Printing spellcards

Festivus · 7th August 2006, 09:01 PM

I have managed to discover my problem with the front / back not aligning. Seems if I have a printer that feeds the paper sideways -- long edge (which is pretty much all my HP laser printers - LJ9000, LJ4+, LJSeries2, LJ5si) I end up with the front to back not aligning. However, if I use my inkjet printer (either my Canon i960 or my HP Officejet) that feeds from the top -- short edge, that it lines up much better.

Also, the quality of the print on my inkjet seems far superior to the laser, probably because they are designed with photo paper in mind and can handle the cardstock better. The bummer is that it costs more and I have to manually flip the sheet over but it's not a big deal.

Any hopes of the Spell Compendium spells getting in there? It's probably a d20 licensing thing but I can hope can't I? I don't mind typing them in manually in the interim.

Keep up the good work.

**Morrus** · 7th August 2006, 09:03 PM

Luckily, I'm not having these problems!

I've also noticed that empty cigarette packets are the perfect size for storing various cards - enables you to divide them up how you like.

Flyspeck23 · 8th August 2006, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Festivus

I have managed to discover my problem with the front / back not aligning. Seems if I have a printer that feeds the paper sideways -- long edge (which is pretty much all my HP laser printers - LJ9000, LJ4+, LJSeries2, LJ5si) I end up with the front to back not aligning. However, if I use my inkjet printer (either my Canon i960 or my HP Officejet) that feeds from the top -- short edge, that it lines up much better.

Duplex printers are one of the causes for misalignment (the other being Acrobat Reader 6). Those printers should work fine if you change on one side after the other.

Or aren't those duplex printers? If not, I've got another reason to add to the Cards FAQ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Festivus

Any hopes of the Spell Compendium spells getting in there? It's probably a d20 licensing thing but I can hope can't I? I don't mind typing them in manually in the interim.

Not going to happen, for pretty much the reason you stated. Sorry.

Flyspeck23 · 8th August 2006, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morrus

I've also noticed that empty cigarette packets are the perfect size for storing various cards - enables you to divide them up how you like.

Hehe. Empty cigarette packets are alot easier to create than the "official" boxes. Great idea!
Then again, smoking's not good for your health

Festivus · 8th August 2006, 06:20 PM

I'll test it again without using the duplexer and let you know how it goes. I have a new printer coming that feeds short edge with a duplexer, I am curious to know how that one works.

For sure though, LJ5si with duplexer and LJ9000 with duplexer both misalign. I will try them both with manual feed. As I think about it more, the LJ4+ never worked... kept jamming on the cardstock, I'll just rule that one as mechanical problems.

I understand about the SC spells, I am getting pretty good at typing them in myself (thanks to your saving the card ability on the generics!)

edit: A quick test shows that the LJ9000 without using the duplexer, manual feed, auto rotate and center enabled on plain paper worked. However when I used cardstock I still had a right to left alignment problem between front and back.

edit again: Don't smoke kids, it's healthier to suck on the tailpipe of a car.

Flyspeck23 · 9th August 2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Festivus

edit: A quick test shows that the LJ9000 without using the duplexer, manual feed, auto rotate and center enabled on plain paper worked. However when I used cardstock I still had a right to left alignment problem between front and back.

Thanks!

The misalignment seems to be caused by the cardstock, and to some degree that's to be expected - but it shouldn't be that bad. Hmmm...

Quote:

edit again: Don't smoke kids, it's healthier to suck on the tailpipe of a car.

Been there, done that.

Sephera · 1st September 2006, 04:04 PM

Are we permitted to share saved files from the blank spell cards that have been typed with Spell Compendium spells? If a few people got together and typed different types/levels of spells, it would go much faster.

It's just a thought. As I've said before, I'm still new (I'm not sure the ink has dried on my license for the complete Spell Cards

) and I don't know whether this type of thing would be permitted.

Please, no flaming. I just got my flame proof suit cleaned and I would hate to mess it up again.

-Sephera

Flyspeck23 · 1st September 2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephera

Are we permitted to share saved files from the blank spell cards that have been typed with Spell Compendium spells? If a few people got together and typed different types/levels of spells, it would go much faster.

It's just a thought. As I've said before, I'm still new (I'm not sure the ink has dried on my license for the complete Spell Cards

) and I don't know whether this type of thing would be permitted.

