Contents

How it works

FinePrint uses

Layout

Previewing and deleting pages

Deferred Printing

Double sided printing

Creating and using stationery

Creating and using forms (FormFactory)

Setting printer options (Options dialog)

Printer driver options - setting defaults

Registration Information

Technical Support


How It Works

FinePrint is a printer driver that sits between an application and a physical printer.  The FinePrint printer driver captures output from the application, scales it, applies stationery and then sends it to the destination printer.

Tip:  Sometimes it is desirable to have different settings for the physical printer depending on the FinePrint layout.  In this situation, you can install the physical printer under a different name and change the settings for that driver.  Both drivers will appear in the FinePrint Printer combo box and you can select the correct one without having to go the printer driver to change the settings.


FinePrint Uses

Saving paper:

Using 2, 4, or 8 up layout options can save a significant amount of paper when printing drafts, transcripts, computer source code, contracts, email, web pages or any other internal document.

Watermarks

Watermarks can be used to identify particular document properties or mark documents for archival storage.  Examples are Confidential, Draft, etc.  Custom watermarks can also be created.

Archival Document Storage

Documents printed 4 or 8 up can be stored in a much smaller space than documents printed in standard 1 up mode.

Booklets

The booklet feature can be used to create compact 2 up, double-sided booklets.

Scaling

FinePrint can scale a document to any size sheet of paper.  For example, legal size document content can be printed on letter size paper or A4 content can be printed on letter size paper.

Forms

Forms can be created from any application.  You can create a form and then print other content on top of the form as you would with pre-printed letterhead.  See FormFactory for further information.


Printing Options

FinePrint has flexible options for layout of print jobs.

Layout

Borders

Page Ordering

Stationery Combo Box

Printer Combo Box

Margins

Double Sided


Layout

The Layout options allow you to set the number of pages to be printed on a single sheet of paper.  For example, 2 up means that two pages will be printed on a single sheet of paper.

1 up

Use this setting when you want to print a document in the same size as it would print without Fine Print but want to print on Fine Print electronic stationery.

2 up

This is the default setting and is the most commonly used option.  Almost all documents are readable printed at 2 up which results in a 50% reduction in printed paper.  Document drafts, legal briefs, email, computer source code, etc can be printed at 2 up with excellent results.  It is also the best setting for printing to a fax modem.  Note that fax users should use the high-resolution (200dpi) setting on the fax modem software before printing.

4 up

This is an excellent choice for those documents which contain text in sizes larger than 10 points.  The text is generally readable and paper usage is reduced by 75%.  Review copies of large manuals may be printed using 4 up as well as court transcripts and presentations.  4 up is also a good choice for archiving documents that must be stored in printed form. In 4 up mode, the page ordering feature is available.

8 up

This setting is a good choice for handouts of presentations or any other document where the point sizes are larger than 14.  8 up offers the maximum paper compression and is suitable for archival documents. In 8 up mode, the page ordering feature is available.

Booklet

This setting will create a 2 up double sided booklet.  Booklets are useful for presentations, brochures, or other applications where a compact format is desired.

Borders

Smart - draws borders according the Ordering setting (see below).

On - draws borders around each page

Off - turns borders drawing off

Ordering

Down - draws the pages down before drawing them across the sheet of paper in 4 and 8 up modes.  For example, in 4 up mode, the page ordering would be:

1	3

2	4

Across - draws the pages across before drawing them down the sheet of paper in 4 and 8 up modes.  For example, in 4 up mode, the page ordering would be:

1	2

3	4


Borders

Smart

Draws the borders depending on the page ordering setting.  Indicates the order in which pages should be read in 4 or 8 up mode.

On

Turns borders on.

Off

Turns borders off.  In some cases, turning borders off yields larger output because the entire sheet of paper can be used for printing.


