Print preview not working

[ReallyCat]

The windows app or system print dialogs do not show a print preview.

How to have a working print preview?

[Dragon-Fur]

@ReallyCat 

Welcome to the HP Community --

---

@ReallyCat wrote:

The windows app or system print dialogs do not show a print preview.

How to have a working print preview?

---

Product / Printer Model:  ?

Operating System:  ?

Software / Application:  ?

Connection Type:  ?

Content / File Type:  ?

Paper Size / Type: ?

Job type:  Print Preview

Based on what we know --

Most Windows print applications include some form of Print Preview.

Printer Settings

HP print settings guide

-- NOTE --

When called from within printing programs / software / applications, Printing Preferences might be called "Printer Properties" / "Shortcuts" / “More Settings” / “Properties” / "Printer Setup" / "Presets" or similar.

Microsoft Photos, for example, provides a "Preview" of the selected image to be edited, shared, or printed.

Example - Microsoft Photos - Edit > Adjust settings

Photos_Edit_Options_Adjust_4

Example of Firefox Browser - PDF Print - Settings

Firefox_Print_Web_Page_9

What else?

Windows apps, that is, print applications built into your Windows or Browser's Print Settings might -- at least in part -- depend on your having installed the full driver printer software for your printer.

HP Smart (Windows) is independent of the full driver although the More Settings > Shortcuts and setup do benefit from having a full set of printing preferences from which to draw settings.

HP Smart (Windows) pulls a Preview of the Image / PDF as soon as it is selected for Print.

Example - HP Smart - Windows - Simple PDF Print

HP_Smart_Win_PDF_Print_15

===================================

Message Content References

-- Take advantage of the extensive HP Video collection --

                                            ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

Technology Tips - Video Gallery from our HP Expert greenturtle

 Technology Tips– YouTube Video Help for Printers

 HP Support Official Channel – HP Support Video Gallery

=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

References / Resources

HP Printer Home Page - References and Resources

Learn about your Printer - Solve Problems

“Things that are your printer”

When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

NOTE: Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories: Warranty Check, Alerts, Troubleshooting, Ink & Paper, HP Software & Drivers / Firmware Updates, Setup & User Guides, Product Specifications, Account & Registration, Warranty & Repair

Open 

 Product Home - Printers

 Enter the device type and model name of your HP product

Thank you for participating in the HP Community --

Real people who own, use, and support HP devices.

Click Yes to say Thank You for the help !

Question / Concern Answered, Click my Post "Accept as Solution"

[ReallyCat]

(printer HP 5101 on Win 11)

I have most of my pics in Google Photos, so I would like print pictures from a browser, as opposed to download the image, and then print from Microsoft Photos.

1. The system print preview in Chrome, Firefox and Edge is not working (with err message "This app does not support print preview"). The browser's print preview in each does work, but there is no link to open the HP Universal driver, so I use the system print dialog (with no print preview). Edge printing dialog also has trouble resizing images, so if I click on "fit to page" it reduces the image to about 1/4. Both browsers do this whether I use the "HP smart printer" or the "HP 5100 series" printer driver.
2. The print preview in Microsoft Photos works.
3. The print preview in HP Smart > Print Photos shows a deformed image, and prints a deformed image (compressed vertically). I could change the deformation with any of the scaling options. The help pages from HP Smart and google searches tell me there is an app called HP Print Preview, though that seems to be old info.
4. I can't find a print preview in the HP Universal print driver app, though it seems there is space to the right that shows a "page", but it's maybe just decoration. Is there a way to enable a preview from the driver app?

[Dragon-Fur]

@ReallyCat 

Printer

HP Smart Tank 5101 All-in-One Printer  

Not sure --

I think I cannot help in the context of what you are using.

Caveat -- I rarely use Google Photos.

I think the source (online photo gallery storage) is not relevant, though sure -- I could be missing something.

I do have -- and use -- iOS Photos that are linked / loaded into Windows.

Print Preview is a basic tenant of the Browser and installed Printer -- I cannot explain why, after selecting the installed Printer, that preview would not work in your Browsers.

None of the HP Smart Universal Print Driver download links I have are currently working -- If you have a working copy of the software installed, I suggest you check that you have the install

If not done, consider:

• Reinstall the full driver printer software for the printer
• Check that you (and not Windows) has control over the Default Printer
• Check / Adjust Printer Properties > Tab Advanced > Driver = HP driver (and not the IPP / Microsoft driver)

If your Browsers won't work as you expect, use an application or software program to print your photos.

-- Side Bar --

HP Smart Universal Print Driver works with (as a companion to) HP Smart (Windows).  Nice.

and

HP Smart Universal Print Driver works with Microsoft Photos.  Nice.

In the context of HP Smart and Microsoft Photos Fill / Crop / Fit methods used to size the image to the shape and size of the paper,

AND

Even assuming you have a working installation of the HPSUPD software,

Using HP Smart or Photos with the HP SUPD is perhaps not useful and does not address any of your current issues with Print Preview.

------------------

-- Aspect Ratio --

What about the shape and size of the image as compared to the shape and size of the paper?

 HP Smart - Windows --

When the photo is used to fill or fit the paper size, the app uses one of two methods to fit content to the paper:

• Crop - Creates even borders but can be at the expense of the content when the shape of the image does not match the shape of the paper

OR

• Shrink to Fit - Retains all the content but can create uneven borders when the shape of the image does not match the shape of the paper

Example - HP Smart - Windows - Simple Photo Print - 4x6 inches

HP_Smart_Win_Print_Photo_4x6_All_12

What else?

HP Smart - Windows --

You can avoid the "shape does not match" by printing the photo at a selected (smaller) size on larger paper.

Both HP Smart and Photos supports this feature.

Example - HP Smart - Windows - Simple Photo Print - Selected Photo Size

HP_Smart_Win_Simple_Photo_Print_Letter_4x6_4

What else?

If you are willing to install it, 

Irfanview provides an exceptional software experience that can be used for a variety of scan and print tasks, including custom print size, tiles, and the “Mirror” or horizontal flip function, and several other options not found elsewhere.

The software can print your photos "at size", with or without Aspect Ration constraints.

No -- Irfanview cannot be called from your Browser -- it is a free-standing full photo editing program that you install in Windows.

Irfanview does require that you have installed the Full Driver printer software for your printer.

Sample - Irfanview - Custom Print Size

Irfanview_Custom_Print_Size_5

===================================

Message Content References

-- Take advantage of the extensive HP Video collection --

                                            ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

Technology Tips - Video Gallery from our HP Expert greenturtle

 Technology Tips– YouTube Video Help for Printers

 HP Support Official Channel – HP Support Video Gallery

=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

References / Resources

HP Printer Home Page - References and Resources

Learn about your Printer - Solve Problems

“Things that are your printer”

When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

NOTE: Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories: Warranty Check, Alerts, Troubleshooting, Ink & Paper, HP Software & Drivers / Firmware Updates, Setup & User Guides, Product Specifications, Account & Registration, Warranty & Repair

Open 

 Product Home - Printers

 Enter the device type and model name of your HP product

OR

HP Smart Tank 5101 All-in-One Printer  

Thank you for participating in the HP Community --

Real people who own, use, and support HP devices.

Click Yes to say Thank You for the help !

Question / Concern Answered, Click my Post "Accept as Solution"