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diff --git a/doc/users_guide/gimp.sgml b/doc/users_guide/gimp.sgml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..75eb803 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/users_guide/gimp.sgml @@ -0,0 +1,898 @@ + + <chapter id="ch-gimp-and-gimp-print"><title>GIMP and Gimp-Print</title> + + <sect1> + <title>Running the GIMP</title> + <para> + This section assumes that you have the GIMP version 1.2 installed +and working properly on your computer, and that you have an image of +some type that you desire to print. To get started quickly, log into +your system, start the X window system, and bring up your favorite terminal +window. At the $ prompt, type: + + <programlisting> + <![ CDATA [ + $ gimp & + ]]> + </programlisting> + + This should start the GIMP for you. If it does not, check that +you have installed the GIMP properly, and that its binary is located +in one of the directories listed in your $PATH environment +variable. On the assumption that this worked, the screen should now +look something like this: + + <figure><title>The Startup Window for The GIMP</title> + <mediaobject> + <imageobject> + <imagedata fileref="figures/gimp_startup.png" FORMAT="PNG"> + </imageobject> + <textobject> + <phrase>Startup window for The GIMP</phrase> + </textobject> + </mediaobject> + </figure> + + </para> + <para> + At this point, you should use the + + <menuchoice> + <guimenu>File</guimenu> + <guimenuitem>Open</guimenuitem> + </menuchoice> + +menu option to open your favorite picture. We will print this picture +shortly. Your picture should be displayed next to the GIMP startup +window, perhaps looking similar to the following (sssh! Don't tell +anybody the secret!): + + <figure><title>A Sample Image Displayed by The GIMP</title> + <mediaobject> + <imageobject> + <imagedata scale="50" fileref="figures/gimp_image.png" FORMAT="PNG"> + </imageobject> + <textobject> + <phrase>A Sample Image displayed by The Gimp</phrase> + </textobject> + </mediaobject> + </figure> + + </para> + + </sect1> + + <sect1><title>The Gimp-Print Graphical User Interface</title> + <para> + Now that the GIMP is displaying your picture, put your mouse over +the picture and click the right mouse button. A menu will appear. +Choose the + <menuchoice> + <guimenu>File</guimenu> + <guimenuitem>Print</guimenuitem> + </menuchoice> +menu option. This will cause the Gimp-Print GUI window to appear (see +<xref linkend="fig-gimp-print-gui">). Move the mouse cursor +over the various parts of the Gimp-Print GUI window, and notice that +if you leave your mouse in one place for a short time without clicking +any buttons, a small box appears. This box contains helpful text. +These small boxes are called "tooltips" and are intended to remind you +about the function of each part of the graphical interface. + </para> + <para> +The next several sections will continuously refer to +<xref linkend="fig-gimp-print-gui"> and +<xref linkend="fig-gimp-print-gui-1">. The difference between +the two figures can be seen in the top right corner of the window. +Notice that there are two tabs, one which reads +<guilabel>Printer Settings</guilabel> and another which reads +<guilabel>Image/Output Settings</guilabel>. Notice also that the +window is divided into several major sections which directly map to +the major sections of this document: + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para><link linkend="sec-preview">Preview</link></para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para><link linkend="sec-printer-settings">Printer Settings</link></para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para><link linkend="sec-printer-settings">Image/Output Settings</link></para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para><link linkend="sec-position">Position</link></para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para><link linkend="sec-scaling">Size</link></para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para><link linkend="sec-printing-and-saving-settings">Printing and Saving Settings</link></para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </para> + + <figure id="fig-gimp-print-gui"><title>The Gimp-Print Graphical User Interface 1 (GUI)</title> + <mediaobject> + <imageobject> + <imagedata scale="40" fileref="figures/gimp-print-gui.png" FORMAT="PNG"> + </imageobject> + <textobject> + <phrase>The GIMP Print GUI showing printer settings</phrase> + </textobject> + </mediaobject> + </figure> + + <figure id="fig-gimp-print-gui-1"><title>The Gimp-Print Graphical User Interface 2 (GUI)</title> + <mediaobject> + <imageobject> + <imagedata scale="40" fileref="figures/gimp-print-gui-1.png" FORMAT="PNG"> + </imageobject> + <textobject> + <phrase>The GIMP Print GUI showing image/output