Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage-u

v2017.106   Oct 28, 2016

Priority: Med

v2017.106 includes improvements and fixes related to the new intelligent printer settings feature.

See the new intelligent printer settings in action: http://youtu.be/Qt8DCIgw7L0

Mike

First of all, thanks Mike for all the  hard work.

I love this new printer set up, but to call it intelligent, scares me.  ;)

I make my QU open with the Settings screen rather than a blank Live View. I personally like to see that I have my ducks in a row with regard to Printer and all the accoutrements.
(Wow, where the heck did I get that word from?)
Now I flip to my extra large view screen to work on my images

See screen snaps. These are fixed region screen snaps so the size is the same.

As much as I love the new screens, they were really designed to make the initial use by a new Qimager easier to see and set what needs to be set.
No more double profiling!!

OK Guys and gals, enjoy.

New folks, ask anything you need a boost on.
Old time users,  :P ::) :D :)

Fred

Hello Mike,

We will get used to the changes I guess, it looks like an improvement on the GUI.

But my "Printer Setup Paper Size Sort" menu has been wiped from the features. I really like the paper sizes at name order.


Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
July 2016 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

Hello Mike
Please bring back a way to make paper size sort, in my workflow is impossible to work without it
thanks

What I found was that most people asked to bring back the order as-listed in the driver because that's how all other applications work.  For simplicity and compatibility with other apps (and the driver), I removed the sort option.  I'm not able to alter the driver and from the user feedback I've gotten, it's best to keep them both consistent so that both QU and the driver have the same listing/order.

Regards,
Mike

Mike
I'll have to downgrade to 2017,104.
I use more than 50 paper sizes, if no order I lose too much time searching.
I hope you get a way to sorting by name, there I am in the old version.

Best

Is there no sense of order in the driver?  Which printer?  Hard to believe the driver would put them in "random" order.

Mike

Is not a random order, it follows the order of creation, after months is impossible to find the size, so does the Epson 4900 and the Z3200
Best

Right, and in the Z3100/Z3200 driver (and probably way more wide formats) the custom made sizes come after the default sizes, A, B, 30x40 cm etc. So you first have to scroll down and then find the custom size you need at that moment. I guess users that have desktop printers using sheets are less inclined to create custom sizes and the OEM paper sizes list is also shorter for printers like that.

I have all my custom sizes starting with a 0" prefix so they end up at the top of all the sizes, if name sorting works. My custom sizes aim at the roll widths for economy so I have names like 0" 431xX, 0" 609xX, 0" 913xX, , 0" 1065xX, 0" 1117xX mm for respectively 17", 24", 36", 42", 44", roll widths, always 1mm less than the roll width to make sure the size falls within the size the printer measures when the roll is loaded. The paper sizes in the list group nicely to the roll widths. One wonders why HP and other roll printer manufacturers did not think about listing the custom sizes at the top and name sorted there.

A never used, 0" named, incredible big size gets at the top and prevented that Qimage was confronted with a too small default size after a size selection in driver.  Annoying when the images are already loaded and you get the adapt image size or print over multiple print pages menu. Used to be more an issue in the past. New size is delivered to Qimage in one step now. At the time more an HP driver issue I guess but the communication between QU and the driver has been improved one way or another.

Mike, I once asked for a feature to color the cutting marks and got it. The way it is implanted is too risky in my experience so I never use it. If you want to clean up the GUI you can drop that feature, if everybody agrees. I would use it if it was a preference permanent setting, the link to border color is too risky in my opinion.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
July 2016 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

Mike,

Going back to version 102 for the moment, 106 has an issue. If I want to Edit Image a copy of the main Qimage Ultimate window is opened behind the one I started from and not an Edit Image window on top of the main window. Windows 7 OS. Seems to be no problem in Windows 10 according Bernard but he called me for some other flaws;
The Dutch language driver of the Canon Pro 4000 44" does not work at all, the English drivers of the Canon iPF8400/8300 work but paper size changes made in Settings are not working. He is not so happy with the blocking of the Live View window when the Settings window opens, no instant feedback of the print page that way. He went back to 102 too.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
July 2016 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

Ernst,
Can you give me the steps you take to cause this anomaly?
I have one machine with Windows 7
Fred

Hello Fred,

Qimage 2017-106 installed on a Windows 7 system. Click twice on a thumbnail in an opened folder and what I described happens. The same with Ctrl F. The same when loaded on Live View. However to check it again I reinstalled QU 106 and now it works. Tried it with both 8 and 16 bit Tiff images, 8 bit JPEG, small and big. Kind of glitch in the install I guess. Will report if it comes back.


Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
July 2016 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

I'll try on m y wife's W 7 32 bit machine. It has one install of 106
Thanks for the help

Fred

Hello again Ernst,
After installing 106 on my wife's computer, I did get a mild anomaly issue with box overlapping. Nothing at all to do with the editor and thumbs. This was a size issue on a screen with a lower resolution setting and a smaller monitor. UI screen resolution set to 125%. I click on the PROPERTIES button and the two boxes open; the driver and the instructions.
There was overlap.
It wasn't windows 7 at fault, more the age of the monitor and the 1600 x 932 setting on a small screen, with 125% UI setting.
Mike has made the adjustment on that.

Fred

Fred, thank you,

It has not appeared again after several times switching between 102 aand 106.

Something else, if I click in Settings the Driver Settings Properties the windows appear slowly, takes more time than the removed printer driver setting icon on top did. I have no need for the big black window with instructions on what has to be done etc in the driver. Can that be switched off? I doubt that will increase the speed but nevertheless.

A typical workflow on my Z3200: Roll paper loaded, a paper size selected that covers the width of that roll, a longer size than needed as I can not estimate precisely what print page length I need for several images on the print page. Optimal nesting chosen, images loaded. Then I go to Edit (print) Page select the bottom image and see what paper white can be removed and then check which paper size with the same roll width can be used and with too much waste I create an extra paper size for that roll width. Then I select Optimal Space nesting as I like the little wasted paper to be between the images too for easier cutting, a 2mm strip to cut off gives a better edge than 0.5 mm will.

I know the Remove White Space at bottom page feature but that one does not work for the Z3200 PCL3 driver. The workflow sketched requires a lot of clicking through menus and if there is not a suitable paper size I also have to wait for the Driver Settings Properties menu to create a custom paper size.

Fastest way to solve some window hopping is by adding more position info (bottom distance at least) on the bottom image in the live view window, similar info as given in the Edit Page menu. I wonder whether the Settings menu could get more interactive choices for the printer driver like creating custom paper sizes there too.

Another addition in the Settings window could be interactive printer resolution settings which would also be educational for the processing choices as in V2017.106 it could confuse a newby in thinking that the Processing interpolation choices are setting the driver resolution.

If this is too much asked for then please bring back the printer driver icon on top as an extra entrance to the printer driver. There is space there and it is a faster way to more driver settings like; Gloss Enhancer choices, HP print preview on or off, etc. Or just for the time being till the settings window is interactive on 90% of the driver settings.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
July 2016 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

I am in agreement with Ernst here, and I work with multiple images on a roll in a similar way. I do not like hopping between Live View and Settings tabs. I prefer having most of my settings and the page layout (live view) on one page. I have also gone back to v102.

I love having the media size controls available outside of the driver. Next step: click-and-drag to set page length.

I like how the new Settings tab is arranged. A series of clear dropdowns that I can look through and check very quickly is great. But never close the page layout view to get to the settings! They are equally important: how is it placed on the page? & are my print settings correct?

I suggest that you make the new Settings tab permanent on the right hand side of the screen. There's a lot of dead space here (well, there is on my 16:10 widescreen). The page layout never expands to fill this space so put it to good use!

