Printing a PDF File to an Impact Printer Without Font Distortion

[Bmorewize]

I am working on a project that requires me to use a VB.Net forms application to save a PDF and from there print that file to my impact printer. That's the easy part.

The printer that I'm using is an Okidata Microline 321 Turbo. That uses a Generic IBM Graphics 9pin wide driver.

I have been able to print the form, however the font makes the words barely readable. I've been doing some research and tried changing the Default CPI from 10 to 20 and that did not help. I was wondering if the answer lies within the driver that I'm using. I've tried several drivers but the Generic IBM driver seems to work the best.

Is there a setting that I would need to change either on the printer or the printer properties to get the font to print more clearly?

The text size cannot change however the font type can be.  I believe that the issue goes beyond the font size but I wanted to rule it out.

Failed Fonts:

Arial

Consolas

Courrier New

Tahoma

Verdana

Thank you in advance for any help that you can provide.

[Abambo]

bmorewize  wrote

I am working on a project that requires me to use a VB.Net forms application to save a PDF and from there print that file to my impact printer.

Last time I've seen that kind of printers is a long time ago... And my Nec printer was a 24 pin printer.

The problem for sure is either the driver or the printer. Impact printers are not known for their quality prints as of today's standards.

[Bmorewize]

I've tested many drivers, and the process is quite tedious.  For the Industry I'm in, 3-part (or triplicate) forms are still being used,  we are looking to try a different means of printing the forms.  As of right now, I can print the form straight from my forms application and the text is completely legible.  However, in testing this new feature when the file is saved as a PDF the drivers (or something) gets lost in translation.

[Abambo]

As with standard text, you send ASCI characters to the printer. The characters are optimized for the printer. Windows needs to send the information as graphics. These graphical information are no more optimized for such printers.

You may try the "Print as Image" Acrobat printing option from the Advanced screen of the printing dialogue.

[Bmorewize]

Thanks for the tip. I tried that prior, and it distorted my print out even wors.

[Test Screen Name]

I do not think PDF is suitable for your application, since it is designed for high resolution printing. For quality you need an app made to address the device fonts. Your brief needs renegotiation: at least one point must change.

[Abambo]

I never used Acrobat with a dot matrix printer. The printers I had couldn’t even connected anymore. I think I sold my last dot matrix printer 30 years ago. And yes, I agree, Acrobat could be highly inappropriate for the given application.

[frasherm3355112]

Hi..

I have the same issue trying to print out PDF fuel oil tickets on 3 part forms .I was doing exactly the same as you ( vb to PDF) .. How did you resolve this problem?