Imported 24-Bit Color Bitmaps Print Black and White

Q137468

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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Publisher for Windows 95, version 3.0
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SYMPTOMS
========

If you import a bitmap (paint-type) graphic into Publisher for Windows 95,
and then change the target printer to a color printer, the bitmap may still
print in black and white.

This problem happens most frequently when you change from a black-and-white
PostScript printer driver to a color PostScript printer driver and occurs
only when the picture has a color depth of 24-bit (16.8 million) colors.

CAUSE
=====

When you change from one printer driver to another, Publisher translates
the old printer settings to the new printer driver. This is to make sure
that, among other things, paper size and orientation are retained.

Color and monochrome PostScript printers use the same basic printer driver,
the Windows 95 PostScript driver. One of the properties for the color
PostScript printers, however, is whether to print bitmaps in color. This
property is not available for monochrome PostScript printers and is assumed
to be off.

WORKAROUNDS
===========

If you encounter this problem, try the following procedures to print your
pictures in color:

Method 1: On the File menu, click Printer Setup. Choose a different (non-
          PostScript printer) and click OK. Run Printer Setup again, and go
          back to the color PostScript driver.

Method 2: If Method 1 doesn't resolve the problem, close the publication.
          Open your Printers folder and rename the black-and-white printer
          driver to something else. With the right mouse button, click the
          color driver and set it as default. Open your publication again.

Method 3: If Methods 1 and 2 don't resolve the problem, try opening your 24-
          bit graphic in a bitmap editing program and save it as an 8-bit
          (256 color) picture. Import this new copy of your picture.

STATUS
======

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: 3.00 pub3 pub95 w_mspub mspub TIFF TIF PCX GIF
BMP DIB RLE