How do I stop pictures from moving from the place set in word when printing?

[Jazzpop]

When I design a page in Word in Windows 10 it does not print as designed. The images move on the page even though they are set to be fixed. It appears to be random. Will print normally then starts to reposition things. Costing me a fortune in ink and wasted cards. 

[Dragon-Fur]

@Jazzpop 

Assuming all else is working as expected and the issue is isolated to this one type of problem,

Assuming you have installed the Full Driver printer software for your printer,

There are several places to check / correct image placement in your Word documents.

The following collection is at least relevant from about Word 2013 to current Office Professional 2019

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One way to usually bypass the source of the problem:

Export your Word document to PDF format and print that file.

Once the document content is exported, things will likely stop moving around.

For the purpose of this answer,

Your PDF / Reader software can print your exported card document in "booklet format".

Adobe Reader DC

Examples on request...

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Preferences - Correct odd / wrong-sized Image Sizes (for example, when printed from Word)

Verify / Adjust Setting in Preferences

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers

Right-Click Printer > Printing Preferences > Tab Advanced

UNCHECK HP Real Life Technologies

Click OK to save change

OR possibly in this alternate location

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers

Right-Click Printer > Printing Preferences

Tab Layout > Click Advanced > Switch OFF HP Real Life Technologies

Click OK to save change

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Always use Insert as opposed to copy/paste to add images to your Word documents.

After the image is inserted into the document, Right-Click on the image and select Size and Position

Adjust as needed.

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If all else fails and the image won't "stick",

Try / Consider

Insert Text box

Then Insert your image inside the box

Use Insert (as opposed to copy / paste) when placing images into a document

If images will not stay contained in spite of margins:

• Insert a Text box of the size necessary to contain the image
• Remove the "default text" bits from the box
• Insert the Image inside the empty text box

Example

Chicken_in_Text_Box_1

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More Ideas...

"Fix the image" as it appears in your Word Document

If you do not already have a copy of the image file, create a file from the image in your Word document.

Open your Word document

Right-Click on the Image

Use "Save-As" and save the image as a .jpg file on your computer.

Pay attention to the folder in which you save the file...

Use Insert > Pictures and insert the image file into your Word document.

Right-Click on the image (after it is placed in the document)

Adjust the Size and Position to move the image inside the document boundaries.

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If you have the option to do so, completely replace the image in the document with a “new” image that you have saved / downloaded / created in your file system.  Remove the old (original) image, save the document, Insert a new image file > If necessary, adjust the position and size.

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Trouble with labels and possibly with other documents that include mixed content types:

Document Scale

There is a setting in Word that will "scale" a document for Letter / A4 paper.

If you are having alignment issues with your document (labels), UNCHECK this setting.

When printing directly from within Word

Setup:

Word > File > Options > Advanced

In Section Print (about 2/3 of the way down)

UNCHECK "Scale content for A4 or 8.5 x 11" paper sizes

Click OK to save changes

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Line spacing can get you into trouble, 

When the other settings are correct, set / adjust the line spacing (before / after) the image placement to "single space" (as opposed to Normal).

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Adjust the Image Size and Quality in Word

If it is only the "one" image that is misbehaving, you likely do not have to change this setting...

Word document > File > Options > Advanced

In Section Image Size and Quality

CHECK Do not compress images in file

and

Select a Default Resolution

For example, 330 ppi or 150 ppi

A lower number creates a less dense image (and slightly reduces overall file size).

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HP Printer Support Home Page - References and Resources – Learn about your Printer  - Solve Problems

 “Things that are your printer”

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories:  Alerts, Access to the Print and Scan Doctor (Windows), Warranty Check, HP Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, Lots of How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, Manuals > User Guides, Product Information (Specifications), more

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

Product Home

Enter the type and name of your HP device

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

The Community is a separate wing of the HP website - We are not an HP business group.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You.

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"

[Jazzpop]

Many thanks for all your helpful suggestions. Unfortunately none have worked. I have tried so many different things in the past. I am totally frustrated with HP. Have owned several previously with no problems but this model is just so bug prone I will now give up on it and buy a different brand. A friend has found the same issue when trying to print onto anything other than A4. Such a disappointment. Thanks for trying. 

[Dragon-Fur]

@Jazzpop 

You are welcome.

It is odd that nothing works - Office Word is usually capable of handling Image Processing.

If the source of the problem is the printer, then you might normally see issues with all printing that includes documents and not just those that are Exported from Word.  Not sure?  Try it.

Personal Opinion

Not being able to print on other than A4 is not related to your Office documents in which the image processing is not working though I can understand why it's easy to think the two are related.  If your friend would like to do so, if the printer is a supported HP product,  he / she / they can join the Community and ask for help with that issue.

If nothing is working to correct the issue from one side, you can try something else.

What to do?

Try / Consider

• Print your Exported PDF document "as an image".  Printing the PDF file as an image eliminates all the pre-processing necessary to translate the document into Printer Language. 

If the file will not print due to unusual content (odd fonts, color schemes, tables, other oddities), print the file as an Image.  Image printing does not require the printer software to translate file content.

1. Open the offending document in Adobe Reader DC

1. Click Print icon > Set other options on the menu > Click Advanced button

1. Set the printer select the colors (Optional)
2. Select Print the PDF file as an image

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What else?

• If you are convinced the computer is at fault, run diagnostics on the computer hardware.  This is least likely the issue.  

• If you think that Windows is at fault, run diagnostics on Windows to clear file system errors.  This is less likely the issue.

• If you think your Office Word is at fault, Repair or Reload Office.  If you have the means to do so, uninstall Office > Restart the computer > Reload Office.  You will need your Office license key for this action.  This is a possible source of the problem. 

Ask as the Microsoft Community 

Office Products Troubleshooting

Open the Website > Select categories on the left to narrow the focus

• If you think the Printer is at fault - consider the following actions:  Printer Reset, Printer Firmware Update, Remove / Reload the Full Driver printer software.  IF the printer is having other printing problems, if the issue you are experiencing presents with other than "just Word" document(s), this is a possible source of the problem.

If you believe the printer is at fault, start a new thread, include the information necessary to identify the printer, its software status, what you have tried to fix the issue. 

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

The Community is a separate wing of the HP website - We are not an HP business group.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You.

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"