settings</phrase> + </textobject> + </mediaobject> + </figure> + + <sect2><title id="sec-printer-settings">Printer Settings</title> + <indexterm id="idx-printer-settings"><primary>Printer Settings</primary></indexterm> + + <sect3><title>Printer</title> + <para> + Click on the <guilabel>Printer Settings</guilabel> tab near the +top right hand corner of the window (see +<xref linkend="fig-gimp-print-gui">). Then, click on the downward +facing arrow to the right of the <guilabel>Printer</guilabel> combo +box to see a list of the system printer queues. Select the queue to which +you would like the printed image to be sent. One may also print the +image directly to a file by selecting <guimenuitem>File</guimenuitem>. +In this event, the user will be prompted for the filename when either the +<guibutton>Print</guibutton> button or the <guibutton>Print and Save +Settings</guibutton> button is clicked. + </para> + <para> +When either the <guibutton>Print and Save Settings</guibutton> button +or the <guibutton>Save Settings</guibutton> button is clicked, +the settings are saved in a file called +<filename>~/.gimp-1.2/printrc</filename>. The user is cautioned about +hand editing this file since it is generated by Gimp-Print (although +it was the only way that the author found for removing bogus entries +created while playing with the <guibutton>New Printer</guibutton> button). + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Setup Printer</title> + <para> + Before any useful printing can occur, the user needs to associate +the named printer with the +actual make and model of the printer. Click the +<guibutton>Setup Printer</guibutton> button in +the <guilabel>Printer</guilabel> section of the window (the upper +right, and just below the Printer display box). When this is done, the +following window appears: + + <figure><title>The Setup Printer Window</title> + <mediaobject> + <imageobject> + <imagedata scale="60" fileref="figures/gimp-print-setup.png" FORMAT="PNG"> + </imageobject> + <textobject> + <phrase>The Setup Printer Window</phrase> + </textobject> + </mediaobject> + </figure> + </para> + + <para> + Scroll through the Printer Model section of the window until you +find a printer which matches yours. If you cannot find the precise +model, pick something close and hope for the best. There are selections +for a wide array of Postscript, inkjet, and laser printers. After you +have selected a printer, you will see the printer command displayed. + </para> + <para> +The Gimp-Print software does all of the necessary conversion of the +image to be printed into the language of your printer. It is +unnecessary and undesirable for any other sofware to manipulate this +data. (This is why the command contains the "-l" switch or the "-o +raw" switch). Please use care if you feel the need to edit this +command. Once you are satisfied with your selection, click the +<guibutton>OK</guibutton> button. + </para> + + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>New Printer</title> + + <para> + In the previous sections, the user selected an existing printer +queue and associated a particular type of printer to that queue. For +most cases, this is probably all that is required. However, some +situations might require more detailed control over the handling of +the printer data. + </para> + <para> + Click the <guibutton>New Printer</guibutton> button to tell the +software that you wish to create a new name. In this case, the new +name may actually be an existing printer with different settings that +you wish to save, or it may simply be a name associated with a +particular command for handling the printer data. A window will +appear thus: + + <figure><title>The New Printer Window</title> + <mediaobject> + <imageobject> + <imagedata fileref="figures/gimp-print-new-printer.png" FORMAT="PNG"> + </imageobject> + <textobject> + <phrase>The New Printer Window</phrase> + </textobject> + </mediaobject> + </figure> + + Type a name into the window and click <guibutton>OK</guibutton> +(or <guibutton>Cancel</guibutton> if you wish not to do this). +Notice that the new name now appears as the selected <guilabel>Printer</guilabel>. +As you change settings in the rest of the Gimp-Print GUI, they will be +associated with this printer name. When the settings are saved, +they can be recovered easily by simply selecting this named printer +from the Printer combo box. + </para> + <para> + One example where this feature might be used is as follows. The +author frequently prints photos on Epson 4x6 photo paper. Note that +this paper is physically larger than 4x6 and it has perforations on +all four sides. The author dislikes printing part of the image on the +perforated parts of the paper which will be removed after +printing the photo. By selecting the proper scaling percentage, +printing can be constrained to the 4x6 