Page Ordering

Across

Orders the document pages in 4 or 8 up mode so that they are printed across the page before they are printed down.  For example, in 4 up mode the ordering would look like this:

1    2

3    4

Down

Orders the document pages in 4 or 8 up mode so that they are printed down the page before they are printed across.  For example, in 4 up mode the ordering would look like this:

1    3

2    4


Previewing
Previewing and deleting pages

Previewing

FinePrint will display the actual pages of the print job when it is run in  after printing is complete mode.  The scroll bar to the right of the page display view can be used to scroll through the document.  Moving the cursor over a page and clicking with the magnifying glass cursor will zoom in on the page in a large window.  Pressing the Esc key or clicking on the zoomed page with the magnifying glass cursor will revert to normal mode.

Deleting and undeleting pages

You can delete a single page or an entire job from the set of pages to be printed.  This is useful for deleting empty web pages from a web browser print job or to delete pages that were accidently printed.  Simply right-click the page you want to delete and select either:

Delete this page - deletes the current page

Delete this job - deletes the current page and all other pages in the job that contains the page.

To undelete a page or job, right click on any page and select one of the following:

Undelete all - undeletes all previously deleted pages and jobs.

Show deleted - displays deleted pages with a red "X" drawn over them.  In this mode, the following options are available by right-clicking on a page:

undelete this page - undeletes the page

undelete this job - undeletes the job containing the page

hide deleted - hides the deleted pages

Note: if show deleted pages is selected, deleted pages are drawn on the screen but they are not printed.


Deferred Printing

FinePrint can defer the printing of jobs so that you can accumulate a large number of pages before printing.  This is useful for short items such as web pages or email that might not be long enough to print at 2 or 4 up.

Press the Defer button at the bottom of the FinePrint window.  When the Defer button is pressed for the first time, a window will appear in the Task Bar that indicates the number of deferred jobs.  When you want to print the deferred jobs, simply double-click the FinePrint icon in the Task Bar and the FinePrint dialog will appear allowing you set the print options.

You can disable the display of the FinePrint dialog box by pressing the Defer All button.  The Defer/Defer All button is toggled by pressing the Shift key in while in the Layout tab.


Creating and using stationery

A saved collection of header, footer and watermark is referred to as a stationery.  Stationery can be saved and applied to documents.  FinePrint comes with a few pre-defined stationery items.  You can also create your own custom stationery.  Click the Stationery tab located at the top of the FinePrint window to edit and create new electronic stationery.

Stationery Combo Box

This box allows you to select the stationery to edit.  Simply select the stationery you want and it will be shown in the preview window.

New button

Select this button when you want to create a new blank stationery.  A dialog box will appear prompting you for the stationery name.

Delete button

Select this button when you want to delete the currently selected stationery.  Note that the "Blank" stationery cannot be deleted.

Rename button

Select this button when you want to rename the currently selected stationery.  Note that the "Blank" stationery cannot be renamed.

Save button

After you have made changes to the selected stationery, press the save button.  You can save it under the same name or use a different name to create a new stationery.

Header button

Displays the header (the text at the top of the preview window) and allows it to be edited.

Footer button

Displays the header (the text at the bottom of the preview window) and allows it to be edited.

Watermark button

Displays the watermark (the text at the center of the preview window) and allows it to be edited.

Job Name button

Prints the name of the print job.  The job name is dependent on the application but typically it is the name of the application followed by the file name.  An example of a job name is: Microsoft Word - MyFile.doc

Date button

Inserts the current date into the text.  The date will be updated whenever the document is printed.

Time button

Inserts the current time into the text.  The time will be updated whenever the document is printed.

Page Number button

Inserts the page number and the total number of printed sheets.  This can be used for documents that do not have the page number as part of the document content.

Change Font button

Changes the font of the currently selected stationery header, footer or watermark.  The font displayed in the preview window is not the same size as it will appear on the paper when printed.


Printer driver options - setting defaults

These options are available from the FinePrint printer driver icon in the printers folder.  Right-click the FinePrint icon and select Document Defaults,

Paper size

FinePrint supports a large number of paper sizes.  This option sets the default paper size.

Orientation

Set this option to either portrait or landscape.

