Presentations may not print correctly when you print to an HP LaserJet 8550 or 4500 printer in PowerPoint 2002 or PowerPoint 2003 (815003)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002

SYMPTOMS

When you print to an HP LaserJet 8550 or an HP LaserJet 4500 printer, you may experience the following issues:
  • Pictures that have transparency and that overlap print incorrectly.
  • Picture fills that have transparency do not follow the shape, and print as a square or as a rectangle.
  • Some pictures that you recolor print with the original color.
  • Some metafiles that you rotate print unrotated.
  • Some Portable Network Graphics (PNG) files that have transparent regions print incorrectly.

CAUSE

These issues occur if you use either the Windows Printer Control Language (PCL) driver for HP LaserJet 8550, for HP LaserJet 4500, or if you use the HP PostScript printer driver for the same two printers.

WORKAROUND

To work around these issues, use different drivers with your HP LaserJet printer.

Method 1: Download the New PCL Printer Driver

If you use the Windows version of the HP LaserJet 8550 or 4500 PCL printer driver, download the latest HP PCL printer driver. To do so, visit the following HP Web site: http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/eng/software_drivers.htm
Type the model name of printer that you use, press ENTER, and then click the hyperlink that corresponds to your model of printer. The appropriate download page will appear.

Method 2: Switch to the Windows PostScript Driver

If you are running Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows XP, install the Windows PostScript driver version for your printer. For additional information about how to install this Windows PostScript driver, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

282842 HOW TO: Install a Printer Driver Locally for a Remote Printer in Windows

  • For the HP LaserJet 4500 printer, use the HP C LaserJet 4500-PS driver.
  • For the HP LaserJet 8550 printer, use the HP Color LaserJet 8550-PS driver.

If you are running Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, install the Adobe 4.5.2 PostScript printer driver. To download the Adobe PostScript printer driver, visit the following Adobe Web site: http://www.adobe.com/products/printerdrivers/windows.html#adobeps45Follow the installation instructions to install the driver and to configure it to work with your printer.

STATUS

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/2/2004
Keywords:kbUpgrade kbsetup kb3rdparty kbprint kbprb KB815003 kbAudEndUser
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