HP8500 and PICT files: a follow-up

On Friday we posted an item describing several user's problems printing PICT files and some JPEG files on Hewlett Packard HP 8500 printers. We have since heard from several other users whose experience differs with those we've previously reported.

Problem printing PICTs not universal Steven Rodoletz writes:

"I have an HP Color LaserJet 8500DN (Duplexing/Networked). I can and do print PICT and JPEG files with mine, by directly dragging the file's icon upon my desktop printer's icon or from within such an application as PhotoShop. It worked under PS 5.5 as well as continuing now under PhotoShop 6.0.1. Likewise 'Create Adobe PDF' also functions fully for me with this printer, as does Acrobat 5.

I have insured that I am using the updated drivers and software package for the CLJ8500, available freely at HP's site. I use Apple LaserWriter 8.7.1. My system is OS 9.1, 733 G4 SuperDrive, 1 GB of RAM. I have printed successfully on my machine and not had even one mechanical dilemma during the approximately two years since buying it new.

This is the first I hear or read of an inability to print PICT or JPEG files in the two years since the model was first introduced. I am in Boise, essentially the helpdesk world headquarters for the Color LaserJets. Others I know with the aforementioned model have never mentioned a difficulty or absolute inability to print any formats. I have been in unusually close contact with the 8500 engineers on non-related disability issues. Never have I heard of a 'known bug' of this description. During this writing I have again printed PICT and JPEG files to assure myself that the reported problem is not so universally known or experienced.

I hope this information may help others find a fix, and I wish the folks having difficulty a speedy remedy."

PDF superior as a source file? Matt Jones has some additional observations that seems to imply that printing to an 8500 just works better if the source is a PDF file instead of an application file. He writes:

"We have our 8500 connected to a Windows 2000 machine, which may be the ultimate cause in our situation. When printing natively from Photoshop or Illustrator etc. to our 8500, we notice a definite color shift. Pantone colors do not print correctly, nor do CMKY mixed colors. However, if we generate and print a PDF, the colors are correct."

Foreground/background a factor Another reader offers:

"I purchased an HP Laserjet 8500N in 1999. I love this printer and it does everything I ask of it, except printing some JPEG or PICT files. Upon contacting HP and playing around with the problem I finally figured out that I have to print, using the print dialog, in the foreground. Yes, HP is currently working on it, but after 2 years I have yet to see a resolution. Also, using PDF files to convert and print works, but it reduces the overall size of the actual document by 10-15%. Also, if you edit an image with Adobe PhotoDeluxe, the image will not print in the PDF format to the printer. You get a blank space where the photo was pasted in the document."

HP's PostScript emulation Jeffrey Tunison comments on HP's PostScript implementation in general, at least with respect to laser models. He writes:

"Our mixed Mac, UNIX and Windows environment has clearly demonstrated that HP made a major mistake by offering only PostScript emulation on many (all?) of their laser printers in the last 3 or 4 years. The HP LaserJet 5M's we bought in 1996 with PostScript SIMMS have never had the flotilla of problems we have with our HP LJ 4000's and 5000."

Update: Gann Matsuda counters: "I have three HP LaserJet 4000N's and one HP LaserJet 4050N (both of which handle PostScript as well as PCL5/PCL6), and have had no problems whatsoever."