How to Fix Large Boxes When Printing PowerPoint PNG Images and WordArt
Question details
The user needs to fix an issue where large unwanted boxes appear around PNG images or WordArt when printing PowerPoint slides.
- Product
- PowerPoint
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Printing presentation slides that contain transparent PNG images or WordArt graphics directly to a physical printer.
- Observed behavior
- Large boxes appear on the physical printout surrounding the PNG images or WordArt, even though the print preview and PDF exports render perfectly.
Ensure your printer is properly connected to your Mac and turned on. It is also helpful to print a test page from another application to verify if the issue is isolated to PowerPoint.
Update macOS and Printer Drivers
Since the digital previews are rendering correctly, the issue is likely caused by an outdated or corrupted macOS printer driver that fails to translate transparency channels.
Printer manufacturers frequently release driver updates to patch communication bugs between macOS and the printer hardware. Keeping your system and drivers updated ensures complex graphics like transparent PNGs are processed correctly.
Go to the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update to check for and install the latest macOS updates.
Click the Apple menu and select 'Restart...' to apply pending system updates and refresh the printing service.
Visit your printer manufacturer's official support website, search for your specific printer model, and download the latest drivers or firmware for macOS.
Run the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen prompts to update your printer software.
Reset the Mac Printing System
If updating the drivers does not resolve the glitch, resetting the Mac printing system will clear out corrupted printer configurations and stuck print queues.
Export to PDF and Print via Preview
Since the presentation exports correctly to PDF, you can use this as a reliable workaround to print your slides without encountering the large box glitch.
Use WPS Presentation to Print Slides Without Glitches
If you continue to experience printing bugs with complex graphics on your Mac, WPS Office offers a robust presentation tool that correctly handles transparent PNGs and WordArt, ensuring your printed slides look exactly like your digital preview.
- 1. Open your file in WPS Presentation: Launch WPS Office and open your existing PowerPoint (.pptx) file containing the PNG images or WordArt.
- 2. Check the print preview: Click on the 'Print Preview' icon in the top toolbar to ensure all graphics and transparent elements are rendering correctly.
- 3. Print the presentation: Go to Menu > Print. Select your printer, adjust your print settings, and click 'Print' to get flawless physical copies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do transparent PNGs print with solid backgrounds in PowerPoint?
This is typically caused by a translation error between macOS, the presentation software, and the printer driver. The driver fails to process the alpha channel (transparency) correctly, resulting in the printer defaulting to a solid box around the graphic.
Can corrupted WordArt cause printing issues on a Mac?
Yes. Complex WordArt features like drop shadows, 3D rotations, and gradients require significant processing. If the printer memory is low or the driver is outdated, the printer may replace the complex graphic with a solid placeholder box.
Will resetting my Mac's printing system delete my scanned documents?
No. Resetting the printing system only removes your configured printers, scanners, and pending print jobs from the system queue. It does not delete any saved files, applications, or previously scanned documents on your computer's hard drive.