As these aren't OGC (or are they?), it isn't possible. You're not allowed to distribute them.

Even if you'd want to share OGC spells, it's still not possible: the OGL would need to be updated, among other things.

IANAL

Additionally, it ain't legal to distribute the PDF, although it's free. One reason for that is to keep TOGC out of any unnecessary lawsuits

Hope that's all not too much of a disappointment.

Sephera · 1st September 2006, 08:44 PM

I figured I would ask before I did anything to stay out of trouble. I appreciate the quick response. It gives me something to do while on bedrest, so I have plenty of time to create cards for myself.

Thank you SO much for allowing them to be saved!

-Sephera

Sephera · 1st September 2006, 08:53 PM

I've read the FAQ on printing Spell Cards from TOGC site. I found my inital error in printing spell cards, my printer was resizing them to fit the margings (Bad Printer). I BELIEVE that they should line up properly. I am using Adobe 7.0.

I'm going to try updating my printer drivers next. Back in a minute or 5.

-Sephera

Flyspeck23 · 1st September 2006, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephera

I figured I would ask before I did anything to stay out of trouble. I appreciate the quick response. It gives me something to do while on bedrest, so I have plenty of time to create cards for myself.

Thank you SO much for allowing them to be saved!

Thanks for asking

And: my pleasure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephera

I've read the FAQ on printing Spell Cards from TOGC site. I found my inital error in printing spell cards, my printer was resizing them to fit the margings (Bad Printer). I BELIEVE that they should line up properly. I am using Adobe 7.0.

Hope it works. There are so many factors to consider...
But resizing almost never works (unless the printer's margins are large enough, which might be the case with a few laser printers).

Sephera · 1st September 2006, 09:32 PM

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to wait for Torin to get home from work. For some reason, my computer or printer or something refuses to install the new drivers. :\

Checking for updates for my computer.

-Sephera

Sephera · 1st September 2006, 10:36 PM

Drivers updated, check
Eliminate page scaling, check
No duplex printing, check
No Auto-rotate and center, check
tried leaving Auto-rotate and center on, check

I still can't get it to work.

I have a Canon i900D, any suggestions?

I know it's something on my end. I just don't know what. Torin already checked the drivers, etc. and said they're fine.

-Sephera

Flyspeck23 · 1st September 2006, 11:44 PM

Hmmmm.... that's strange...

I don't know that printer, but it can't be the source of the problem (or Canon screwed up royally). After a quick google, it seems like your printer (a photo printer, no less) has an option for borderless printing - not sure if it works for letter-sized paper, but if it does, give it a try. Or have you been using that option all along?

Some people have told be that they tried to print on A4 paper, and the cards are made for letter-sized paper. Then again, I'm using A4 too, and it works like a charm.

This might well be the first time I'm totally clueless and unable to help. But I'll think about it, and will start to ask around...

One more thing: how large is the gap?

Sephera · 2nd September 2006, 04:00 PM

Okay, started trying to adjust settings again today. New day, new possibilities.

First realization. I'm printing on cardstock, not plain paper. I have a photo printer that doesn't give an option for cardstock, just lots of choices for photo paper. Enee, Meenee, Minee, Mo...I chose Matte Photo Paper. (Other choices were: Plain Paper, Photo Paper Pro, Photo Paper Plus Glossy, Glossy Photo Paper, High Resolution Paper, T-shirt Transfer, Transparency, or Envelope.) The cardstock I'm using is Georgia Pacific White Card Stock, 110 weight.

Different paper type - didn't work
Borderless printing - didn't work
I'm going to try printing as image.

-Sephera

You know my brother could probably fix this, too bad he's in Colorado and I'm in Maryland.

Just realized I have another Printer. Would a HP deskjet 970c series work better?

Sephera · 2nd September 2006, 04:09 PM

Print as Photo didn't work. I'm going to see if I can figure out where the other printer is located and see if it works any better.

-Sephera

Sephera · 2nd September 2006, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyspeck23

One more thing: how large is the gap?

The pages keep printing out so that one page ends up being diagonal from the other. When I'm looking at the back of the page where the descriptions are continued, the right hand top edge is only minimally out of alignment. However, the left hand top edge ends up being at least 1/4" out of alignment.

