GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

[NoWorries]

I have a 32 Bit Desktop on which GIMP 2.6.8 works perfectly and I can print images. On my 64 Bit Laptop I cannot print any images even though identical packages are listed as being installed on both machines. I originally had GIMP 2.6.8 and then installed 2.7.2 in the hope that it would solve my printing problems. This has not changed anything.

When I select Print.... > Image Settings, the Preview box is blank. If I then select Print, a blank sheet is printed. I have tried reinstalling all the printing packages, but this did not change anything. I am wondering if there is anyone who knows how to fix this problem.

NoWorries

[Yuri sss]

Re: Gimp 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

I've updated to 2.7.2 a few days ago on my Lucid x64. Yesterday when I wanted to print something with Gimp, I also noticed that the "Print" preview was empty.
I then tried the other print entry (Print with Gutenprint), and that one worked (even though the preview looked quite pixellated there).
You'll have to install the package gimp-gutenprint for that.

[oshunluvr]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

I tested this on my Lucid 64bit install - works for me (don't you hate that response? )

I noticed that the "print preview" launched Okular on my machine and the preview was displayed in Okular. On a hunch - check and see if this is installed on your 32 bit but not on your 64 bit.

When you next try to get a preview, launch gimp from a terminal so you can see any error output.

I'm using Gimp 2.6.10 and KDE4-4.4.5 (If you're using KDE 4.5 and gimp 2.7 I'd recommend not using beta software).

[NoWorries]

Re: Gimp 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

I've updated to 2.7.2 a few days ago on my Lucid x64. Yesterday when I wanted to print something with Gimp, I also noticed that the "Print" preview was empty.
I then tried the other print entry (Print with Gutenprint), and that one worked (even though the preview looked quite pixellated there).
You'll have to install the package gimp-gutenprint for that.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried gimp-gutenprint but it did not have my printer which is a HP Photosmart C7280. I selected the highest number Photosmart driver and it did print an image. Unfortunately, because it is not the correct driver, I could not select the photo tray so all pictures come out on the default tray.

NoWorries

[NoWorries]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

I tested this on my Lucid 64bit install - works for me (don't you hate that response? )

I noticed that the "print preview" launched Okular on my machine and the preview was displayed in Okular. On a hunch - check and see if this is installed on your 32 bit but not on your 64 bit.

When you next try to get a preview, launch gimp from a terminal so you can see any error output.

I'm using Gimp 2.6.10 and KDE4-4.4.5 (If you're using KDE 4.5 and gimp 2.7 I'd recommend not using beta software).

I have KDE 4.5 and was using GIMP 2.7.2. When I launched gimp at the command line, I got a truckload of errors related to plugins not being compatible. I have now reverted back to GIMP 2.6.8 and when I launch it at the command line, no errors are reported. Both systems have Okular installed. My 64 Bit system does not invoke okular in print > image settings. The preview window is blank on the 64 Bit system

[GreyGeek]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

I'm running the 64bit LL with KDE 4.5 and GIMP 2.6.8.
My preview on the image tab contains the image of the graphic.

[oshunluvr]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

Mine does as well - however there's also a Print Preview button next to print - that's what I did that brought up okular and that's the function I had assumed wasn't working.

[NoWorries]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

Mine does as well - however there's also a Print Preview button next to print - that's what I did that brought up okular and that's the function I had assumed wasn't working.

On my system the Print Preview button does not work. If I open an image with okular and try to print, I cannot get it to see the photo tray on my HP printer. It behaves the same as gutenprint in that it will print on an A4 sheet but not on a 6x4 photo sheet.

Both my 32Bit and 64Bit systems have identical installed packages listed under gimp, but only the 32 Bit system provides printing of images on 6x4 photo paper. I have tried removing the .gimp-2.6 folder in my home area and that makes not difference. This still remains a mystery to me

[oshunluvr]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

I have the exact model printer you do - HP c7280.

Are you able to print pictures from other programs?

I'm guessing not since gimp and okular both don't work. It's possible that your problem is the printer setup.

How are you connecting to the printer with both laptops? I have a server so I'm using the server's network connection.

[NoWorries]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

I have the exact model printer you do - HP c7280.

Are you able to print pictures from other programs?

I'm guessing not since gimp and okular both don't work. It's possible that your problem is the printer setup.

How are you connecting to the printer with both laptops? I have a server so I'm using the server's network connection.

I can print to the photo tray with Adobe Reader and OpenOffice. All of the Graphic packages such as gimp, Okular and digiKam allow a photo on 6x4 index card but do not provide an option to print to the photo tray and therefore print a 6x4 photo on an A4 sheet.

