PPT97: How To Print Shadowed Text to PCL Printers

ID: Q190324

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to print shadowed text to any of the following Windows 95 PCL printer drivers, you do not get the desired results:

   Hewlett-Packard LaserJet Series II and compatible printers
   Hewlett-Packard LaserJet Series III and compatible printers
   Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4 and compatible printers
   Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5 and compatible printers
   Okidata OL Laserjet Printers

CAUSE

In order to print shadowed text correctly, a printer driver must support printing text in shades of gray. The Windows 95 drivers for these printers do not support printing gray text. Earlier Windows 3.x versions of the LaserJet 4 printer drivers do print shadowed text properly. Although you can use these drivers to print in Windows 95, you may encounter other printing problems.

RESOLUTION

You can use one of the following methods to print the effect of shadowed text to LaserJet-type printers:

Method 1: Create the shadowed text using Microsoft WordArt

Method 2: Convert the shadowed text to a bitmap

1. Select the text box that contains the shadowed text.

2. On the Edit menu, click Copy.

3. Start Windows Paint.

4. In Paint, click Attributes on the Image menu. Change the

   Width and Height to 1. Click OK.

5. On the Edit menu, click Paste. Paint asks if you want

   to resize the image. Click Yes.

6. On the Edit menu, click Copy.

7. Switch back to PowerPoint.

8. On the Edit menu, click Paste.

This procedure pastes a bitmap picture of the shadowed text into your PowerPoint presentation. When you print the picture, it prints shadowed text as it appears on the screen.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem with Microsoft PCL Printer drivers for Windows 95.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q190094
   TITLE     : PPT97: Text Shadows Don't Print Properly to PCL Printers

   ARTICLE-ID: Q139689
   TITLE     : PUB: Gray Text Prints as Black to LaserJet 4 with Windows 95

Additional query words: shadow powerpt ppt powerpnt ppt8 ppt97 gray grey

Keywords          : kbprint
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: November 24, 1998