Show Fine Print Dialog

•	After printing is complete

This is the default mode.  The FinePrint dialog box is displayed after the application has completed spooling the job to the printer.  In this mode, the output is available for preview by FinePrint.  There may be a delay between the time that the application finished the job and the FinePrint dialog appears.

•	Before printing starts

Use this mode if you have a long print job and you do not want to wait until the job finishes before leaving your computer.  Preview is not available in this mode, but SmartScaling will be done.

•	Not at all

This mode is useful is you never or rarely change your print settings.  The FinePrint dialog will not appear and the job will be sent to the printer using the previously defined settings.


Stationery Combo Box

This combo box allows you to select from a list of extisting stationery .  When you select a stationery, the preview display will update to show you how the page will appear when printed.


Printer Combo Box

This combo box allows you to select the printer device to which the document will be printed.  This is usually a laser printer or a fax device.   Network printers are supported as well.


Margins

The amount of space to be left between the page boundaries and the document content can be controlled by using the margin options.  None, small, medium and large options will result in the content being scaled to fit the available area.  The original setting indicates that the margin scaling should remain that of the original document.  This setting can result in smaller output than using one of the other settings.


Double Sided
Double Sided Printing

FinePrint supports printing on both sides of the paper.  This procedure is referred to as duplex or double-sided printing.  Checking the double-sided checkbox indicates that you want FinePrint to do duplex printing.  Printers handle double-sided printing differently.  Set the correct paper handling in the Options dialog box.


Options Dialog

This dialog allows changing the settings for each of the available printers.  Since printers have different methods of paper handling, this dialog allows you to have different settings for each.

Duplex Processing

When the double-sided option is selected, the following settings determine how the pages are printed.

There are three options and you must select the correct one for proper creation of double-sided pages and booklets.  It is not always obvious which is the correct method so experimentation may be required:

•	Printer has automatic duplex
Some printers have special hardware that supports double-sided printing.  Select this option if your printer has duplex hardware.  If your printer is not capable of automatic duplex printing, FinePrint will print one side of all the sheets required for the print job and then the other side.

•	Manual Duplex by placing the paper FACE UP in the tray.
Use this choice if your printer requires to you re-insert the paper with the printed side facing up (visible) in the paper tray.  You will be prompted to

•	Manual Duplex by placing the paper FACE DOWN in the tray.
Use this choice if your printer requires to you re-insert the paper with the printed side facing down (not visible) in the paper tray.

After FinePrint is done printing all of the front sides of the sheets, a dialog box will appear asking you to re-insert the pages into the printer for printing on the backside (side that has not yet been printed) of the sheets.  Press OK on the dialog box when the sheets have been re-inserted into the printer.

Duplex Orientation

This combo box is enabled only when the automatic duplex option is selected (see above).  The combo box alllows the selection of the orientation of the printed pages on the back side of the sheet of paper.  The options are:

•	long side - prints duplex where you flip the pages along the longer side of the paper.  This is the default choice and is useful for standard 3 hole binding.

•	short side - prints duplex where you flip the pages along the shorter side of the paper.  This choice is useful when you are binding a group of pages from the short side.

•	same front and back - prints duplex with the same orientation on the front and back sides.  This choice is useful when the printed document is stapled.

•	flip front and back - prints duplex with opposite orientations on the front and back sides.

Printer Corrections

While FinePrint works correctly on most printers, some printers require a correction .  For this reason, FinePrint provides corrective measures for some features.  They are:

Landscape duplex correction

Some printers, notably the HP Laserjet 4000, require an adjustment in order to have the back sides of the sheets print in the proper orientation.  If you are printing booklets and the back sides are reversed, check this box.  This option applies only to printers that have automatic duplex.

PDF font correction

Check this box if your fonts are not printed correctly from Adobe Acrobat.

Colored Text Processing

•	Draw Normally
In most cases, colored text will print correctly with this option.

•	Color correction
This option should be selected if colored text is missing or if watermarks do not print or are printed in black.