My laptop has a wireless connection to a Netgear Wireless router. Both my desktop PC and the HP printer are connected via Ethernet cables to the router. The HP Printer is setup using the HP Device Manager. On both computers I have the hplip packages installed. Both systems have identical installed packages listed by Synaptic with the quick search heading "hp".

I hope this gives you sufficient information on my home network.

NoWorries

[oshunluvr]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

Have you checked the output of hp-check ?

Open a terminal and try it on both computers and compare results. If it's printing to one try and not the other I'd suspect the ppd file. Which one(s) are you using? Look in /etc/cups/ppd

[NoWorries]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

Have you checked the output of hp-check ?

Open a terminal and try it on both computers and compare results. If it's printing to one try and not the other I'd suspect the ppd file. Which one(s) are you using? Look in /etc/cups/ppd

In the directory /etc/cups/ppd there are two files ie Photosmart_C7200.ppd and Photosmart_C7200_fax.ppd. The file Photosmart_C7200.ppd is identical on both the laptop and the pc.

When I run the program hp-check on both computers, the areas of difference are:

hp-check area of difference for Desktop PC, ie working computer

hp-check[1667]: info: :
hp-check[1667]: info: :[01mCurrent contents of '~/.hplip/hplip.conf' file:[0m
hp-check[1667]: info: :[last_used]
printer_name = 
working_dir = .
device_uri = "hp:/net/Photosmart_C7200_series?zc=HPB760C5"

[commands]
scan = /usr/bin/xsane -V %SANE_URI%

[installation]
version = 3.10.2rc1.9
date_time = 08/29/2010 15:51:32


[settings]
systray_messages = 0
systray_visible = 0

[fax]
email_address = 
voice_phone = 

[refresh]
rate = 30
enable = false
type = 1

============================================================================
hp-check area of difference for Laptop, ie non-working computer

hp-check[5458]: info: :
hp-check[5458]: info: :[01mCurrent contents of '~/.hplip/hplip.conf' file:[0m
hp-check[5458]: info: :[last_used]
printer_name = Photosmart_C7200_fax
printer = 
working_dir = .
device_uri = "hp:/net/Photosmart_C7200_series?zc=HPB760C5"

[commands]
fax = hp-sendfax -d %FAX_URI%
scan = /usr/bin/xsane -V %SANE_URI%
prnt = hp-print -p%PRINTER%
pcard = hp-unload -d %DEVICE_URI%
cpy = hp-makecopies -d %DEVICE_URI%

[installation]
date_time = 08/29/2010 08:24:10
version = 3.10.2rc1.9


[settings]
systray_messages = 0
systray_visible = 0

[fax]
email_address = 
voice_phone = 

[refresh]
rate = 60
enable = true
type = 2

I find it interesting that there is no printer_name for the working PC. On this PC no default printer is specified. On the non-working laptop, default printer is defined as Photosmart_C7200 but the printer_name is Photosmart_C7200_fax.

Another area of difference is in [commands] where the non-working laptop has many that are not in the working PC.

The final difference is in the [refresh] where the rate of the working PC is 30 and enable is false. On the non-working laptop the rate is 60 and enable is true.

I hope this gives some insight into the source of the problem. Thanks for your hep on this matter.

NoWorries

[oshunluvr]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

Very odd - I wonder about your cups setup?

Open a browser on both machines type "localhost:631" in the url bar and compare.

Unfortunately, I am not currently using kubuntu as my server so my output is different.

[Snowhog]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

Well if this were me, I'd move the Photosmart_C7200_fax.ppd file to a safe place (in case it is needed later) leaving just the Photosmart_C7200.ppd file available for use and then reboot to see if things then work as expected with the printer.

[NoWorries]

Re: GIMP 2.6 & 2.7 both give Blank Previews in 'Print' > 'Image Settings'

Well if this were me, I'd move the Photosmart_C7200_fax.ppd file to a safe place (in case it is needed later) leaving just the Photosmart_C7200.ppd file available for use and then reboot to see if things then work as expected with the printer.

I did try that but it unfortunately made no difference. I also tried renaming the Photosmart_C7200.ppd file and that did not solve the problem of printing with gimp. Unfortunatel, when I went to print from Adobe Reader, the print output was stopped and there was no way to print the file. I ended up putting back the Photosmart_C7200.ppd file and the printing of the Adobe Reader file worked as it should. My impression from this is that the ppd files are only used for the printing aspect and not any preview action. In the case of gimp, no preview leads to no printer output - just a blank sheet .

NoWorries