Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

I have been using Qimage with a Canon ipf5100 17" printer for 2-3 years, but only with sheet paper.  Now I have started using 17" rolls.  I print very little, and a variety of sizes.  I would like to be able to tell it to just print the length of paper required for the pictures and then cut it off.

At present I have to specify a custom page size such as 17" x 8"  in QI before I start printing, otherwise it shoots out a 17X22 sheet with most of it wasted.  Is there any way for QI to automatically size the length of the paper to the pictures?

For some of their other printers Canon provide a Photoshop Plugin which lets you specify to leave no space above or below, which would achieve roughly what I want.  However, that is not yet available for my printer in Win7/64.

Qimage has the ability to make a print size based on you supplying *one* size of one side of the print. You will find that located in CUSTOM, Special Sizes, second item down.
Unless I misunderstand your question, that's not what you need.
You seem to need a way to make the driver know what size paper you are using.
You simply set the USER DEFINED page size in your driver, for 17 x 8.50, and let it print that size.
You can save that Printer setup in Qimage by clicking on FILE, SAVE, click the "P" button, and give your save a unique name; like, 17 x8 roll paper glossy.

Next time you want to make same size prints, just Click FILE, RECALL, "P" button, and select the 17 x 8 roll paper glossy, and all will be done for you.
You can make as many of these saved setups as you wish for various sizes.

Fred

Fred, Thank you for your fast reply.

What I would really like to see is that Qimage, knowing I am using 17" roll paper, arrange the mix of prints in the width to minimize the length of paper needed, and send a page of minimum size to cover them all to the printer.

The printer would then cut the paper at that length.

I Can work around it for now by specifying a custom size each time I print.
Engbert

Unfortunately for us all, the paper size is the job of the driver.
Once you have that selected, Qimage will sort the prints to use the allotted space of the page size you describe.

You should also try a few print placement settings, like Optimal Spaced, or Compact. There is also a SORT PRINTS menu iterm located in the RMB drop down menu when you Right click on the preview panel, upper right.

Fred

I think that by saving and recalling job settings you could have some various page sizes, 17x12 - 17x18 -17x24 etc, and just recall them. I believe it then give you the option of resetting the driver automatically. So all you have to do is recall that job, pick the sizes of the pictures you want to print and the printer will cut at 12-18-or 24 and so on. I use the ipf6300 and I never know how many prints I want on the roll so I just make the custom size in the print driver each time. Doesn't seem to take too long and I can check my paper types, etc.

This is a print driver setting in the Canon printer properties control box.

See the attached file.

Tom

The new Qimage Ultimate now has this smart sizing built in. You just set the length of you page to any sufficient size, and after you put put print order into the queue, Right click on teh preview panel and click on, REMOVE WHITE SPACE AT BOTTOM OF PAGE.
Qimage will calculate the space needed based on the prints you have queued, and cut the end of the print about an inch beyond the last printed edge.
Pretty neat!

Fred

The good thing about using the Canon setting is that (1) It is adjustable (2) It does not waste an inch of paper and (3) It doesn't matter what print size you pick.

Tom