbaginy]

I’ve noticed this phenomenon for over a year.  When printing from LR5 (and now with LR6), quite often about a quarter of the image is cut off (not printed) on the right-hand side of the image.

I recently printed a series of square images on A2 size paper.  I’d saved a preset with the settings.  A few days later, I added some images to the series and wanted to print these in the same manner.  Applying the present, the right-hand side of the image was cut off again!

After checking and double-checking the settings, the same happened again.  I rebooted the iMac but to not avail, LR refused to print the entire (square) image!

What I had been doing was, to press “Print” at the bottom left of the (right-hand) printing commands.  Since I was sure that all page and printer settings were correct, I bypassed the “Print…” command.

Just to see what happens, I pressed the “Printer…” command, then Print in the print dialog box, which opens (without changing any settings).  And lo and behold, it printed properly!  I then recalled, that the previous time that cut-off happened, I used the same workaround.  So my forgetfulness, along with this bug, cost me a few sheets of MOAB A2 paper and some ink.

Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon?  I’ll now never again use the “Print” button again (until I again forget).  I’m never certain of the result!

[Wayne Fox]

I’ve noticed this phenomenon for over a year.  When printing from LR5 (and now with LR6), quite often about a quarter of the image is cut off (not printed) on the right-hand side of the image.

I recently printed a series of square images on A2 size paper.  I’d saved a preset with the settings.  A few days later, I added some images to the series and wanted to print these in the same manner.  Applying the present, the right-hand side of the image was cut off again!

After checking and double-checking the settings, the same happened again.  I rebooted the iMac but to not avail, LR refused to print the entire (square) image!

What I had been doing was, to press “Print” at the bottom left of the (right-hand) printing commands.  Since I was sure that all page and printer settings were correct, I bypassed the “Print…” command.

Just to see what happens, I pressed the “Printer…” command, then Print in the print dialog box, which opens (without changing any settings).  And lo and behold, it printed properly!  I then recalled, that the previous time that cut-off happened, I used the same workaround.  So my forgetfulness, along with this bug, cost me a few sheets of MOAB A2 paper and some ink.

Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon?  I’ll now never again use the “Print” button again (until I again forget).  I’m never certain of the result!

so just curious, in the print settings dialog box, did you create and use a preset?  What you describe is what happens if you try to use a printer driver/OS preset inside of a Lightroom preset.

If you want to use the print button with reliability, make sure you use the page setup button first to get your paper size right, then you use the print settings button and get all of the related settings right, but leave the popup menu in that dialog set to default.  If you change anything in  those two, be sure to right click your Lightroom preset and update with current settings.

Lightroom will remember everything in both of those dialog boxes, but it cannot handle a preset that is created within the print settings dialog box.

[mbaginy]

Thanks for your explanation Wayne.  Knowing how quirky the print module of LR is, I always work from left to right, top to bottom.  My first step is to define the paper size, then move on to positioning my image.

I've never, since LR1, had LR's printing work for me as simply as Michael and Jeff explained in their video tutorials.  If I select paper size, then choose my margins, the image size should fill the resulting space.  It doesn't work that way.  I've always had to: select paper size, set all margins to zero, then adjust the left margin, then the image size and fiddle to get the right margin equal to the left.  Just recently, I couldn't type the top margin (equal to left and right) into the margin setting - I had to increase the bottom margin until it reached the required distance.  And the top margin readout never changed!  The image moved upwards but the readout stayed at it's incorrect value!

I'm quite sure the problem is with LR and not my workflow.  I've found that LR (seemingly) can't handle simple mathematics and I can't really trust the dimensional readout.  As much as I enjoy using LR, I've found their print module to be poor, to say the least.  It should be possible to select paper size, set margins and have the image size fill the remaining dimensions.  It should also be possible for such sophisticated software as LR, to correct margins when I adjust one of the settings.  It doesn't - readout remains some silly number, despite the image having moved or having been resized.

