Scribus Forums

Scribus => Beginner Talk => Topic started by: PiotrS on March 24, 2014, 02:26:20 PM

Title: bad quality prints [white dots in text]
Post by: PiotrS on March 24, 2014, 02:26:20 PM
Hi everyone !

Im new to Scribus but Im impressed with this program. Its really easy to use. But I cant get good prints from Scribus or PDF generated files.
I have watched and read many tutorials and posts on this forum and cant solve the problem.

After printing from Scribus or PDF generated file I have all of the text coverd in very small black dots. I tried different PDF formats, different quality options and more and still cant figure it out !

Scribus file and PDF attached.

Please help :)

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Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: utnik on March 24, 2014, 03:48:58 PM
hi piotr

your .pdf file has a light red background color (#FEFAF3). when i export a .pdf from your .sla, the background is white (#FFFFFF).
i assume, the black dots are caused by your printer trying to print this background...

utnik
Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: PiotrS on March 24, 2014, 04:49:32 PM
When I go to File->document settings->Display->Colors I have the color white as default. Where can I change background color ?
Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: utnik on March 24, 2014, 06:28:59 PM
hi piotr

i couldn't find any background color in your .sla file.
how did you generate the .pdf file? (a new export to .pdf might solve the problem – at least my .pdf from your working file doesn't show this background color...)

utnik
Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: PiotrS on March 25, 2014, 09:11:06 AM
I export PDF using export function in Scribus, my esport setting are attached (the program Im using is in polish). I tried printing on OKI and HP Laserjet printers and I`ve got the same results. :(

EDIT: when I print directly from Scribus I get those dots in text as well

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Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: utnik on March 25, 2014, 11:21:14 AM
hi piotr

i don't really uaderstand the difference between your way to generate the .pdf file and mine.
but why did you exclude the background layer from the export? (there aren't any objects on it.)
the background layer is a solid white plane. when you export your file without it, every free space between your objects will be transparent.
if you don't need this transparency, try to include both layers while exporting – it might solve the problem.
on my system (macOS 10.9.2, scribus 1.4.3) even the transparent .pdf file doesn't show this light colored background, but sometimes it's worth trying without understanding the whole thing...

utnik
Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: PiotrS on March 25, 2014, 11:37:20 AM
Tried with the backgroung layer turned on for printing and still the same results. Tried even printing a new document from default template from Scribus with some graphics - everything covered in white dots. It cant be a problem with my laptop or printer becouse I already tried on different computers and printers. I even switched to a Linux version of Scribus nad I have the same thing.

I think the problem is simple but it affects Scribus as a whole. I will try to reinstall the program.
Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: utnik on March 25, 2014, 11:51:57 AM
hi piotr

this is really strange. with your file on my machine there's no such problem...
i'm running out of new ideas – sorry!

if you can solve the problem, please report it here!

utnik
Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: leaf on March 25, 2014, 12:04:33 PM
Try turn off color management.
In Your pdf file there are objects tagged as sRGB icc profile. (it is only for monitor profile) Perhaps it is problem beetwen printer, icc profile and file.
PDF-X3 holds icc profile.
Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: PiotrS on March 25, 2014, 12:45:45 PM
Im currently at work but when I get back home I start experimenting again. Maybe with luck this time :)

I tried switching colour management on and off with no luck...

EDIT: I made a scan to show what the problem is.

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Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: Nermander on March 25, 2014, 02:42:19 PM
You are exporting PDF/X-3, what do you use for printing it? Anything else than Adobe Reader could probably have problems handling it.

And is there a particular reason you use PDF/X-3? Have you tried a plain PDF 1.4 or even PDF 1.6?
Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: PiotrS on March 25, 2014, 03:07:55 PM
I have tried all of the PDF formats avaible in Scribus, PDF/X-3 was used in latest attempts. And I have the latest Adobe Reader for reading files and printing :)
Title: Re: bad quality prints [black dots in text]
Post by: PiotrS on April 11, 2014, 10:03:32 AM
It is been a while since I last used Scribus but yesterday I had another chance to make a new project in it. So using default settings I made a simple project for a hospital. Using PDF 5 export option I still have those small white dots everywhere in the text. But I noticed that they are smaller when I adjust the  resulution from 300 DPI to 600 DPI. But they are still there  :(

So problem is unsolved and my frustration is getting bigger :(

PS. Project and PDF file attached.

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Title: Re: bad quality prints [white dots in text]
Post by: Nermander on April 11, 2014, 03:09:41 PM
Now something is wrong here. When you export to PDF from Scribus any text will be exported using fonts. The text will NOT be affected by any DPI setting, DPI settings will only affect bitmap images.

Title: Re: bad quality prints [white dots in text]
Post by: PiotrS on April 11, 2014, 03:28:38 PM
Quote from: Nermander on April 11, 2014, 03:09:41 PM
Now something is wrong here. When you export to PDF from Scribus any text will be exported using fonts. The text will NOT be affected by any DPI setting, DPI settings will only affect bitmap images.

I know that it is strange and should not be happening. Utnik suggested some time ago that I have a background colour that could affect PDF files but I can`t find any.
Title: Re: bad quality prints [white dots in text]
Post by: utnik on April 11, 2014, 03:37:34 PM
hi piotr

in your first .pdf file there was a background color. but this time there isn't any such thing. and there aren't any white points in the text either...
it looks like some problem with your print job. at least the .pdf file is ok.

utnik
Title: Re: bad quality prints [white dots in text]
Post by: PiotrS on April 11, 2014, 03:44:37 PM
I printed the PDF file on two laser printers: OKI and HP P1005, using two different laptops with different operational systems. The results are the same. I presume that the problem is very basic but still cant figure it out. Maybe those two printers cant  read files made by scribus correctly.
Title: Re: bad quality prints [white dots in text]
Post by: GarryP on April 11, 2014, 04:53:23 PM
This problem has been bugging me since you first posted it because I've seen it before but it was many years ago and I can't for the life of me remember what it was. (It reminds me of how photos used to be printed in newspapers back in the 70s/80s but that's probably irrelevant.)

It's as though the output is getting badly rasterised before it gets to the printer's printing mechanism. As if it's trying to print grey by mixing large black dots while leaving white background gaps.

Anyway, I've a feeling that the problem isn't with Scribus but I can't be totally sure. There's just something about your scan image that rings a bell somewhere in the back of my mind. I wish my memory was better.

I know that's probably not much help at all but you might be looking for a solution in the wrong place. If anything springs to mind later I'll be sure to speak up.

P.S. Please tell me that you're not using some kind of "fast draft" print settings.
Title: Re: bad quality prints [white dots in text]
Post by: leaf on April 11, 2014, 06:27:01 PM
To check if Scribus is fault in this case, check pdf files from Adobe Illustrator and 2 from Scribus on Your printer.

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Title: Re: bad quality prints [white dots in text]
Post by: Nermander on April 12, 2014, 07:32:23 AM
The small dots look to me as some kind of dithering/rasterization, but I can not understand why you get it an noboby else.

A last guess would be that you somehow have installed an incorrect color profile, or have two levels of color management interfering with eachother.