The other thing that happens is the front page seems to be printing larger than the back page and all of the front cards are appearing about 1/4" to the right of the back cards. I set the printer options to not resize either page, but it's still not working. I'm in the process of switching to the other printer, maybe that one will work. :\

-Sephera

Flyspeck23 · 2nd September 2006, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephera

The pages keep printing out so that one page ends up being diagonal from the other. When I'm looking at the back of the page where the descriptions are continued, the right hand top edge is only minimally out of alignment. However, the left hand top edge ends up being at least 1/4" out of alignment.

The other thing that happens is the front page seems to be printing larger than the back page and all of the front cards are appearing about 1/4" to the right of the back cards. I set the printer options to not resize either page, but it's still not working. I'm in the process of switching to the other printer, maybe that one will work. :\

Yes, the printer seems to be the cause. I'm not that much of a computer expert, but I guess the printer has problems interpreting the PostScript send by Acrobat.

Maybe it's not a good idea to print the cards on a photo printer (AFAIK photos don't use PostScript when printed, so your printer might just not be suited for the task) - and isn't that awfully expensive anyways? (Some color printers, especially those made for photo printing, tend to use some color ink when printing b/w - that's unnecessary and a waste.)

But take that with a grain of salt - as I said, I'm not an expert.

Sephera · 5th September 2006, 04:42 AM

Can't find the power cord for the HP Deskjet 970, so I went to the store, realized I would probably also need ink. Power cord - $10, 1 black and 1 tri-color ink cartridge for the 970 - $65! (Yes, that was name brand rather than discount, but that's ridiculous!) Hmm, nearby sits a box that says it has a power cord and ink included in the same box and it happens to come with a printer for $69.99. $69.99 is less than $75, plus the replacement in on the printer is much less expensive than the HP 970. So, I pick up the box with the ink, power cord and a printer thrown in for good measure.

Now the test, okay it was a bit difficult to set up, but it finally set up properly. I print a single spell page, so far so good. I turn it over to print the other side. What do my wondering see appear when held up to the light? Spell cards! Aligned perfectly! I cut them apart with my paper cutter and I have 9 wonderfully aligned spell cards ready to add to my collection of cards to select from when I level up.

So, if anyone is having problems with their printer, it really is true, sometimes it's cheaper to just buy a whole new printer than it is to replace the ink. I purchased a HP Deskject F340 All-in-One Printer, Scanner, and Copier for roughly $70 at Wal-mart. And fast draft mode looks beautiful!

Oh happy day! I think I'll say that again. Oh, happy day! [suddenly you hear ending music from Peter and the Wolf]

-Sephera

Flyspeck23 · 5th September 2006, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephera

Can't find the power cord for the HP Deskjet 970, so I went to the store, realized I would probably also need ink. Power cord - $10, 1 black and 1 tri-color ink cartridge for the 970 - $65! (Yes, that was name brand rather than discount, but that's ridiculous!) Hmm, nearby sits a box that says it has a power cord and ink included in the same box and it happens to come with a printer for $69.99. $69.99 is less than $75, plus the replacement in on the printer is much less expensive than the HP 970. So, I pick up the box with the ink, power cord and a printer thrown in for good measure.

Now the test, okay it was a bit difficult to set up, but it finally set up properly. I print a single spell page, so far so good. I turn it over to print the other side. What do my wondering see appear when held up to the light? Spell cards! Aligned perfectly! I cut them apart with my paper cutter and I have 9 wonderfully aligned spell cards ready to add to my collection of cards to select from when I level up.

So, if anyone is having problems with their printer, it really is true, sometimes it's cheaper to just buy a whole new printer than it is to replace the ink. I purchased a HP Deskject F340 All-in-One Printer, Scanner, and Copier for roughly $70 at Wal-mart. And fast draft mode looks beautiful!

Oh happy day! I think I'll say that again. Oh, happy day! [suddenly you hear ending music from Peter and the Wolf]

I feel your joy

And the ink prices are insane (or rather, the printer prices are - the producers calculate the prices so they're making money with the ink, not the printers, because the think you'll buy just one printer but you'll need many ink cartridges). That's why I got a laser printer

Now I'm wondering if I should add a note about photo printers to the FAQ...