part of the paper which will +remain after the perforated sections are removed. The author has +saved this setting using this feature of the Gimp-Print software. + </para> + + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Media Size</title> + <para> + The term <emphasis>media</emphasis> refers to paper, card stock, +envelopes, or whatever you have put into your printer onto which +something will be printed. Click the arrow to the right of the +<guilabel>Media Size</guilabel> box to see a long list of different +sizes of media. Choose the size that matches the media which you have +loaded into your printer. Once you have made your choice, the drop +down menu will disappear, and your choice will be shown in the +<guilabel>Media Size</guilabel> box. The available paper sizes will +vary depending upon the printer model you have selected. + </para> + <para> + Some printers support arbitrary (within limits!) paper sizes. + These printers will let you select <emphasis>Custom</emphasis> + or <emphasis>Roll</emphasis> paper sizes. When you select such a + printer, one or both of the <guilabel>Dimensions</guilabel> boxes + will let you enter your paper size (in inches or centimetres). The + boxes will not let you enter sizes that your printer cannot handle. + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Media Type</title> + <para> + The type of media onto which your image will be printed should be +selected here. Click on the arrow to the right of the <guilabel>Media +Type</guilabel> box to see a long list of the different types of media +onto which you may print your image. Media types include such things +as plain paper, postcards, photo quality paper, transparencies, and +more! Once you have made your choice, the drop down menu will +disappear, and your choice will be shown in the <guilabel>Media +Type</guilabel> box. The choices available will vary depending upon +the printer model you have selected. + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Media Source</title> + <para> + The <guilabel>Media Source</guilabel> box allows the user to + choose the paper source, sometimes called <emphasis>Input + Slot</emphasis>, that the paper will be fed from. Many printers + only have one available input source (such as the standard paper + tray), in which case this entry will be grayed out. If your printer + does support multiple input sources, you may specify the source of + your choice here. Some Epson printers offer a roll feed option in + addition to the standard paper tray, and many HP LaserJet printers + have multiple paper trays. + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Ink Type</title> + <para> + Some printers offer a choice of different types of ink or ink + cartridges. Many Canon and Lexmark printers support various + combinations of cartridges, such as black only, black and color, + photo color, and so forth. Most Epson printers let you choose + between three and four color printing (three color uses only color + ink, while four color uses black ink as well). Epson printers that + support six color photo printing allow you to choose five and six + color printing as well. + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Resolution</title> + <para> + Click on the arrow to the right of the +<guilabel>Resolution</guilabel> box to see a long list of resolutions +at which you can print your image. The list is written with the +lowest resolution at the top, with increasing resolution (and +generally improved printing quality) as you approach the bottom of the +list. Different printers support different resolution options, and +many printers support different quality choices using the same basic +resolution. In this menu are a few terms which may be unfamiliar to +you, and they will now be explained. + </para> + <sect4><title>DPI</title> + <para> + DPI is an acronym which stands for <emphasis>D</emphasis>ots +<emphasis>P</emphasis>er <emphasis>I</emphasis>nch. This term refers +to the number of dots that your printer will print in a space of one +inch (approximately 2.54 cm). This is highly dependent upon the +capability of your printer. Resolutions below 300 DPI are +used for draft quality. For general purpose printing, select +300 - 360 DPI. Higher quality printing can be achieved by +selecting 600 - 720 DPI. Settings higher than this are used for the +highest possible quality for printing photographs and other high +quality graphics. Experiment with your printer and these settings +with different types of graphics and photographs to see what +results you can obtain with your printer. High resolutions (large +numbers of dots per inch) require substantial image processing time, +and the print files can be very large; it's not uncommon for a full +page, 1440x720 DPI image to require 100 MB of temporary