Print quality issue on Dot Matrix printer (Epson LQ-2180) in SumatraPDF 3.4.6 via CLI #5204
Replies: 2 comments 11 replies
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Generally not but since it is a 360 x360/180 dpi ribbon printer I would suggest it is unsuited to WinPrn2 technology Those printers were good for Early Windows and Dos/Novel etc but for Modern Windows not good for 600 dpi image RASTER printing. Thats where you're likely to get dropouts as not a good match. Current PrintAsImage technology is perfect for inkjets as many work at 150 300 dpi so the thicker ink bleed covers the gaps. To convert a Vector line such as in a PDF into a 1/360" wire pattern you need a 360dpi driver and thus that's why Acrobat will always win as it edits the dots to suit the printer. Similar for Windows Apps like Acrobat in Edge they adjust the patterns in the GDI handlers so Edge etc are probably much better than the fixed ratio SumatraPDF is given from System Defaults. Only Way I can think you would get a better result is use a graphics app to adapt image density to better align the Windows image with the 360 LPI but that's a tricky ratio as 6/5 or 5/6 so would need a lot of memory and be slow. |
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Please just print to PDF and then print from the PDF app that prints the best for you
From: M.Irfan Ramadhan Pasaribu ***@***.***>
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Subject: [Legacy Email] Re: [sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf] Print quality issue on Dot Matrix printer (Epson LQ-2180) in SumatraPDF 3.4.6 via CLI (Discussion #5204)
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In short, I would like to ask for a practical solution for my case. I am using SumatraPDF 3.4.6 (32-bit) with a dot matrix printer, and the printed output shows poor line quality with dotted or broken lines. Is there any recommended configuration, driver setting, or supported workaround to improve the print quality for dot matrix printers in this version?
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Hello SumatraPDF community and developers,
First of all, thank you for maintaining SumatraPDF. It has been very helpful for our printing automation needs.
I would like to ask for advice regarding a print quality issue I am experiencing on a dot matrix printer.
I am using SumatraPDF 3.4.6 (32-bit) to print PDF files via command line (CLI) to an Epson LQ-2180 (ESC/P2) dot matrix printer. In my case, the printed output shows very dotted and broken lines, especially on borders and straight lines.
For comparison, I have attached two photos:
Photo 1: Output printed using SumatraPDF 3.4.6 (lines appear dotted and thin)
Photo 2: Output printed using the browser’s built-in print dialog (lines appear smooth, solid, and clearly thicker)
Additionally, I have tested SumatraPDF 2.1.1, and the print quality on the same printer is much better and not dotted. However, the limitation with this older version is that it does not support print configuration via CLI (paper size, orientation, etc.), which is required for our automated printing workflow.
My questions are:
Is this dotted line output in newer versions (3.x) a known behavior or limitation when printing to dot matrix printers?
Are there any recommended settings (DPI, scaling mode, rendering options, or CLI parameters) to improve line quality on dot matrix printers?
Is there any possibility to achieve print quality similar to older versions (2.x) while still using CLI features available in 3.x?
If possible, I would also like to ask whether this dot matrix print quality issue could be considered for improvement or adjustment in a future SumatraPDF release
I have already done some research and testing on my side, but I would really appreciate guidance from the community or developers on the best approach to handle this case.
Thank you very much for your time and support.
Best regards,
Irfan
PHOTO 1 ( SumatraPDF-3.4.6-32.exe CLI ) :

PHOTO 2 ( Edge Browser Printer ) :

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