I cannot see what the problem is here, isn't it correct that once the printer etc. is set, there's no need to go back to Settings until, possibly, the next job?
You can see the settings when your mouse is hovered over the the blank area of a the page.
Or am I missing something in your work flow?
I have none when I'm using landscape pages (1920x1250 monitor) and Mike has to allow for smaller sizes too.
Terry

I don't know if you are aware that in Edit Preferences, you can select the tab you wish as a default.
Mine is set to SETTINGS and my QU opens to the SETTINGS screen. I select my printer setup, yellow icon, and that sets everything at once. Now I switch to the LIVE VIEW, and set up my image to print.
Easy
Fred

I hate to add my two cents worth here, but there is one other thing I noticed: when I changed printer profile, QU no longer asked me if I wished to restore all the settings I had the last time I use that profile.  If QU doesn't ask, is there some way to tell it to grab all of those settings?

Mel W.
Columbia, Md.

Sure save the printer setuo and give it a name. Recall when you want teh same settings.

I have some HP Advanced Glossy paper.
I made one setup for landscape 8 x 10, anotehr for Portrait 8 x 10.
I have Epson U*ltra luster in *.5 x 11, A3, and 13 x 19
I make setups for the sizes and orientations.

Fred

Terry, are you printing for customers on rolls with a wide format? I guess not. Today we do not know which of 20 paper types are needed tomorrow, how many images in different sizes are requested, with or without borders and how well they nest together on a specific roll width. The fastest way to do it is often by loading the largest images first, fill the gaps with smaller ones and then adjust the print paper size. Keep an eye on easy cutting afterwards too. You may return to settings because the roll width isn't ideal, you return to settings to shrink the length of the print page. Saving all the possible printer settings with 20 media types, 3 roll widths, auto cutter on or off, Gloss Enhancer on or off, is not really a good solution either. Half of those settings you never need anymore. For repeat jobs the recall function for a total job from the log file is then way easier, a search on the customer/folder name works fast enough. If a new job for the same customer has to be done with similar printing and processing the queue can then be emptied and loaded with new images in the manner already described. I wouldn't mind if that job recall also opened the customer's folder.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
July 2016 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

I get what you are saying, and the new layout is not a BAD workflow but my workflow often requires frequent changes in page size. Which is why I am really happy to see the size controls (and roll/sheet selection) moved out of the driver - a laborious multiclick route if ever there was one. I want it to go further and have these controls available all the time. If the space is available on screen then why put high priority information and controls on a hidden tab? Why have either layout or controls, when you can have both, at the same time?

See attached image. If the media controls were placed in the area I've circled I would be rather happy. But even this would not be as good as having a clear list of pulldowns, switches and text boxes in place on the right hand side of the screen.

Alternatively give me a single-button hotkey that switches between layout and settings at any time (what is the Print Queue? I have never used it). No mouse-fiddling, no CTRL-Tab that works only after clicking on the page layout space, just easy, instant switching.

I will probably get over my initial resistance to change sometime soon and start using the new setup, because, after thinking about it, it is better than diving into the driver menus to change page size. I hope my posts are taken as encouragement to take the new design even further and make it even more efficient.

Ernst & Stephen,
Thanks for explaining what you both do.
Correct, I normally use sheets but I have simulated what you do as my printer can use rolls.
I personally didn't find it particularly arduous to click the settings tab now and again to change the page size to suit the particular queue load. It seems to me the overall benefit of having a much larger page preview is worth it.
The use of tabs in modern software is now very common, from image editing to word processing, from desktop publishing to spreadsheets, all now use tabs in some way to access their various features and settings. So, for me it was a natural transition in QU   8)
There you are, "practice makes perfect"  ;). I'm sure Mike will continue to make improvements, you now see already media type and sizes can be sorted in v107.
Terry

Good morning all.

I would like to point out that not too long ago, maybe 2008 or 2009, Qimage had large size buttons; one was 8 x 10, another 2 x 3 and 11 x 14. Took up a lot of space, and Mike improved the use of that space by changing to a drop down size menu.
That was followed a year or two later by the Print Property box. (Still there and used when you click on a zebra button on a thumb, or hold the right mouse button down for an extra beat).

I recall vividly, the Hue and Cry, "I want my size buttons back".
All forgotten now with getting  to learn and get used to newer and better systems.

Now we have an easier access to the paper size in the driver or access to our saved printer setups.

We have a reminder Properties button that tells new and old users alike, "Hey you aren't set to print yet"
Driver not set yet!

