Determining your printer's non-printable area

[ideasguy]

In designing templates for printing photos using GA049 in Ideas Genie Pro and Bonsai Genie, I tried to make the photo sizes as near as possible to the full size of the paper stock.

If you'd like to read the postings in this current and lively topic on printing 4 photographs from your IG and BonsaiG software, here the link:
http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/ideas/forum/index.php/topic,1064.0.html

In doing so, I found that I had to design to make sure I didn't attempt to print in the non-printable area of my printer.
(When I did, the printer truncated to its limitations.)

To allow me to make a decision on what borders to work to when designing the templates, I'd like your fedback on the non-printable areas on your printer.

Heres the instructions on how to determine the values associated with YOUR printer.
Its quite simple.

Open WORD then do the instructions on this web page:
http://www.miesoftware.com/Support/Articles/ols33.htm

Please report Printer Manufacture and model and the values for Top, Left, bottom and right.

[NightHawk]

My printer details George.

Canon PIXMA iP4300 Colour Inkjet.

Margins:

• Top:  3mm
• Bottom:  5.1mm
• Left:  3.4mm
• Right:  3.4mm

Laurie.

[ideasguy]

Thanks Laurie
The bottom setting is a bit bigger than expected

Ive now got this working to perfection on my printer, so it will be simple to offer a new template when we get more feedback.

Please note that, in additon to A4 for UK and Europe, I will also provide a x4 template for US sheet sizes (8.5 x 11ins)

[Eric Hardy]

George, my printer is a Canon PIXMA iP5200 Colour Inkjet

I have done a test in MS Word. When I set all the values at 0 it came back to say some items were outside the printable area and reset them to: -

Top 0.3 cm; Bottom 0.5 cm; Left 0.34 cm: Right 0.34 cm.

I can also print photos with no margins at all. My Canon printer came with a programme called Easy Photo Print. You can set the pages to print one, two, four or more photos on an A4 sheet with or without margins. They advise "no margins" should only be used with glossy photographic paper although I have used it succesfully using matte.

A single photo on A4 with no margins can look pretty stunning with this printer.

Eric H

[ideasguy]

Thanks for that info Eric.

I'm restricted to working to those default values which the printer provides.
Its probably safer as a general soultion for all IG users.

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Using a Canon IP4500 pixma

Top  3.0mm
Bot   5.1 mm
Left  3.4mm
Right 3.4mm

Malcolm

[Lyn and Malcolm]

And using an Epson Stylus C86

All measurements are 3mm

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

Thanks Malcolm
I'll update that template later this evening based on whats been reported so far, and amend later if there are any out of the ordinary reports from other members.

[roiphil]

Canon pixma mp220
margin millmimeters in portrait setup
left 10
Right 10
top 15
bottom 15
can alter margins to suit though have just altered to 5mm all round

just a thought does ig pro automatically use wordpad as its default programme to print

[ideasguy]

Try altering them all to zero, Phil, as per the web page, and see what happens

RE:

just a thought does ig pro automatically use wordpad as its default programme to print

Absolutely no. Its all contained within the software.

[roiphil]

altered all to zero clicked ok checked again still on zero, closed wordpad checked again still set as zero, is that good ??

[ideasguy]

That is indeed good, Phil.
Thanks for your prompt reply.

[bossgard]

Am I supposed to report here for US Letter Size, 8-1/2?x11??

EPSON STYLUS CX6000 3-in-1 (DuraBrite Inkjet):
T ? 0.12?
L ? 0.12?
B ? 0.12?
R ? 0.12?

EPSON STYLUS PHOTO R220:
(Same as Epson CX6000)

EPSON STYLUS COLOR 400:
T ? 0.12?
L ? 0.12?
B ? 0.55?
R ? 0.12?

HEWLETT/PACKARD DESKJET 600:
T ? 0.17?
L ? 0.25?
B ? 0.57?
R ? 0.25

(Weather here has been lousy, raining off and on. Am working to enlarge my vegetable garden, so have been pulling my roto-tiller around the plot today. Soil is probably too wet to work, but my plantings should be done now according to those in the know!!  The label testing is good, holding up in the rain real well, I?m very impressed with the label stock, both adhesive and the surface. Will order some more of the same label stock, and continue the testing into the summer. Have been on several hikes so far, last week end climbed Cougar Mountain. There was a ?cat? print in the trail, but my hiking buddy thinks it was a lynx. Have not transplanted the Chiltern seedlings outdoors yet.)

