background image printing solid gray

Here's a fun one -- I've got a georeferenced TIFF file with some linework drawn on top of it. When I print, either from paperspace or modelspace, to hardcopy, the image prints as a smooth area of light gray, with zero detail showing. The file _previews_ as expected, with the aerial looking like an aerial, but on paper it's just a smooth gray wash underneath the lines.

I used Rasterdesign to convert the TIF to a georeferenced PNG file, and had exactly the same result - good preview, lousy print.

Printing to PDF and then printing the PDF to paper works fine - I get a good looking preview, a good looking PDF, and a good looking hardcopy.

Ideas?

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Originally Posted by cadtag

Ideas?

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Yes, print to PDF first :-)

Obviously, when you print to a hardcopy printer, you're using some other driver (HP, Oce, Kip, etc.) than the PDF driver.
Can you try a different driver (even if you don't have the physical printer, print to file) and test it?

yes, used a canon with a PS driver, and an HP with pcl. same issue

but, printing to the _real_ hp plotter using hpgl works.

Paste image as OLE object then select image then go to properties. below under misc, change Plot quality to low or high graphics. Try it.

Harish

Georeferenced imagery, so OLE won't cut it.

Had the same issue in our office years ago. Went away with an upgraded printer, I think it was a memory issue. The plot file sent to the printer with aerials for a background were a lot smaller when converted to PDF.

Makes an even bigger difference with ArcMap GIS software, most users here don't even attempt to plot without outputting to PDF first.