This article describes the benefit of changing the preferred memory size of the Desktop PrintMonitor or a given Desktop Printer.
Desktop PrintMonitor's Preferred Memory
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The Desktop PrintMonitor requires approximately 6K for each Desktop Printer created on a 680x0 Macintosh computer and 9K for each Desktop Printer on a Power Macintosh computer. The default setting of 160K lets you create approximately eight Desktop Printers on a 680x0 Macintosh and four on a Power Macintosh.
If you create more Desktop Printers than can be supported by the Desktop PrintMonitor, an appropriate alert is given the next time you attempt to print. This alert instructs you to increase the memory size of the Desktop PrintMonitor, but does not indicate by how much. If you follow the 6K per printer for 680x0 Macintosh computers and 9K per printer for Power Macintosh computers rule of thumb when adjusting memory, you will avoid further low memory problems with the Desktop PrintMonitor.
Desktop Printer's Preferred Memory
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Increasing the preferred memory size in a Desktop Printer's Get Info window lets the Desktop Printer handle larger, more complex print jobs without asking you to increase memory to the printer. Most of the time, you never have to make adjustments to a Desktop Printer's memory size.
The default memory size for Desktop Printers will be ample for most printing tasks. When it is not, the Desktop Printer temporarily increases its memory size by 50%. If this adjustment is not adequate, a message appears asking if you would like the Desktop Printer to temporarily adjust its size an additional 50%.
You may need to permanently increase a Desktop Printer's memory if you regularly print large, complex documents. A typical document of this type might include a full page, true color image, employ ColorSync, and print to a color laser printer.
This article was published in the "Information Alley":
Volume II, Issue 11, Page 12
Article Change History:
29 Sep 1995 - Added Info Alley information; updated article.
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