DOCUMENT:Q177576 07-SEP-2001 [winnt] TITLE :Color Printing Problems with Windows NT 4.0 PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:WinNT:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbprint ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you print in color under Windows NT 4.0, the color quality of the printed output may not have the same consistency as what is viewed on the screen. CAUSE ===== The use of a color management procedure is needed for colors to be kept consistent across hardware. Currently, Windows NT 4.0 does not have support for a color management technique known as image color matching (ICM). To give the impression of continuous tone, Windows NT uses a process called halftoning. The current version of Windows NT does not support halftoning on 24-bit (or higher) devices. MORE INFORMATION ================ The number of colors that a device can display ranges from almost none (monochrome devices) to virtually limitless (24-bit devices). About midway in this range is a class of output devices that can support full-color resolution (or near full-color resolution) but can concurrently display only a limited number of those colors. Despite differences in imaging technologies and color capabilities between devices, image color matching ensures that a color image will look the same, or as close as possible to the same, when output to screen, paper, film, and other media. Applications typically use image color matching to let users create color images on the screen that can then be reproduced exactly on a printer or on other screens. For more information on image color matching, please see the following documentation at these web locations: http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/devdes/icm.htm http://www.microsoft.com/windows/platform/icmwp.htm Halftoning is the process of grouping a number of adjacent pixel locations together to form a cell. Within that cell, appropriate colors are placed according to a defined algorithm, which the human eye integrates to produce the desired color. This is also called dithering. For more information, please see the following documentation at this web location: http://premium.microsoft.com/msdn/library/ddkdoc/ntddk/native/ddk/gg/src/ddioview_21.htm RESOLUTION ========== Use a monolithic printer driver from the printer manufacturer if available. A monolithic driver is a driver that does not use common routines that can be called from another file. The routines in the driver are written specifically for the device. These monolithic drivers optimally use the printer by sometimes using proprietary techniques only understood by that specific printer. Contact the printer manufacturer for more information on whether a monolithic driver is available for Windows NT and whether it will improve the quality of the printed output. STATUS ====== Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available. Additional query words: print quality third party ====================================================================== Keywords : kbprint Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 Version : WinNT:4.0 Hardware : ALPHA PPC x86 Issue type : kbbug ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.