•	Convert to black
Select this option if you prefer that all colored text be drawn as black.

Extra Margins

Set this option if you are missing any borders.  This adjustment increases the margin from the sheet by the specified number of pixels.

Test Page

FinePrint will print a test page showing how the various corrections affect the document.  It is useful for determining the correct number of pixels to apply to extra margins.

Reverse Printing

This option is useful for inkjet or other printers that require manual reverse collation of pages when printing is complete.  Note that this option may be required for proper operation of  double-sided printing if you have such a printer.  If your printer delivers pages in the reverse order, you should check this option before attempting double-sided printing.  Checking this option would, for example, print the pages of a 5 page document in the following order: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Properties button

This button displays the properties dialog associated with the currently selected printer.


Registration Information

FinePrint is shareware, which means that you are expected to pay for it if you decide to use it. Registering with us entitles you to receive all future maintenance releases and unlimited technical support via email.

You may register in one of three ways:

Credit Card Only

via secure transaction at www.singletrack.com/registration.html.  You will receive your serial number immediately

Fax and Mail

Click the Register tab on the FinePrint window and click the Registration Form button.  You will be prompted to enter a serial number from a previous version which will enable you to purchase an upgrade.  If you have not purchased a previous version, leave the fields blank.

Fill out the form and mail or fax to the address printed on the form.

Purchase Orders

Corporate purchase orders ay be mailed or faxed directly to us:

Single Track Software

701 Minnesota St #201

San Francisco, CA 94107

Fax: 415-695-4081

When payment is received, you will receive a registration key which you then enter into FinePrint after clicking the Register tab. Once you have entered your key, two things will happen:

1. The registration reminder message printed on each page will be removed.

2. The 12 page limit will be removed.

Your registration entitles you to use the product on Windows 95/98 or Windows NT on the same computer.


Technical Support

We are committed to providing excellent technical support for our customers.  Answers to frequently asked questions can be found on the Technical Support page of our website.   Please check this page before sending a support request.

If you need support, please email us at support@singletrack.com.  Include the following information with your support request:

1.  Version of FinePrint you are running.

2.  Whether you are using Windows 95 or Windows NT.

3.  An exact description of your problem including any error messages displayed.

4.  If you are having problems with a specific document, send an attachment containing the smallest part of the document that demonstrates the problem.  This will help us reproduce and fix the problem.


Creating and using forms
Creating and using forms (FormFactory)

A form is a FinePrint job that has been saved so that new printed output can be placed on top of it.  For example, forms can be used to save your letterhead so that you do not need to purchase, store and load pre-printed letterhead.  You can also use forms for invoices, purchase orders, memoranda, etc.

Creating a form

1.  Create the form in any application and select the Print command.  Select the FinePrint driver.

2.  When the FinePrint dialog appears, click the FormFactory (patent pending) tab.  Your document will appear in the preview window.

3.  Select the New button and name your form.  Examples might be, "My letterhead", or "Invoice form".

4.  Depending on the length of the form, you will have additional options that control how the form will be printed.

5.  Set the printing option.  The form pages will be repeated in sequence with any document pages unless either of the two options are selected:

Print on first page only - this option applies to single page forms only and signifies that the form will be printed on the first page of the document and not on subsequent pages.

Repeat second page - this option applies to 2 page forms only.  It signifies that instead of repeating the sequence of two pages, that the second page of the form should be used for all document pages other than the first.

5.  That's it!  Now, go back to the Layout tab.  If you want you can print your form or you can exit by clicking the Cancel button.

Using Forms

Now that the form is created, you can print other jobs on top of it.  This is done as follows:

Print the job in the normal FinePrint method.  When the dialog box appears, select the name of the form you want from the Form combo box near the bottom of the screen.  The preview window will display your current print job on top of the selected form.

It is recommended that you use the original setting in the Margins combo box when using forms for final output.  This will ensure that the alignment is true to the original paper dimensions.

Editing the Form List

Rename button - renames the selected form.

Delete button - deletes the selected form.