That doesn't explain (to my understanding) why LR had cut off the right-hand side of my print.  I seem to have found a functioning work-around, but it adds to the mysteries and uncertainties of LR printing.

[MrIconoclast]

I struggled with printing from LightRoom for a while, but finally have figured out enough to make it work for me. But, there are many features I still need to learn so I can take advantage of them.

Most likely, after updating to LR6, I will either take a course, or buy a good reference book that will help me.

[Wayne Fox]

Thanks for your explanation Wayne.  Knowing how quirky the print module of LR is, I always work from left to right, top to bottom.  My first step is to define the paper size, then move on to positioning my image.

I've never, since LR1, had LR's printing work for me as simply as Michael and Jeff explained in their video tutorials.  If I select paper size, then choose my margins, the image size should fill the resulting space.  It doesn't work that way.  I've always had to: select paper size, set all margins to zero, then adjust the left margin, then the image size and fiddle to get the right margin equal to the left.  Just recently, I couldn't type the top margin (equal to left and right) into the margin setting - I had to increase the bottom margin until it reached the required distance.  And the top margin readout never changed!  The image moved upwards but the readout stayed at it's incorrect value!

I'm quite sure the problem is with LR and not my workflow.  I've found that LR (seemingly) can't handle simple mathematics and I can't really trust the dimensional readout.  As much as I enjoy using LR, I've found their print module to be poor, to say the least.  It should be possible to select paper size, set margins and have the image size fill the remaining dimensions.  It should also be possible for such sophisticated software as LR, to correct margins when I adjust one of the settings.  It doesn't - readout remains some silly number, despite the image having moved or having been resized.

That doesn't explain (to my understanding) why LR had cut off the right-hand side of my print.  I seem to have found a functioning work-around, but it adds to the mysteries and uncertainties of LR printing.

Without seeing all your settings and dialog boxes it’s difficult to troubleshoot the problem.  But my experience with LR printing is the opposite, it works pretty much flawlessly, images end up where I expect them, and I have no issues.  If you are getting the right hand side of a print cut off, something in your settings and setup seems to be amiss.

[schrodingerscat]

So far my recent problems have been pilot error. I have always used the 'Printer' button, as I like to go through the settings to make sure everything is OK. My printing is rather basic, two sizes of paper and usually full frame, with the occasional Picture Package to crank out 5X7s.

No technical glitches that I know of. I do run maintenance on the computer on a regular basis to clear caches etc.

[mbaginy]

Wayne, I’m quite sure to be doing everything correctly.  Basically, I’m confronted with two oddities.  The first is the (sporadic) refusal for LR to print about 25% of the right-hand side of an image, which I seem to be able to cope with by not using the PRINT button.

But for the second, I haven’t found a simple solution.  I simply can’t get the dimensional readout of the image layout to reflect the preview and the actual print.  I need to use a pencil and paper and do the math in such a manner, that the software seemingly dictates.  That mean’s, not to believe some of the readouts – finding the one to believe and the others to ignore isn’t simple.

Take a look at my example.  I wanted the left, right and top borders to be 40mm.  The resulting image size should fall into place and is not my real concern.  I first set up the page, defining A2 paper.  Then I began defining the layout, actually a simple process.  What looks fine on the preview gives shows odd dimensional readout.  I simply don’t believe, the top margin is only 3.2mm.  And to finally achieve my goal, LR requires me to measure from the bottom of the image!

That means, I need to measure the paper, measure the image height, etc.  But the readout of the image size on the preview doesn’t necessarily equal what I see – it seems to show the uncropped image, described as cell size.  If my assumption is true, how does the uncropped image size help me in my layout.  What I want to print is the cropped image!

I finally achieve my results (the print) but by far bot as simple as I had imagined.  I’m amazed of LR seemingly ignoring false dimensions.  It seems to me, that LR would want to convince me that 1 + 1 + 1 = 5.4!

Maybe I’m truly missing something here, but it can’t be too obvious and can’t be warning with proper error messages.

Wayne, have you ever printed by defining the paper size, then selecting the left, right and top margins, then allowing the image size (cell size?) to be as it may be.

