PeasyPrint Graphic/Photo Printing
Posted: Fri 22 Jul 2011, 13:14
Update: PeasyPrint v3.1 has a new Fit tool. It determines in advance how you should up-scale an image to fit the target paper without overflowing the page - by width or height.
Update: PeasyPrint v2.9 adds the 5x7 paper size for photo printing. See the note below about Canon printers.
Update: PeasyPrint v2.7 can print a graphic stored as a PDF file.
Update: PeasyPrint v2.6 has an option for printing a date stamp on the image. It appears in the lower left corner in white.
Update: See the hint here for gluing two photos together and printing them on the same piece of 4x6 paper.
Update: PeasyPrint v2.4 has a new CUPS button. This gives you quick access to CUPS for changing your printer settings.
-----------------------------
PeasyPrint is a little program that can print a graphics image at a specific size. For example, it can print a JPEG photo so the width on the paper is exactly 4.0 inches. PeasyPrint will not change the aspect ratio of the image. You can specify the width or the height of the printout, but not both. The image is printed at the centre of the page.
You can run PeasyPrint several ways:
1. From the Graphic menu.
2. From the command line with "peasyprint" or "peasyprint filename"
3. From mtPaint. Go to File > Actions > Configure > Print image. Change the command to "peasyprint %f".
The easiest procedure is to start PeasyPrint in one window and the folder containing your images in another. You can then drag files directly into the file selection box.
---------------------------
If you have digital photos in a 2x3 aspect ratio, PeasyPrint is a quick tool for printing on 4x6 photo paper. There are two steps.
1. Run the CUPS setup wizard and open the Options page for your printer. Look for choices like Media Size and Media Type. Set them for 4x6 photo paper. Pick a size WITH borders. If that prints correctly, try borderless. Note: Brother printers must be configured differently. See below.
2. Run PeasyPrint. Select a width of 4 inches. If the photo is in landscape orientation, check the Rotate box. Select your printer and 4x6 Photo Paper.
Hint: Leave the Rotate box permanently checked. Both portrait and landscape orientations will print correctly on 4x6 paper.
------------------------------
Another useful tool for manipulating your photos is RPhoto. It can crop an image in a fixed 2x3 aspect ratio so it is ready to print on 4x6 paper. Download an RPhoto PET here. Also, see the discussion here about working with other paper sizes.
-----------------------
Gutenprint Drivers: These drivers do not produce good quality prints. You will have better results using the printer manufacturer's own driver.
----------------------------
Brother Drivers: When you send a job to a Brother printer, the CUPS options are ignored. Instead, the printer uses a configuration file in the folder /usr/local/Brother/.../inf named brxxxrc. With newer models, look in /opt/Brother. Open it in a text editor to see the current group of settings. The companion file brxxxfunc contains all the possible settings.
To print on 4x6 photo paper, use "PaperType=PostC4x6" or "PaperType="BrPost4x6_B" for borderless prints.
To get higher quality prints, set "Media=Glossy". You must then select the matching value for "RResolution". It might be "RResolution=Photo" or "RResolution=1200x2400dpi" depending on the printer model. Check the brxxxfunc file.
------------------------
Canon Printers: Some Canon MG series printers leave a wide lower margin that ruins photo printing by cropping off the bottom of the image. I can find no way to make the Linux driver print into this margin. As a work-around, you can do the following (although some people will object to the "scissors" part).
1. Purchase some 5x7 paper. It may be cheaper to get 8.5x11 sheets and cut them in half.
2. In CUPS, set the paper size to 5x7.
3. In PeasyPrint, set the image size to 4x6 as usual, but select 5x7 paper.
4. Print.
5. Trim the paper to 4x6 with scissors.
---------------------------
Update: PeasyPrint v2.9 adds the 5x7 paper size for photo printing. See the note below about Canon printers.
Update: PeasyPrint v2.7 can print a graphic stored as a PDF file.
Update: PeasyPrint v2.6 has an option for printing a date stamp on the image. It appears in the lower left corner in white.
Update: See the hint here for gluing two photos together and printing them on the same piece of 4x6 paper.
Update: PeasyPrint v2.4 has a new CUPS button. This gives you quick access to CUPS for changing your printer settings.
-----------------------------
PeasyPrint is a little program that can print a graphics image at a specific size. For example, it can print a JPEG photo so the width on the paper is exactly 4.0 inches. PeasyPrint will not change the aspect ratio of the image. You can specify the width or the height of the printout, but not both. The image is printed at the centre of the page.
You can run PeasyPrint several ways:
1. From the Graphic menu.
2. From the command line with "peasyprint" or "peasyprint filename"
3. From mtPaint. Go to File > Actions > Configure > Print image. Change the command to "peasyprint %f".
The easiest procedure is to start PeasyPrint in one window and the folder containing your images in another. You can then drag files directly into the file selection box.
---------------------------
If you have digital photos in a 2x3 aspect ratio, PeasyPrint is a quick tool for printing on 4x6 photo paper. There are two steps.
1. Run the CUPS setup wizard and open the Options page for your printer. Look for choices like Media Size and Media Type. Set them for 4x6 photo paper. Pick a size WITH borders. If that prints correctly, try borderless. Note: Brother printers must be configured differently. See below.
2. Run PeasyPrint. Select a width of 4 inches. If the photo is in landscape orientation, check the Rotate box. Select your printer and 4x6 Photo Paper.
Hint: Leave the Rotate box permanently checked. Both portrait and landscape orientations will print correctly on 4x6 paper.
------------------------------
Another useful tool for manipulating your photos is RPhoto. It can crop an image in a fixed 2x3 aspect ratio so it is ready to print on 4x6 paper. Download an RPhoto PET here. Also, see the discussion here about working with other paper sizes.
-----------------------
Gutenprint Drivers: These drivers do not produce good quality prints. You will have better results using the printer manufacturer's own driver.
----------------------------
Brother Drivers: When you send a job to a Brother printer, the CUPS options are ignored. Instead, the printer uses a configuration file in the folder /usr/local/Brother/.../inf named brxxxrc. With newer models, look in /opt/Brother. Open it in a text editor to see the current group of settings. The companion file brxxxfunc contains all the possible settings.
To print on 4x6 photo paper, use "PaperType=PostC4x6" or "PaperType="BrPost4x6_B" for borderless prints.
To get higher quality prints, set "Media=Glossy". You must then select the matching value for "RResolution". It might be "RResolution=Photo" or "RResolution=1200x2400dpi" depending on the printer model. Check the brxxxfunc file.
------------------------
Canon Printers: Some Canon MG series printers leave a wide lower margin that ruins photo printing by cropping off the bottom of the image. I can find no way to make the Linux driver print into this margin. As a work-around, you can do the following (although some people will object to the "scissors" part).
1. Purchase some 5x7 paper. It may be cheaper to get 8.5x11 sheets and cut them in half.
2. In CUPS, set the paper size to 5x7.
3. In PeasyPrint, set the image size to 4x6 as usual, but select 5x7 paper.
4. Print.
5. Trim the paper to 4x6 with scissors.
---------------------------