Think of the new stuff like your car. Rear camera to prevent backing into a shopping cart.
GPS to help you get to the destination with less fuss and getting lost.

** Hey you guys and gals!
Where's my headlight dimmer switch.? It was over here to the left of my clutch pedal.
Dang! Where's my clutch pedal?

Fred
PS Did you find your paper size SORT button that Mike added for you?

The small square next to the paper size setting window. Good to have it back. Missed it initially, Mike likes to surprise us when a request is honored. It often is not in the list of upgrades (or downgrades). So I downloaded 107 and searched for features not mentioned, overlooked that small square though.

Can not recall that there has been a discussion on Icon sizes, I was not involved. On our adaption quality to new things, we embrace improvements of the user interface. But what looks like an improvement for all sometimes isn't. It has been a long time since I mingled here on changes to QU and that was not because so little was changed in time.
We embrace or adapt ... and sometimes comment. That there is an open forum with a developer listening is one of the many wonders of Qimage.

Driving a van sometimes in the UK. Put a rear camera at the right side of the van for driving there, add stickers on the headlamps. You adapt in one way or another but might question whether driving on the left side is sound when 70% of the world (and 90% of the EU) is driving at the other side. If Mike had to write GPS software and did neglect the fact that there are some Commonwealth oddities in driving then hell broke loose. See that niche of wide format users in the same perspective.


Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
July 2016 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

Thanks for your comments.  I like that idea!  Seems like pressing th Tab key would be a logical thing to toggle between the Live View/Settings tabs.  I'll see if I can make it work.  :)

When printing on roll paper, I often use a longer length than needed and then just remove the white space.  For example, on the Epson 9900 I commonly use 44x96 size, add a dozen or so prints usually ranging from 8x10 to 16x24, and then right click on the page and use the "Remove white space..." option to cut the page to the needed size.  Didn't know if you knew about/used that feature.

Mike

I use the remove white space option all the time. CTRL-W! Sometimes a complex layout gets messed up, though, and I have to rewind and set the larger paper space again.

Which leads me on to another wishlist feature: an undo history that allows me to step back predictably. Little pull-downs like in MS Excel. At the moment I'm scared of CTRL-Z. It sometimes steps back multiple actions to previous job, undoing lots of careful set up.

Hi, Mike. I believe I was the first to request the media size sorting feature last year and, as one who runs a commercial print service, it was A GREAT FEATURE. I print almost exclusively on roll stock and sorting forms by length in QU made my workflow much easier. I just upgraded from 2017.102 to 2017.110 and it was the FIRST FEATURE I went looking for. So I am quite disappointed that you removed it.

To answer your question elsewhere in this thread, I'm printing on HP Z-series and the default printer driver order is USELESS (it is sorted by creation date). Like some other users who have commented here, I have created a large family of custom forms. Wading through these in "driver default" order is a real PITA.

I really don't understand the justification. I thought your solution was brilliant because it did default to driver default order yet gave advanced users the option to sort by length or width. Who could possibly object to that? Besides, I use QU because it works better than "all other application!" Especially better than my printer driver.

So would it be at all possible to reconsider this decision and put the feature back?

Thanks so much.

Cheers!

Brad

The HP Z-series driver lists them in order the forms were created which I believe is the order that Windows keeps them (based on looking at the Print Server Properties | Forms dialog box). When you added the paper sort feature, it was a huge Woo-HOO! moment for me because the HP driver is so stupid about this. While this feature might not be such a big deal for a lot of users, I can tell you that it is a really BIG deal for some of us.

Besides, I thought your solution provided every available way of sorting the forms including driver default--who would argue with that?

Cheers!

Brad

Brad,

It is back, at least the alphabetical order choice in 109 and 110.
The small square next to the paper size setting window.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
November 2016 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

Thanks Ernst! It's an improvement and hopefully Mike will reconsider putting back the ability to sort by length.

In the meantime, there were so many other changes in the print settings part of the application, and I was so busy last week doing client jobs, I did not have the spare cycles to learn the new arrangement. I have reverted to 2017.102 and will await developments.

Cheers!

Brad