[cairo] generation of inefficient postscript?

[Adrian Johnson]

Adam Goode wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I'm observing a bad behavior when printing from a newer Evince.
> Specifically, PDF files with images usually crash the printer. This does
> not happen with xpdf, acroread, etc. The printer is a midrange HP
> LaserJet 1320. I am using the native PostScript mode of the printer.
> 
> It looks like xpdf and acroread are pretty straightforward about how
> they convert images from PDF to PS. Often the image data is passed
> through basically unchanged, and the PS image operator is used. This is
> good, since my printer seems to efficiently implement the image operator.
> 
> cairo (as used by Evince for printing) seems to take a more generic
> route, converting images (and other things) into patterns. This makes
> sense, as cairo is somewhat removed from the PDF reading. Unfortunately,
> my HP printer chokes on large patterns. (Small patterns will work, but
> extremely slowly.) I have to powercycle to recover.

I have been aware that the use of patterns for non repeating images is
not ideal and started work on a patch to fix this. However this had been
a low priority as I had not previously seen any problems reported.

This is obviously something that needs to be fixed before 1.6.