Problems printing Indesign files on ANY printer

[kradloff]

I am new to Indesign and having terrible problems printing! After creating a document, I try to print it on several different printers that we have here at work -- HP Laser Jet 2300, primarily. The document tries to print, but after just a second or two, I get an error message that says, "Error writing to LPT1 for printer HP Laser Jet 2300L. There was a problem sending your document to the printer."

It doesn't matter what printer I try, I get this message. I have tried converting the files to .pdf and opening them in Acrobat, but I still get the same message. If I send the files to another person to print, they either get the same message or the printer prints a blank page.

This is happening with all types of files -- one page flyers, multi-page newsletters and reports, etc. Every once in a while I can get something to print, but probably 9 times out of 10, I get this error. It is causing me TONS of problems, so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jimoblak]

What errors do you see when you choose FILE>PREFLIGHT?

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[kradloff]

The only ! in the Preflight (in the document I am currently working on) says:

Links & Images: 3 Links found. 0 Modified. 0 Missing.
Images: 0 embedded. 2 use RGB color space.

 

[MarcusStringer]

Is your printer level2 compatable?

Marcus

http://www.midlandtypesetters.com.au

 

[kradloff]

I don't know. How do I find out?

 

[MarcusStringer]

There should be a specs page you can print from the printer which lists all the stuff for it like the IP address, postscript level etc etc. look at it's manual for instructions on how to print that page out.

Marcus

http://www.midlandtypesetters.com.au

 

[jimoblak]

Because your PDFs do not print, this may not be a postscript level issue. Acrobat can be very forgiving on the dumbest of PCL printers.

When exporting your PDF, choose the [screen] PDF profile. This should dumb down the PDF to the lowest possible version, requiring no special postcript printing. Test a print of that.

If that still does not print, focus on fonts that may be causing trouble. Try replacing all fonts with something basic like Arial. (Type Menu>Find Font)

If that still does not print, delete all graphics and then print.

Be certain that no transparency is being used. You can tell if a page has transparency somewhere on it if the page icon in the Pages palette has a grey checkerboard pattern.

Gradually dumb that document down until it prints. When you find out what was causing the trouble, we can offer solutions.

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?