storage! + </para> + </sect4> + <sect4><title>Draft or Fast Economy Draft</title> + <para> + When this text appears next to the resolution, it refers to the +fact that the quality will be relatively low, but suitable for rough +drafts. Draft quality is higher than fast economy draft. These +options will give you the fastest printing speed. Economy Draft uses +less ink, and as a result the image will be pale. These modes are +generally not very useful for printing photographs. + </para> + </sect4> + + <sect4><title>Unidirectional</title> + <para> + When printing an image, you have probably noticed the print +head inside the printer moving back and forth across the print media. +Many printers are capable of putting ink on the page regardless of +which direction the print head is moving. However, quality can +sometimes be improved by only putting ink on the page when the printer +head is moving in one direction. The +<guimenuitem>Unidirectional</guimenuitem> setting instructs the +software to only place ink on the page when the print head is moving +one way. When the print head returns, it will not place ink on the +page. On many printers, the print quality is better, at the expense +of printing speed. + </para> + </sect4> + <sect4><title>High(est) Quality</title> + <para> + With lower quality print modes, one may see an effect where +the printed image looks like it has rows of stripes with a small +separation between the stripes. This effect is called "banding" and +is undesirable. In the <emphasis>high</emphasis> and +<emphasis>highest</emphasis> quality modes, the printer will make more +passes over the same part of the page in order to improve quality and +(reduce or) eliminate banding. This requires more temporary disk +space and prints more slowly, but does not require significantly more +processing time. + </para> + </sect4> + <sect4><title>Interleave</title> + <para> + Certain Epson printers (older models mostly) support a printing + mode called <emphasis>Interleave</emphasis>. This mode uses + special software within the printer to improve the print quality. + Interleave print modes will usually produce better quality + output than non-Interleave modes, with only a small performance + penalty. If Interleave is not listed at your chosen + resolution, fear not. In those cases, the non-Interleave print + modes offer similar printing quality improvements. + </para> + </sect4> + <sect4><title>DMT</title> + <para> + DMT is an acronym which stands for <emphasis>D</emphasis>ot + <emphasis>M</emphasis>odulation + <emphasis>T</emphasis>echnology. + This term refers to a print mode used by certain Canon printers + to improve the quality of the printed output. Unfortunately, + at this time, all of the available DMT modes do not work + correctly. The cases which do work correctly will offer + significantly improved printing quality. + </para> + </sect4> + </sect3> + </sect2> + + <sect2><title id="sec-preview">Preview</title> + <para> + Notice in the upper left of the window is a preview of your image. +This preview is a representation of where your picture will print on +the selected media, and approximately what it will look like. This +preview will be updated as you modify selections in the +<guilabel>Position</guilabel>, <guilabel>Size</guilabel>, +<guilabel>Media Size</guilabel>, and <guilabel>Output Type</guilabel> +portions of the window. You may also select the image with your mouse +and move it manually if you wish. In doing so, you will note that the +<guilabel>Position</guilabel> settings are updated accordingly. Take +note of the arrow, which points toward the top of the media, where top +is the first part of the media to enter the printer. + </para> + <para> + The preview may be moved around the page as follows: + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem><para> Clicking and dragging the <emphasis>left</emphasis> + (primary) mouse button moves the image around the page as you would + expect; the image moves with the mouse. </para></listitem> + <listitem><para> Clicking and dragging the + <emphasis>middle</emphasis> mouse button moves the image around the + page in a finer fashion, such that each pixel of mouse movement + moves the image by one point (1/72 inch). This allows very fine + placement of the image on the page. </para></listitem> + <listitem><para> Clicking and dragging the + <emphasis>right</emphasis> (secondary) mouse button moves the image + around the page much the same as with the left button, but the image + will only move in units of the image size. Thus, if the image is + one inch wide and two inches tall, the image will not move at all + until you have moved the mouse far enough so that the image would be + moved one inch vertically and two inches horizontally. This is + handy if you wish to print multiple images of the same size on one + piece of paper.