Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

I print on long roll paper.  I've made a template, after finishing with one image I go back through the process of adding another and it covers the first one up.  I've tried it in Freehand, optimal and template mode. In optimal mode it spreads the images out.  I want to keep the placement the way I made the template.  What am I doing wrong?

I would like a few more facts. What printer? What size print?
Did you create a template and add stuff like text or "Photo by...."?
So far I cannot make anything go wrong.
I assume you are using Ultimate.

So I created a roll paper page of 12.5 wide by 21.0 long.
I created a print size of 20.0 x 12.0.
I loaded a template from the thumbs.
I went to the Full Page editor screen and added some Floating text so I know  am using my template.
I went back to the main screen and saved it using the "L" button for Layout.

Now I closed Qimage and made believe I was starting fresh.
I opened Qimage, and opened my saved template from the Print Properties/Custom menu.
I added one image to the template, then another, then another, and another, and each one is in a fresh template copy as proved by my Floating Text appearing in every image.

How are you doing it?

Fred

The size I'm using now is 16x70.  I printing a dance and made a template with 4 ws and 1-5x7.  I want it to stay a 8x10 size for packaging.  I do one with all the same image, I then go to custom and find my template click it and it covers the first one, I have freehand clicked.  I then do the same and have optimal clicked and it spreads all the images out.  I want it to work like the package printer in photoshop. 

No freehand!!  Save your template and load the template as I outlined in my previous post.
No Freehand mode. That's why one picture is going on top of the other.

Should work fine.

Fred

I don't need text on the images. 

I'm using different images each time.  They just cover up the first one.

The text was just a Proof method. I didn't mean to advise you to use text if you don't need it.

The images may appear to be replacing each other, but they are making page 2, page 3, etc. Look in the queue tab.

Fred

Yes, I noticed that it was making different pages.  How do I get it all on one?

I believe a "template" is page oriented. If you add photos that don't have an empty template space to fit on the current page, then the whole template is created on a new page, and then filled. So you need to fill your original template page with placeholders if you want the page to be filled before you go to the next page.

Jeff

What are place holders?

Johnny,
I need you to explain your print job sizes more clearly for me.
What is ws; wallet size?  So you want 4 wallets and one 5 x 7 inside of an 8 x 10 template?


The larger image is a 5 x 7 print with 4 wallets sitting inside of an 8 x 10 template.
I made "place holders" for the images in the requested sizes placed to fit on the 8 x 10 setup.

See snap.

Fred

Here's your same job without using special templates.
It takes about 4 mouse clicks per page to set this up. I can make page 2, page 3... etc...

Same thing..... one 5 x 7 and 4 wallets on 8 x 10...... on roll paper.

Fred the first one you have shown is the way I want it.  The problem is getting more from different images on the 16x70 paper. 

So then all you have to do is make your layout as large as you want.
I made two setups on my test page of 21" inches long. I saved that as my layout.
You can make three, four, whatever you like and save as your Layout.
You can probably put two side by side if you have enough width to the roll.

See snap

Fred

Is there anyone on here that is a volume photographer that is using this for printing more than one image at a time.  I've been told not to put in freehand, to put it freehand.  I'm to the point of giving up and looking for a program that can fill my needs. 

I realize you are frustrated, but Feehand is needed when you want to move images or templates (placeholders) around on the same page.
That speaks for itself. Free hand.


This was your first post.
You didn't give enough information for us to know what you were attempting to do. The reason why adding images to a page by dragging results in covering the previous image is due to freehand mode.
Take it out of freehand, and the prints will place themselves.  This I showed you in one of the screen snaps.
If you want to make a print go to the next page when there's still room for it on page one, Freehand also does that if you click the + to get the image into the queue. Free hand mode will cause it to go to Page two...

I think you might benefit from a look at HELP, CONTENTS, LEARN BY EXAMPLE, Example 9 and example 10.

