Aunt Annie's Crafts(tm) / Web Book Print FAQ

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Frequently Asked Questions
Printing Web Book Project Patterns

This FAQ tells how to print a project pattern from the most common Web browsers and some graphics programs, and addresses the most common problems. If you need help with printing from another Web browser or graphics program, please contact dot.ware for assistance.

Questions:

How is a project pattern printed from a specific Web browser or graphics program?
How do I convert .GIF files to PCX or BMP files to use with Paintbrush 3.1?
When I print the patterns, they are too small. Is there a way to enlarge them?
I have an older model HP LaserJet and all the patterns are printing to more than one page. Is there any way to fix this?
Help! I've tried everything you suggested and the patterns still won't print to the correct size from my web browser. What can I do?

Question: How is a project pattern printed from... ?

To print a pattern from Netscape Navigator:

Click on the GIF pattern link to view the pattern.

If you have version 2.0 or newer of Netscape, select Page Setup... from the File menu.

On a PC, set all the margins to 0 (zero).
On a Mac, set the Reduce/Enlarge percentage to a value smaller than 100% - 90%, 95%, etc.
Turn all headers and footers off.
Click OK.

Select Print... from File menu.

Check printer Properties or Setup for orientation (portrait) and paper size (letter or A4).

Click OK to print.

To print a pattern from Microsoft Internet Explorer:

Click on the GIF pattern link to view the pattern.
Select Page Setup... from the File menu. Set all the margins to 0 (zero) or the lowest values possible, set orientation (portrait), and set paper size (letter or A4). Turn off all headers and footers. Click OK
Select Print... from the File menu.
Click OK to print.

Note: If after doing as suggested the pattern almost fits on one page, you may find better success with Netscape Navigator.

To print a pattern from America On-line Browser (AOL):

There are at least 8 different versions of the AOL browser! If you have the most current version, see the tips for Microsoft Internet Explorer. (It is a customized version of MIE.) Please check with AOL support for printing from other versions of their browser.
Downloading a graphic (GIF) file to your local disk requires special procedures when using the AOL browser:
- You can tell a graphic file by its URL (address); graphics files end in file extensions such as GIF and JPG. Click on the file. It will download in a separate window, and the progress of the download will be tracked. To save the file to your hard disk, click on the Save As icon and select both a file name and folder for the graphics file.
  You can print the image by signing off AOL and opening the image. Print will be an option from the File menu.
- This is for Windows:
  Be sure that you have your WWW Preferences set to Uncompressed. You can tell a graphic file by its URL; graphics files end in file extensions such as GIF and JPG. Click on the link to the file. It will download into the browser window. To save the file to your hard disk, click on the Save As icon and select both a file name and folder for the graphics file.
  To print the document, go to the File Manager and open the image. It should open in an image-viewing application. You can print from this application.

To print a pattern from Mosaic:

Click on the GIF pattern link to view the pattern.
Select Print... from the File menu.
Click Setup to set orientation (portrait) and paper size (letter or A4).
Click OK to print.

To print a pattern from Lynx:

Download the pattern's GIF file.
Print it from a local graphics program.

To print a pattern from Windows Paintbrush:

Download the pattern's GIF file and use a file conversion program to create a PCX file form the GIF file.
Open the PCX file from the File menu.
From File menu select Page Setup, set all margins to zero.
From File menu select Print. Use default print settings (Quality:Proof, Window:Whole, Scaling:100%, do not check Use Printer Resolution).
Click OK to print.

To print a pattern from Paintshop Pro:

Download the pattern's GIF file.
Select Open from the File menu.
From the File menu select Page Setup, check Maintain Aspect Ratio.
Use Full Page, and Center on Page.
Print.

To print a pattern from Netcruiser:

Set "Load to Disk" option.
Click on the GIF pattern link to view the pattern. (The GIF will be saved to disk as you view it.)
Print from a local graphics program.

Note: If you forget to click "Load to Disk" and get the image on your screen, you can press the printscreen key to save it to the Windows Clipboard. From there you can paste it into your editor or viewer and trim out the extra Windows stuff.

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Question: How do I convert .GIF files to PCX or BMP files to use with Paintbrush 3.1?

You usually need to install a special file conversion utility to do this. Check Aunt Annie's Crafts Web site for a list of recommended utilities. However, if you are using Microsoft Explorer as your Web browser, do the following:

Display the GIF in your browser window

Click on it with the right mouse button

Select "Save Picture as... "

Save graphic as file type BMP

Before printing one of Aunt Annie's project patterns from Microsoft Paint, change the Page Margins to zero. You can do this from the File menu and the Page Setup option.

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Question: When I print the patterns, they are too small. Is there a way to enlarge them?

Web browsers running on Windows generally print images at 96 dpi (standard screen resolution) and on Mac's it's 92 dpi. Aunt Annie's patterns are sized to print to nearly a full page at 96 dpi. If you are using a Mac or have Windows setup to other than 96 dpi (large fonts are 120 dpi), the pattern will print small. If it is simply a matter of your Windows setup using large fonts, you can change to small fonts. Otherwise, you will need to use a graphics program for printing. (A graphics program will give you greater control over the print size.) Check Aunt Annie's Crafts Web site for a list of recommended graphics programs.

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Question: I have an older model HP LaserJet and all the patterns are printing to more than one page. Is there any way to fix this?

The only problem that is specific to older models of laser printers is too little memory. You will need at least 1Mb of memory to print the patterns. Some older laser printers only had 0.5Mb. Older HP's can be upgraded to more memory. Even with the upgrade pattern printing will take a long time, so patience is required.

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Question: Help! I've tried everything you suggested and the patterns still won't print to the correct size from my web browser. What can I do?

Most people print directly from their Web browser with no difficulties, but others find they must use a graphics package to print. This is because, with so many possible combinations of computer systems, Web browsers and printers, there's no one pattern size that will work on them all. The size picked for Aunt Annie's patterns (about 741 by 946 pixels) is the best compromise I could find that will print to a full page on most systems. Please feel free to contact dot.ware with your specific problem. Otherwise, all I can suggest to people that have printing problems from their Web browser is to switch to a graphics program for pattern printing.

Most graphics programs have an option like "Fit to Page" or "Print to Fit" that make it easy to print to one page. Check Aunt Annie's Crafts Web site for a list of recommended graphics programs.

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