</para></listitem> + <listitem><para> If you hold down the <emphasis>shift</emphasis> key + on the keyboard when you click and drag the mouse, the image will + only move in the horizontal or vertical direction (depending upon + which way you first move the mouse). This allows you to constrain + motion to the horizontal or vertical. </para></listitem> + <listitem><para> If you click another button while dragging the + mouse, the image will immediately return to the position it was in + before you clicked the mouse the first time. This allows you to + not move the image if you have started moving it and have decided + that you don't want to move it. The preview will not respond to the + mouse until you release all of the mouse buttons and click and drag + afresh. </para></listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </sect2> + + <sect2><title id="sec-position">Position</title> + + <sect3><title>Orientation</title> + <para> + The Orientation menu allows the user to choose the orientation +of the paper. The menu selections are +<guimenuitem>Auto</guimenuitem>, <guimenuitem>Portrait</guimenuitem>, +<guimenuitem>Landscape</guimenuitem>, <guimenuitem>Upside +down</guimenuitem>, and <guimenuitem>Seascape</guimenuitem>. Click on +the rectangular tab to see these choices +and make your selection. When you have done so, the pulldown menu +will have disappeared, and your choice will appear. Also, note that +the preview image will have changed accordingly. + </para> + <para> + When set to <guimenuitem>Auto</guimenuitem>, the software will make an +intelligent choice of orientation based on the dimensions of the image +to be printed. <guimenuitem>Portrait</guimenuitem> orients the print media +with the longest edge going from top to bottom, while +<guimenuitem>Landscape</guimenuitem> orients the paper with the longest edge +going from side to side. <guimenuitem>Upside down</guimenuitem> and +<guimenuitem>Seascape</guimenuitem> orient the paper the same as +<guimenuitem>Portrait</guimenuitem> and <guimenuitem>Landscape</guimenuitem> +respectively, with the difference being that the image is rotated 180 degrees. + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Automatic Centering</title> + <para> + There are three buttons that deal with centering an image. The +leftmost button is the <guibutton>Vertically</guibutton> button, the +middle button is the <guibutton>Both</guibutton> button, and +the rightmost button is the <guibutton>Horizontally</guibutton> +button. Use the <guibutton>Both</guibutton> button to center your +image both horizontally and vertically. This will cause the top and +bottom borders to be equal, and the left and right borders to be +equal. If you have placed your image manually by using the mouse +button, then you may center the image in the horizontal direction only +by clicking on the <guibutton>Horizontally</guibutton> button. +Likewise, to adjust the image only in the vertical direction, click on +the <guibutton>Vertically</guibutton> button. Note that in +each case, the image is centered with regard to the edges of the +media, and without regard to the printable portion of the media. Many +printers are incapable of printing to each edge of the media. Some +media may have edges which detach. Consult your printer documentation +for more details regarding your printer's capabilities in this regard. + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Manual Settings</title> + <para> + You will notice that there are six boxes that contain numbers +just below the Orientation menu and just above the GUI buttons related +to centering an image. When you move the preview image manually with +the mouse, or when you click on one of the centering buttons, the +preview image moves and these six boxes get updated. + </para> + <sect4><title>Left</title> + <para> + The number appearing in the <guimenuitem>Left</guimenuitem> box denotes +the number of units (cm or inches) that the left side of the image +will be printed away from the left edge of the media. You may select +the units by clicking the <guibutton>Inch</guibutton> or +<guibutton>cm</guibutton> buttons in the <guilabel>Units</guilabel> section just below +these GUI boxes. + </para> + </sect4> + <sect4><title>Right</title> + <para> + The number appearing in the <guimenuitem>Right</guimenuitem> box denotes +the number of units (cm or inches) that the right side of the image +will be printed away from the left edge of the media. You may select +the units by clicking the <guibutton>Inch</guibutton> or +<guibutton>cm</guibutton> buttons in the <guilabel>Units</guilabel> section just below +these GUI boxes. + </para> + </sect4> + <sect4><title>Right Border</title> + <para> + The number appearing in the <guimenuitem>Right Border</guimenuitem> box denotes +the number of units (cm or inches) that the right side of the image +will be printed away from the right edge of the media. You may select +the units by clicking the <guibutton>Inch</guibutton> or +<guibutton>cm</guibutton> buttons in the <guilabel>Units</guilabel> section just below +these GUI boxes. + </para> + </sect4> + <sect4><title>Top</title> + <para> + The number appearing in the <guimenuitem>Top</guimenuitem> box denotes +the number of units (cm or inches) that the top side of the image +will be printed away from the top edge of the media. You may select +the units by clicking the <guibutton>Inch</guibutton> or +<guibutton>cm</guibutton> buttons in the <guilabel>Units</guilabel> section just below +these GUI boxes. + </para> + </sect4> + <sect4><title>Bottom</title> + <para> + The number appearing in the <guimenuitem>Bottom</guimenuitem> box denotes +the number of units (cm or inches) that the bottom side of the image +will be printed away from the top edge of the media. You may select +the units by clicking the <guibutton>Inch</guibutton> or +<guibutton>cm</guibutton> buttons in the <guilabel>Units</guilabel> section just below +these GUI boxes. + </para> + </sect4> + + <sect4><title>Bottom Border</title> + <para> + The number appearing in the <guimenuitem>Bottom Border</guimenuitem> box denotes +the number of units (cm or inches) that the bottom side of the image +will be printed away from the bottom edge of the media. You may select +the units by clicking the <guibutton>Inch</guibutton> or +<guibutton>cm</guibutton> buttons in the <guilabel>Units</guilabel> section just below +these GUI boxes. + </para> + </sect4> + + </sect3> + + </sect2> + + <sect2><title id="sec-scaling">Size</title> + + <sect3><title>Slider Bar and Spin Box</title> + <para> + The slider bar can be moved as desired by the user. Notice +that while sliding this bar, the preview image changes accordingly. +One will also note that several boxes in the Gimp-Print GUI change values when this bar is moved. +These boxes are the six position boxes (left, right, right border, +top, bottom, bottom border), the two size boxes (width and height), +and the spin box to the right of the slider bar. + </para> + <para> + This slider bar is used to scale the image to a desirable size, but the same effect can +be obtained by either clicking an arrow on the spin box to the right of this +slider bar, or by manually typing a number into this spin box. Notice +that by setting the spin box in this way, the slider bar is also +moved. All of the described methods will cause the image to be +scaled accordingly. + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Scale by Percent or PPI</title> + <para> + One may choose to scale the image by a percentage, or by PPI, +which means "<emphasis>p</emphasis>ixels <emphasis>p</emphasis>er +<emphasis>i</emphasis>nch". Click the radio button +next to the word to set the desired scaling factor. + </para> + <para> + When scaling by a percentage, the number reflected in the spin +box next to the slider bar represents the percentage relative +to the full size of the selected print medium. For example, with this spin box +set to 50, the image will be scaled to 50% of the size of the print +medium. When set to 100, the image will attempt to fill the print +medium, within the constraints of maintaining the proper aspect ratio +and the margins of the selected print medium. This effect can be seen +in the preview window. + </para> + <para> + When scaling by PPI, the number reflected in the spin box next to +the slider bar represents the number of pixels that will be +printed per inch. For example, if the user is printing a 640x480 +image at a size of 6.4x4.8 inches (as measured by the size boxes), the +image will be printed at 100 DPI. + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Use Original Image Size</title> + <para> + By clicking this button, the image will be scaled to as close +to the native size of the image as possible. This effect can +immediately be seen in the preview image. + </para> + <para> + The native image size may be found or set in the GIMP by + selecting <guimenuitem>Image/Scale Image</guimenuitem> in the + GIMP. Under the <guilabel>Print Size and Display Unit</guilabel> + group in the <guilabel>Scale Image</guilabel> dialog, you can + determine (or change) the width and height of the image, or + choose the resolution. + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Width and Height</title> + <para> + These boxes show the size of the printed image in either inches +or centimeters (depending on which unit is selected). The user may +choose to manually modify these values. When one value is modified, +the other value is automatically modified in order to maintain the +aspect ratio (the ratio of width to height). This effect can be +immediately seen