Sumatrapdf: 3.1 | ability for user to select 'print as image' as option (rather than default)

[cooch17]

3.1 dispenses with the ability of the user to tweak SumatraPDF-settings to turn on/off printing a PDF as an 'image'. I understand that printing as an image increases the chances of output that is WYSIWYG/

But, it also (i) increases the file size sent to the printer _many-fold_ (try printing a 30 page book chapter that has gone from 30 Mb sent to the printer using 3.0, to >2.5 Gb sent to the printer using 3.1), and (ii) often results in printed output that is not as 'crisp' or 'sharp' as it is when not printed as an image (a sample of my students were able to pick ut 3.1 printed documents every time -- because they didn't 'look as sharp').

I appreciate that 'print as image' has its virtues, but only for files that _don't_ print nicely. Most do, and standard printers. So, rather than make print as image the defaul, make it a selectable option for people who only need it occasionally?

Thanks!

[kjk]

That's exactly how it worked before and causing many bug reports.

[cooch17]

Thats because the 'wrong default' (for some) was specified in .0. The
user had to dig into advanced options to flip a switch for 'print as
image'.

So, why not either

(i) add a toggle to the standard options to let the user pick (best option)

(ii) change the defaults -- make the default 'print as image', but allow
the user to over-ride this using 'advanced options'.

Seems as if you've reduced flexibility with th 3.0 to 3.1 change: at
least in .0, user had a choice. Now, in 3.1, no choice at all. Wrong
direction for things (unless you're Apple, and reducing choice is the
'business model' ;-)

On 10/26/2015 4:10 PM, Krzysztof Kowalczyk wrote:

That's exactly how it worked before and causing many bug reports.

—
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub
https://github.com/sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf/issues/329#issuecomment-151268780.

[SumatraPeter]

Agree with whatever @cooch17 said - this should definitely be an option. If some people can't be bothered to edit the advanced options file to adjust behavior to what they prefer then too bad, but removing the option completely seems like an over-reaction to me. I'd be perfectly satisfied with "print as image" being the default as long as I can change it.

[mikeri]

Another "me too" comment. Print as Image in any PDF application (including Adobe Reader/Acrobat) is a general workaround when experiencing unexpected output. Leaving it on as default can be a rather heavy solution, as data transmission and processing can generate huge amounts of data, and removing the option completely with it set to on due to uninformed users is a potential deal breaker.

I really appreciate SumatraPDF, but can unfortunately not use versions newer then 3.0 for my workflow.

[yokosuna]

me too !

[chomee011]

992

"Print as image" is a serious problem, can you please add an option to disable it.

[benryanau]

Amen.

[naturmensch]

Just created an account to tell you that i feel the same :D i hope that it will be changed in the future, because i really like Sumatra and it is the only well-working opensource-reader there is for me.

[carculator]

Four years later, I´m pretty sure that this won´t change anymore. :-(

[rawtaz]

Just to be clear; Is there currently (at this point in time) no way to configure this for Sumatra? Not even in the settings file or even with a registry variable? It's one thing if there isn't a GUI for it, but it would be great it it could be changed more "manually".

[cooch17]

This is why I've given up on Sumatra (and why the IT staff at my university has now 'banned' Sumatra from any of the systems they maintain). Print as image without and option to change it, is overly Draconian.

Too bad, really. Sumatra used to be a wonderful application.

[rawtaz]

What other open source PDF reader alternatives are there? I haven't found any that seemed viable.

[cooch17]

Sure - xpdfreader. It is now my go-to option. Doesn't have all the features, but (shock!) it doesn't print everything as an image.

https://www.xpdfreader.com/

[rawtaz]

Too bad that XpdfReader isn't entirely open source, it's just part of it that is. Does anyone else know any (fully) open source Windows compatible PDF readers other than SumatraPDF?