- Toby

[ideasguy]

Hi Toby! Great to hear from you and very pleased to note you are active as ever.
Keep up the good work!

When we get the Photos sorted out here, perhaps we can lure the "team" onto the labels program 
Malcolm is proposing to use GA049 for printing photos for display at sales points, so its the same kind of application as you and I have been working together, developing the Labels program GA048.

Yes, its US sizes I need from you, so what you have given is perfect, Toby.
Keep looking in to the forum, and give this GA049 program a try if the rain drives you indoors.

[bossgard]

Supposed to have sun shiny weather through this week-end. Lots of work to do in the gardens, the appearance of the sun sure would be nice!!

Malcom might want to take a look at the GA048 label program, and check out the Orion 311-54LC layout, we designed it to be signage for a retail location. Although we never did complete the layout, thinking that we might want it to be photo and all free text. The combination of photo and text perhaps would help with his sales! As I remember you had some other ideas for the layout, too!

I don?t think I ever mentioned it, but the new label stock I?m testing, is supposed to accept all inkjet type inks, not just the Epson DuraBrite. That is why I gave you all the printer?s information I have, thinking using all the printers would give the label stock a real good test regarding accepting other manufacturer?s inkjet inks.

- Toby

[NightHawk]

I don?t think I ever mentioned it, but the new label stock I?m testing, is supposed to accept all inkjet type inks, not just the Epson DuraBrite.
- Toby

That sounds like great news Toby.  Accepting Inkjet opens up the possibility of a much wider useage, and we await to see how further testing will progress.

I echo George and say it's great to have you back with us again.

It's nice to see you're keeping yourself fit at the same time. 

Laurie.

[roiphil]

That is indeed good, Phil.
Thanks for your prompt reply.

thank god for that thought i may have to go and talk to my goats again for a bit  ,

[ideasguy]

I think they should be honoured in some way for their incredible powers in making your computer work with that recent download on Vista.
Magic Goats?

[bossgard]

You asked me to take a look and work with GA049:

All five layouts seem to be working OK. I'm printing on US letter size, so if I was doing signage, I might want margin adjustments, etc.

Will be interesting to print them on the new label stock and see how they stand up in either an outdoor and/or retail setting.

The new label stock does reproduce photos with very good clarity and detail, better than anything I've seen from Avery.

- Toby

[ideasguy]

Thats great Toby.
As you may have read in the other topic, theres now two extra templates added to that 5 you have.
http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/ideas/forum/index.php/topic,1064.0.html

However, they are for A4 sheet size.
Now they are designed and have been reported to be producing a good result on a number of printers, I'll make up two new templates for the US sheet sizes (8.5ins x 11ins)

GA049 (Print Photos)  has similarities with GA048 (Print Labels) so once one is mastered the other should be a breeze 

[roiphil]

I am buying a kodak ESP5 tomorrow, so i will report back on that printer, why the cahnge of printer, ink for my canon sets me back 50 euro a time where as kodak in is only 22 euro a go

[bossgard]

George: I am running Version 7 on GA049 now, evidently with just the 5 templates and only A4 size. Since I am not really using the program at this moment other than testing, should I wait until you have the US templates completed for all templates and then download?

This Topic and the other on GA049 uses, has opened some new uses for GA048 for me. Will be interesting to follow through and do further testing with the new label stock. I will be potting up my Tuberous Begonias soon, which will open up some more challenges for GA048 & GA049 for us.

If anybody else can come up with challenges for both programs, since, as George indicates, they are quite similar, let us know.

- Toby

[ideasguy]

Wait until the US templates are done Toby, and get the latest version of the program available at that time.
I'll let you know.

[ideasguy]

Ive created two new templates for you Toby (and all US users of course) to print 4 photos.
The details are posted in the other topic whih focuses on GA049 (Print Photos program).
http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/ideas/forum/index.php?topic=1064.msg6419;topicseen#msg6419

[roiphil]

Got the new printer kodak esp5 and have determined printers non printable area as zero all round, by following instructions provided earlier, strangely enough this is the same as my other printer canon mp220