Printer prints incorrect size pictures regardless of size

[Taff3]

I have copied clipart, inserted it into a word document and resized it (Smaller) The documet looks ok on print preview, but when I print it, it has bits missing though it's been cropped. Opened a document I saved years ago and used to print ok, now that's the same. Have reinstalled the printer drivers, but just wasting time and paper here looking for an answer

[Dragon-Fur]

@Taff3 

Welcome to the HP User Community.

Assuming the issue is one of misinterpretation by the unknown printer and unknown printer software, we can guess about a useful answer...

Suggest

Read through the content of this message, then

Try / Consider...

Open the Word document

Find the offending image,

Right-Click on the image > Use Save as Picture to Save a copy of the image to your computer as a .jpg file

Check that the image is saved to your computer.

Open the image file using Photos or other photo / image editing software, for example, Paint (mspaint) 

Crop / Resize the image, complete other edits, and Save the file

Next,

In your Word document,

Find the offending image,

Right-Click on the image > Change Picture > (from) This Device

Replace the original image with the saved image file

OR

If you had removed the image from the document, be sure to use Insert (copy / paste is prone to errors).

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.

What else?

Word includes controls that impact image presentation.

It is unlikely you changed these without knowing - it takes little time to check...

Of the two following, the first one is more likely...

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

 Word – Document Scale

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 (for example, labels, bottom of page chopped), 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

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

Less likely, another place to check

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).

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

What else?

It is possible the printer software just needs to be uninstalled / reinstalled.

In general, before you do that, do run Windows Updates to be sure the file system is current.

If you need help to reinstall your printer software, we'll need to know which printer you have.

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:  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

Open

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Enter the device type and model name of your HP device

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[Taff3]

Tried all those options, still no difference.

Am running word 2003, which should not make a difference.

1. A few years ago, I wanted to add an image into a keyring. I found an image on the internet, saved it and then inserted it into a blank document in landscape. Resized it by dragging until it was about twice as high as the post button and as long, then block copied it around 36 times. Printed it out perfectly. Not altered the document since.

2. I have researched my family tree and have inserted copies of the census records. I had a copy of a birth certificate, which is larger than A4. I inserted it, and resized it to fit the page, same way as above. Same problem.

Both look ok in print preview, but when I print them out, the images are cropped. Have tried reinstalling the software, no difference.

[Dragon-Fur]

@Taff3 

OK - unfortunate ...

I've not used anything close to Word 2003 in a very long time.

Difference?  You say not, I say, OK.  

I would suspect Word template corruption but have not way to check that for you.

The more common remedy is to uninstall / restart / install a fresh copy of the printer software:

Uninstall the printer software from Control Panel > icon view > Programs and Features

Restart the computer and sign in

Download-save-install a fresh copy of the Full Feature Software / full driver printer software

Restart the computer and sign in

You have said you tried that, as well.

If reinstalling  the printer software does not work,

If recreating the image (save file) and reinserting it does not work,

If checking and correcting for Document Scale does not work,

If allowing for PPI in the image does not work,

and

Assuming the image and document are not corrupted or that the normal.dot template is OK,

If the Preview shows correctly,

Try

Open the Word document

Export the file to PDF 

Open the PDF file in (for example) Adobe Reader DC and print.

If you want to further eliminate all document structure from the print,

Print the PDF file as an image:

PDF - Print as Image

Reinstall / Update your PDF Reader (Adobe Reader DC /Optional  Foxit Reader)

• HINT:  Watch out for and UNCHECK unwanted extra software
• Adobe Reader DC software should be installed even if you do not open / view / print PDF files directly from the software.

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.

• Save the document to your computer
• Open the offending document in Adobe Reader DC

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

• Set the printer select the colors (Optional)
• Select Print the PDF file as an image

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What else?

Not sure...

There is "something" wrong that was not wrong before.

As a means of testing, you could try recreating the image (one of those that is failing) in a Text Box.

Certainly optional - should not be necessary.

Open your document in Word

Remove the offending image file

Create a Text Box and place and edited, uncropped image file inside the confines of the Text Box.

Use the following guide from Microsoft to learn about Text Boxes:

Add, copy, or remove a text box in Word 

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

Chicken_in_Text_Box_1

If I think of anything else, I will post back.

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

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

[Taff3]

Hi

Don't have the ability to save as Pdf on this version. However went to the text box option. Opened a new document  doc2 added a text box and sized it to roughly what I wanted. Opened the original document doc1 with all the images and copied one from it. Inserted it into the text box in doc2, Looked ok, printed perfectly.

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@Taff3 

Excellent!

OK - 2003 Office is older; it makes sense that it might have limitations.

Things have come a long way since that release...

The Image-in-a-Text-Box solution is one that I've used on occasion.

Good that it worked for you.

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

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