[mbaginy]

So far my recent problems have been pilot error.

It would be nice to find, that my problems were based on (another!) user error.

At the moment, I can't spot where I'm goofing up.  I'm following the stages, step-by-step, explaining to myself out loud, what I'm doing, so to possibly catch some mistake(s).  Haven't spotted it yet.

As long as I remember my work-around process and take the time to do the arithmetic, the print turns out fine.  Just doesn't seem state-of-the-art.

[JRSmit]

Are you using a mac computer and canon printer?
I recall an issue at a friend similar to yours, also on mac in combination with canon.
Reinstall of canon printer drive i believe solved the problem.

[mbaginy]

Jan, I'm using an Epson 3880 printer with all current updates for drivers, operating system, etc.  I still have a Canon i9950 but use it only for office printing and printing DCs.  I wish the Epson could print CDs!!  And yes, I use Macs.

I'm not convinced that this is a printer / printer driver problem.  In that case, my workaround shouldn't work.  But then, I'm only a user and have far less understanding of computers or programming than many other Lula members.  Similarly with digital cameras and the technology involved.

[Simon J.A. Simpson]

As Wayne says this is a bit difficult to diagnose without knowing your other settings, but I’ll throw my two pennyworth in.

On the face of it it sounds like there may be a ‘communication’ error between the printer driver and Lightroom, thus possibly the reason for the different results using the Print and Printer buttons.  ‘Printer’ calls up the print dialogue whilst ‘Print’ does not.  This may be behind the problem (see my last paragraph below).

I tried to reproduce the behaviour you describe in LR5.7 but could not.  All worked as expected.  I wonder whether you could try selecting the printer and then paper size in the ‘Page Setup…’ dialogue, then create your margins, and finally save this as a print template.  If this prints correctly, and you then re-use this Template to make further prints, Lightroom should then recall all the correct settings and print correctly.

Just another two thoughts.  Before you try the above go to the Mac’s ‘System Preferences’, ‘Print & Scan’ and delete all your printers (use the minus button below the list).  Then add them again using the plus button.  One thing to watch out for is that the Mac is not defaulting to your Canon printer when you are trying to print on the Epson.  Using a Lightroom printer Template should prevent this from happening.  But I always check Page Setup… before printing just to make sure (wastes less paper !).  I have found it is possible to have one printer selected in ‘Page Setup…’ and another in the print dialogue.  I‘ve spent quite a lot of time, paper and ink ‘cross printing’ to the wrong printer by mistake, although this is not supposed to happen.  This is not one of the Mac’s strong points.

[Wayne Fox]

which I seem to be able to cope with by not using the PRINT button.

so if you click the Printer ... button instead of the print button, do you have to change a few settings before you actually print the job?  Or can you just hit Printer ... then in the dialog box hit print with success?

Are you using single image/Contact sheet or custom Package option in LR?

[mbaginy]

so if you click the Printer ... button instead of the print button, do you have to change a few settings before you actually print the job?  Or can you just hit Printer ... then in the dialog box hit print with success?

Are you using single image/Contact sheet or custom Package option in LR?

Wayne, I don't alter any setting following the Printer... button - I simply press print in the dialog box which pops up.  No changes, just the extra step and all seems well.  Quite strange.

I'm using Single Image/Contact Sheet.

I suppose I'm the only member who ran into such a SNAFU.  At least I have a workaround, just need to keep it in mind.  The odd margin readouts make printing more tedious, but doing the match long hand at least allows me to print as intended, despite the weird dimensional readout.

[mbaginy]

... I wonder whether you could try selecting the printer and then paper size in the ‘Page Setup…’ dialogue, then create your margins, and finally save this as a print template.  If this prints correctly, and you then re-use this Template to make further prints, Lightroom should then recall all the correct settings and print correctly.