Fred

Hi Johny,

The whole reason for qi is volume printing. However, it starts off as a steep learning curve, since the interface is different than you may expect, in particular if you come from, say. an adobe type background. Stick with it, but you need to be very specific in stating your problems. Fred has the patience of Job, but it helps if you can explain exactly what you are trying to do. Now you have mentioned a paper size of 16 by 70, before it was 16 by 10 template and roll paper, iirc. Maybe treating it as separate pages of 16 by 10 is the way to go.

You will learn by experimenting, and to save ink and paper in testing out the various methods, scale it all down when it comes to layouts - e.g template of a couple of images, say two by one, on a roll of paper six inches long/whatever. Once you've cracked it, you can save the job, as you know, so you need not think to much when you recall the job. I think you will search in vain to find a printing prog. as good as qi.

Best wishes,

Ray

Maybe the misunderstanding is between "paper size" and "page size". They are the same thing. So either you need to make several copies of your layout to fill the paper size, or reduce the paper size to fit your template. The page is what shows on the main page in the preview image. If it's not filled with your template, then that's the problem, I think. Remember, a template tells Qimage how to print a PAGE.
Be patient, no program that does as much as Qimage can be easy to learn. Better to pay someone to teach you how to use it than go to another program. Or Fred and Terry will give you all the help they can, and all it will cost you is a little patience.

Jeff

This is the template I made.  How do I get it all over the 16x70 size page I've set up?

Add more individual templates in the same arrangement until the page is full.
You can do this more quickly by selected ALL on the page preview, right click and select "add another copy of this image".

Alternatively, it looks as though you can get another set alongside the one you have to fill the roll width so there are 8 small prints and 2 large ones. Do that and reduce the page length so it is just big enough for the 10-print template template.

You can then add images and as each template is filled, another page will be created.
Terry.

Terry,  I select all and the full template is selected.  I right click "add another image" and one of the wallet images becomes unhighlighted and thats all that happens.  What am I doing wrong?

Johnny,
You are attempting to edit the loaded template, from Custom - Layout
Use Recall - Layout and then edit it, don't forget to save as a Layout again, clear the queue and then Custom - Layout to load the new one.
Terry

Just stacks and moves them aroung.

Sorry, I don't understand what you are saying.  >:(
If you mean image teplated are on top of each other, it sounds as though your are in Freehand placement mode; Compact mode id most appropriate from what I could see of your earlier attchment.
I know it works, I always test here before  suggesting anything  ::)
Terry

That works but it puts all wallets together and 5x7's together.  I want the template to stay as I made it.

Arrange them as you want in the Page editor. You can cut to clipboard and paste before or after to make it easy - right click menu in Page editor
Terry

Johnny,
One thing to always remember when working in the program is that it always remembers the last settings and steps you took while setting up a page. If you don't clear the page and start from scratch again when it doesn't work right. you will keep making the same mistake and go around in circles ::) ;)

 

Please see screen snap.
I set up on 17" wide roll paper with a user defined page of 17.01 x 11.50
Optimal Spaced placement

In freehand mode, I created two 8 x 10 templates side by side so you can take advantage of the wide roll.
On the 8 x 10 templates, I added a 5 x 7 and 4 wallets to each side.

Then I click FILE, SAVE, "L" button, name it, and SAVE.

Now, Simply set the size to 5 x 7... click on the thumb +, then move it on to your template. Do the same with your wallets at 2 x 3.

Now print

See snaps.
If this doesn't work for you, I will need a better explanation, as to what you want.

Fred

By now, you should have received the video I made for you.

Easy Peasy as Terry would say.

Fred

Fred, thank you so much for the video!  That goes above and beyond normal helping!

Johnny,
 Qimage, Mike Chaney,the forum, and the support team of the experienced users, ARE above and beyond any other product or software support I have ever dealt with.
You will come to really love this program once you get the hang of it !!!

Thanks Fred!!

Thanks for everyones help.  I just can't get it to do what I want.  I'm going to Direct Digital it seems to be set up more for volume.