Bizarre watermark printing problem

[Scott Gress]

I created a watermark and it looks fine on the screen and print preview
but when I actually print the doc, the whole page is in highlight yellow
and there is no watermark. The text prints but it looks like the
watermark turned into a "selected" picture and the whole "selection"
prints instead of the image.

using Word 2004 mac 11.1
Thanks
Scott

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

What do you mean by "the whole page is in highlight yellow"?

Are you printing to paper or to PDF?

How did you create the watermark?

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Scott-

Watermarks are actually inserted in the Header/Footer layer of the doc, so
if you used an image there actually is a picture there which may very well
cover the whole page.

You don't mention version or other pertinent details, however, so this is
just one of those 'educated guesses'...

But if everything looks right in Print Preview, the first thing I would
check is whether you might need to replace one or more ink cartridges in
your printer. If the cartridges are good (even _new_ ones can be faulty),
the printer, itself, may be on the fritz. If there is any printer diagnostic
software and/or self-test - which comes with most printers - use that to
check things out.

If you don't have such software, try just inserting the same image into a
blank doc (not as a watermark). Print that, see what happens & post back
with your results.

HTH |:>)

 

[Scott Gress]

Thanks HTH,

A few more details...New ink...printer is fine...Word 2004 mac 11.1 OS
10.3.9...HP deskjet 882C.

I know printer is fine because I tested by placing the watermark "ASAP"
(default word watermark in Word) instead of my jpg and I also tested it
by placing the watermark of a jpg from Word's clipart file that came
with the software - AND IT WORKED.


BUT when I go to insert > watermark > (select) picture > (I select a
picture from my files (tried both jpg and pct) then the whole page
inside the margins will print yellow. The text from the body of the
letter will print, but the watermark of my picture will not be visible -
due to all the yellow all over the page and not to mention wasting ink!

A friend tried to recreate my problem on his mac with Word and said he
has the same result - he said as long as you use a Word clipart file it
is okay, but with your own jpg it does not work...I just tested with the
same results any ideas?? I'm trying to use my own logo for my own
letterhead.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Elliott Roper]

Thanks HTH,

A few more details...New ink...printer is fine...Word 2004 mac 11.1 OS
10.3.9...HP deskjet 882C.

I know printer is fine because I tested by placing the watermark "ASAP"
(default word watermark in Word) instead of my jpg and I also tested it
by placing the watermark of a jpg from Word's clipart file that came
with the software - AND IT WORKED.


BUT when I go to insert > watermark > (select) picture > (I select a
picture from my files (tried both jpg and pct) then the whole page
inside the margins will print yellow. The text from the body of the
letter will print, but the watermark of my picture will not be visible -
due to all the yellow all over the page and not to mention wasting ink!

A friend tried to recreate my problem on his mac with Word and said he
has the same result - he said as long as you use a Word clipart file it
is okay, but with your own jpg it does not work...I just tested with the
same results any ideas?? I'm trying to use my own logo for my own
letterhead.

You seem to be well on the way to finding your problem then. There is
something wrong with your jpg.

I tried to reproduce your problem with a random jpg off the web and it
all worked fine.

If you wish, mail me a copy of your jpg and a sample word doc showing
it going wrong. I'll try to diagnose it a bit better. Change nospam to
elliott to get the right email address.

 

[CyberTaz]

Thanks HTH,

A few more details...New ink...printer is fine...Word 2004 mac 11.1 OS
10.3.9...HP deskjet 882C.

I know printer is fine because I tested by placing the watermark "ASAP"
(default word watermark in Word) instead of my jpg and I also tested it
by placing the watermark of a jpg from Word's clipart file that came
with the software - AND IT WORKED.

I assume the above tests were done using _color_ watermarks

BUT when I go to insert > watermark > (select) picture > (I select a
picture from my files (tried both jpg and pct) then the whole page
inside the margins will print yellow. The text from the body of the
letter will print, but the watermark of my picture will not be visible -
due to all the yellow all over the page and not to mention wasting ink!

I've done the same here with no problem whatsoever, using two different
jpegs - neither of which were from the Office collection. Both printings
turned out perfectly (although I am using a different printer - Epson R800 -
but that should not make a difference if the problem were with Word).

A friend tried to recreate my problem on his mac with Word and said he
has the same result - he said as long as you use a Word clipart file it
is okay, but with your own jpg it does not work...I just tested with the
same results any ideas?? I'm trying to use my own logo for my own
letterhead.

It would seem that the problem might stem from one or both of two sources:

1) The images themselves are not being effectively translated. Not all jpegs
are the same & depending on the origin some software will not handle some as
effectively as others. What you might try is going to View>Header & Footer
in the doc that has the watermark you want to use, Ctrl-Click the image &
choose Edit Picture (not that you're going to actually change it yourself).
When the Edit Picture window opens, just click the Close button, save the
file & try printing again.

If that doesn't correct the situation, go back & Ctrl-Click the watermark
again & choose Save as Picture, leave it set for PNG with whatever name you
want to use. Then reinsert the new image as a watermark (but remove the
check for 'Washout') & see how that works.

2) I noticed that you referred to Office 11.1 - you might want to update to
11.2 as there were several previous issues it resolved. If you do update,
make sure you use Disk Utility - Repair Disk Permissions immediately
afterward. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to do so anyway.

Regards |:>)

 

[Scott Gress]

I assume the above tests were done using _color_ watermarks

I've done the same here with no problem whatsoever, using two different
jpegs - neither of which were from the Office collection. Both printings
turned out perfectly (although I am using a different printer - Epson R800 -
but that should not make a difference if the problem were with Word).


It would seem that the problem might stem from one or both of two sources:

1) The images themselves are not being effectively translated. Not all jpegs
are the same & depending on the origin some software will not handle some as
effectively as others. What you might try is going to View>Header & Footer
in the doc that has the watermark you want to use, Ctrl-Click the image &
choose Edit Picture (not that you're going to actually change it yourself).
When the Edit Picture window opens, just click the Close button, save the
file & try printing again.

If that doesn't correct the situation, go back & Ctrl-Click the watermark
again & choose Save as Picture, leave it set for PNG with whatever name you
want to use. Then reinsert the new image as a watermark (but remove the
check for 'Washout') & see how that works.

2) I noticed that you referred to Office 11.1 - you might want to update to
11.2 as there were several previous issues it resolved. If you do update,
make sure you use Disk Utility - Repair Disk Permissions immediately
afterward. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to do so anyway.

Regards |:>)

Thanks again HTH,

Yes, color watermark test...I'll closely follow your instructions. Just
updated to 11.2 and ran disk permissions. Your assistance is most
appreciated. I suspect this will do it. Have a great holiday/Christmas.

Scott