... Before you try the above go to the Mac’s ‘System Preferences’, ‘Print & Scan’ and delete all your printers (use the minus button below the list).  Then add them again using the plus button.  One thing to watch out for is that the Mac is not defaulting to your Canon printer when you are trying to print on the Epson.  Using a Lightroom printer Template should prevent this from happening.  But I always check Page Setup… before printing just to make sure (wastes less paper !).  I have found it is possible to have one printer selected in ‘Page Setup…’ and another in the print dialogue.  I‘ve spent quite a lot of time, paper and ink ‘cross printing’ to the wrong printer by mistake, although this is not supposed to happen.  This is not one of the Mac’s strong points.

Simon, thanks for your suggestions.  I've deleted all Epson driver information and reinstalled it.  I've checked and double checked the settings in the printer dialog box.  I always select the paper size first, then set layout - working from left to right & top to bottom.  I've used presets, one moment it prints properly, then next moment it cuts off a portion of the right-hand side of the print.  I can't willingly duplicate that behavior.  I can't make heads or tails of this.  But this has only happened (as yet) when pressing the Print button.  Pressing Print... and then continuing the print operation via the dialog box prints properly.  Really weird.

I'll just forget the whole thing since I have a workaround.  I'm a bit surprised, that I seem the only one encountering such behavior.  Oh well, the mysterious world of computers.  The odd margin dimensions is another oddity I'll just have to accept.  Seems to work fine & dandy for others, just not for me.  But I have a pad of paper on my desk and a ruler.  Really high tech!

[Walt Roycraft]

Wayne, I don't alter any setting following the Printer... button - I simply press print in the dialog box which pops up.  No changes, just the extra step and all seems well.  Quite strange.

I'm using Single Image/Contact Sheet.

I suppose I'm the only member who ran into such a SNAFU.  At least I have a workaround, just need to keep it in mind.  The odd margin readouts make printing more tedious, but doing the match long hand at least allows me to print as intended, despite the weird dimensional readout.

Nope, it just happened with me, as we speak! Same exact problem with the same exact work around.
I just now, after printing 6 different images on letter size paper, I retried hitting the PRINT button again to see if the problem was still there. It printed fine.

[mbaginy]

Nope, it just happened with me, as we speak!

Walt, I'm sad to hear of your troubles, but I'm thrilled not to be the only one experiencing this problem.  I was beginning to doubt my sanity.

Who knows, maybe someone at Adobe has read of our problems and will investigate to fix the situation.

[Jimmy D Uptain]

Gonna chime in and say I have had issues with LR's printing.
Love, love love, the soft-proofing but the printing is aggravating at best. Its almost as if the settings don't "take".
I gave up and got a printing software. Mirage Print
There are others but thats the one I ended up with. I have nowhere near the issues I had with LR.
BTW
Mac  OS
Epson 7900 printer.

[mbaginy]

I gave up and got a printing software. Mirage Print

That reminds me, I've had a CD with Mirage Print for about two years but never installed it.  Maybe I should get the current version and finally use it!  Thanks for reminding me, Jimmy.  Yes, your impression matches mine - the some setting simply don't "take".

[Wayne Fox]

Gonna chime in and say I have had issues with LR's printing.
Love, love love, the soft-proofing but the printing is aggravating at best. Its almost as if the settings don't "take".
I gave up and got a printing software. Mirage Print
There are others but thats the one I ended up with. I have nowhere near the issues I had with LR.
BTW
Mac  OS
Epson 7900 printer.

I keep hearing this, so I’m puzzled.  I have at least 15 presets for lightroom and different size prints to different printers, everything from 5x7 moab entrada cards to 24x30 bordered prints. I haven’t used anything other than the Print button unless I need mutliple copies for any of these presets for years, and I’ve made 7 or 8 of them recently, first time perfect with no problem.  I’m away on vacation so I can’t try and duplicate the OP’s specific problem, but if the settings don’t “take” I would suspect something in the setup/saving of the preset.

[Wayne Fox]

Wayne, have you ever printed by defining the paper size, then selecting the left, right and top margins, then allowing the image size (cell size?) to be as it may be.

that’s how most of my presets are made ...