PDF Printing Problems

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

There seems to be a problem when customers try to print their digitsal downloads using Apple products such as IPads or a Mac. I have just had a message from a customer who's printed copy shows black marks all over it. I had the same with a different customer a few weeks ago. The file has downloaded ok but how can I help my buyer? Have any other sellers encountered this?

[NanaLetha]

I have purchased many patterns on Etsy. I download and print from my iMac with never a problem.

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

@NanaLetha She has sent me a picture and the printed copy has black marks all over it. I have sold multiple copies of the pattern without any problems being reported and the download is fine on screen so not sure how I can help.

[TheWestcountryWitch]

Are the images blacked out? I don't understand what you mean by black marks. Its likely someone has not updated their software or has the wrong printer settings. I would ask the customers what printer they're using, what print settings they're using. There was a bug a few years back where if you were printing a pdf from abode you had to select print as image option when printing--but that was a few years back. Personally not encountered any problems and print from my iphone countless crochet patterns. 

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

@TheWestcountryWitch She sent a photo of the printed copy and it has random black lines like thick underscores.

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

I did a Google search and it did throw up a few similar issues but if the download was successful on her screen I'm not sure how to proceed. She opened a 'item arrived damaged' form to contact me!

[TheWestcountryWitch]

Sounds like a print alignment issue. Which would mean the customer needs to align their printer to match the settings. 

It is a them issue, not a you issue. Definitely software related. It could be old apple product with a newer printer software issue or vice versa. 

[NanaLetha]

@TheWoollyDesignCoUK  Advise the buyer to clean the print heads on her printer.

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

@NanaLetha It seems to be more like a software imbalance than the print quality. I have made a screenshot of troubleshooting ideas from an Apple website. It seems this is a known problem with certain software updates over the past few years. 

[DownHomeCharmCo]

I have also ran into this. Customer says her other downloads prints but mine prints out blank. Did your customer every get this to print?

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

@DownHomeCharmCo Fortunately my customer took my advice and successfully printed her cop from her husband's PC. She was originally trying from her IPad which seemed to be the problem.

[PieceByNumberQuilts]

@TheWoollyDesignCoUK   Sounds like a file corruption problem.  Have her delete the original download, then redownload the pattern.   Or send it to her by email.  Sometimes files are randomly corrupted as they make their way around the internet.  Sometimes the corruption is major, and sometimes so minute that it causes problems for only certain devices.

I have this happen a couple times a month or so, and in every case, redownloading has solved the problem.  

[michellepatterns]

This isn't a common issue but it does come up for some people.  The buyer needs to change her pdf viewer settings to "print as image" and then try printing it again.   

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

Thank you all for your help. All sorted now!