in the preview image. + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Units</title> + <para> + The units can be set to inches or centimeters by clicking the appropriate +radio button next to the desired unit. This setting effects the +values printed in the six position boxes (left, right, right border, +top, bottom, bottom border) and the two size boxes (width and height). + </para> + </sect3> + + </sect2> + + <sect2><title id="sec-image-settings">Image/Output Settings</title> + <para> + By clicking on the tab labeled <guilabel>Image/Output +Settings</guilabel>, the Gimp-Print window will appear as shown in +<xref linkend="fig-gimp-print-gui-1">. Notice that there are +two sections to this portion of the window, namely, +<guilabel>Image Type</guilabel> and +<guilabel>Output Type</guilabel>. + + </para> + + <sect3><title>Image Type</title> + + <sect4><title>Line Art</title> + <para> + This setting tells the printer driver to generate color +quickly. The color is bold and bright, but color accuracy is not very +good. There may also be some unexpectedly sharp transitions in +colors. This mode is acceptable for printing text with small amounts +of color, and may be acceptable for presentation graphics. + </para> + </sect4> + + <sect4><title>Solid Colors</title> + <para> + This mode produces color which is considerably more accurate +than the <guilabel>Line Art</guilabel> mode, but with a reduction in performance. In +general, hues will be accurate but tonalities may not be accurate. +There should be no sharp transitions in colors. This mode is good for +printing presentation graphics in most cases. + </para> + </sect4> + + <sect4><title>Photograph</title> + <para> + This mode produces the most accurate colors and tonalities at a +greater cost in performance. This is the mode to use when printing +high quality photographs or other high quality images. + </para> + </sect4> + + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Output Type</title> + <para> + The user is given the choice of color, black and white, and +grayscale. Color is selected when the desired output is to be in +color. Greyscale will result in the printed image having various +shades of grey. Black and white is just that. The effect of this +setting can be seen in the preview window. + </para> + </sect3> + + <sect3><title>Adjust Output</title> + <para> + Clicking on this button causes the <guilabel>Print Color Adjust</guilabel> window to +appear (see <xref linkend="fig-gimp-print-color-adjust">). In +this window, one will see a representation of the image to be printed +as well as several slider bars. These slider bars collectively adjust +many different aspects of the image. The values can also be adjusted +by clicking the arrows or by typing a value into the appropriate spin +box on the right side of each slider bar. + </para> + + <figure id="fig-gimp-print-color-adjust"><title>The Print Color Adjust Window</title> + <mediaobject> + <imageobject> + <imagedata scale="50" fileref="figures/gimp-print-print-color-adjust.png" FORMAT="PNG"> + </imageobject> + <textobject> + <phrase>>The Print Color Adjust Window</phrase> + </textobject> + </mediaobject> + </figure> + + <sect4><title>Brightness</title> + <para> + Adjust the brightness of the image. A setting of 0.0 gives a fully black +image, while a 2.0 setting gives a fully white image. Values greater than 1.0 will result in + black not being solid and highlights turning white; values less than + 1.0 will result in white not being perfectly clear and shadows turning + black. + </para> + </sect4> + + <sect4><title>Contrast</title> + <para> + Adjust the contrast of the image. A setting of 0.0 gives a solid gray for the +entire image, the exact gray depending upon the brightness chosen. + </para> + </sect4> + + <sect4><title>Cyan, Magenta, Yellow</title> + <para> +These three options allow specification of the cyan, magenta, and +yellow levels independently, for rebalancing the levels. Normally, +these should be adjusted to yield neutral gray, but they can be used +for other effects. + </para> + </sect4> + + <sect4><title>Saturation</title> + <para> +Adjust the brilliance of colors. A setting of 0.0 results in pure grayscale. +A saturation setting of less than 1.0 results in more muted colors. A +saturation setting of greater than 1.0 results in more vibrant colors. Very high +saturation often results in very strange effects, including +posterization and banding that might not be expected. For normal +purposes, the saturation should generally be set to a value less than 1.5. + </para> + </sect4> + + <sect4><title>Density</title> + <para> +Adjust the amount of ink deposited on the paper. If you have chosen the +correct paper type and are getting ink bleeding through the paper +or puddling, try reducing the density to the lowest value you +can while still achieving solid black. If black is not solid +black, even with the contrast and brightness at 1.0, try increasing +the density. Note that changes to this setting will not be visible in +the image preview. + </para> + <para> +All of the supported printers actually need less than 100% ink +density in most cases, so the actual density is something other than +the nominal density setting. The effective density setting cannot go +above 100%, so if a value specified will result in an excessively high +density level, it will be silently limited to a setting of 1.0. + </para> + </sect4> + + <sect4><title>Gamma</title> + <para> +Adjust the gamma of the image, over and above the printer-specific +correction. Gamma less than 1.0 will result in a darker image; gamma +greater than 1.0 will result in a lighter image. Unlike brightness, +gamma adjustment does not change the endpoints; it merely changes the +shape of the input->output curve. + </para> + </sect4> + + <sect4><title>Dither Algorithm</title> + <para> +The recommended dither algorithm is <guimenuitem>Adaptive +Hybrid</guimenuitem> (which is the default) for text or other fine +black detail, or if this is mixed with continuous tone images. The +<guimenuitem>Ordered</guimenuitem> dithering algorithm is just as good +(and somewhat faster) for pure continuous-tone images and photographs, +but may yield poor results with text or other fine detail, +particularly at high printing resolutions. + </para> + <para> The <guimenuitem>Fast</guimenuitem> algorithm gives the +fastest results at the expense of color accuracy. It is a simplified +ordered dither. On simple four color printers (or other printers used +in four color mode), the quality is similar to +<guimenuitem>Ordered</guimenuitem>, although dark gray rendition is +not as good due to a simpler transfer between black and colored ink. +With six-color printers, color rendition is somewhat worse, but it +should be quite usable in cases where optimum quality is not critical. +In black and white, it is an efficient way to render grayscale, but it +may not give best results when used with variable dot size printers +(modern Epson printers, or Canon printers using DMT). On rare three +color printers (CMY only) the results should be identical to ordered +dither. + </para> + <para> <guimenuitem>Very Fast</guimenuitem> is even faster than +<guimenuitem>Fast</guimenuitem>, with even more loss of quality. +Color and grayscale output will show strong patterning that resembles +screening, although it isn't. On laser printers, and possibly on +certain kinds of text and line art, <guimenuitem>Very +Fast</guimenuitem> dithering may actually yield the best quality. + </para> + <para> +Error diffusion algorithms (<guimenuitem>Hybrid +Floyd-Steinberg</guimenuitem> is such an algorithm) perform very well +at high densities, and are capable of +rendering very fine detail rather well, but they tend to exhibit artifacts in +the form of "waves" or "worms" of dots which results in noticeable +texturing in pale areas. Furthermore, pale areas immediately adjacent +to white take a while to "build up" sufficient error to print at all. +This is sometimes called "tearing" or "waterfalling". + </para> + + </sect4> + + <sect4><title>Set Defaults and Close</title> + <para> + When the <guibutton>Set Defaults</guibutton> button is clicked, +the slider bar settings will return to their default values. The +dither algorithm setting is uneffected. The <guilabel>Print Color +Adjust</guilabel> window will close when the +<guibutton>Close</guibutton> button is clicked. + </para> + </sect4> + + </sect3> + + </sect2> + + <sect2><title id="sec-printing-and-saving-settings">Printing and Saving Settings</title> + <para> + At the bottom of the Gimp-Print window, there are five buttons labeled +<guibutton>About</guibutton>, +<guibutton>Print and Save Settings</guibutton>, +<guibutton>Save Settings</guibutton>, +<guibutton>Print</guibutton>, +and <guibutton>Cancel</guibutton>. The <guibutton>About</guibutton> +button will show information about the Gimp-Print software, such as +the version number, authors names, project web site, and software +licensing. After clicking on the <guibutton>About</guibutton>, read +the information, and then close the window by pressing the +<guibutton>OK</guibutton> button. + </para> + <para> + The <guibutton>Print and Save Settings</guibutton> button will +save the current settings and then print the desired image. Recall +that these settings are saved in <filename>~/.gimp-1.2/printrc</filename>. The +<guibutton>Save Settings</guibutton> button will only save the +settings. The <guibutton>Print</guibutton> button will print the +image only. The <guibutton>Cancel</guibutton> will close the +Gimp-Print GUI window. + </para> + </sect2> + + </sect1> + + </chapter> |