How to print automatically a simple picture from MAX to a USB Printer ?

Felon's icon

Hello everybody,

I'm in need of doing a simple but complex operation into one of my MAX patches for a live show I'm working on now:

I need to automate the printing of a simple JPEG (or PNG) file (always the same) from my MAX patch , to a simple USB Printer connected to the PC.

It should print automatically the picture after a video sequence ends (so without someone).

That's it. I've looked at some threads, but it's old and too complex for me. I'm quite a beginner in MAX, so it would be awesome if somebody could help me with a simple process.
I'm sure there's a simple way to do that with MAX.

Thank you !

Felix

Rob Ramirez's icon

interacting with printers is not supported directly from max, but that does not mean it isn’t possible.

this forum thread contains information on how to use the shell object to call a script with printing commands. that would be my recommended route of investigation.

the shell external can be dowloaded here: http://expr-i0.net/shell_170717.zip

this forum thread contains some info on it’s use: https://cycling74.com/forums/shell-2013

Felon's icon

Thank you again Rob, a friend of mine gave me a tip : using IrfanView software could work, with a text code. But I need to try, I come back as soon as possible, if it works or not (I would probably need some advice on shell object).

Felix

Felon's icon

So, news: Yes it worked like that !
Using IrfanView as a background application with the printing process launched by a text.bat, launched himself directly from a command in MAX with the shell object.

Recap: line command in MAX launch the text.bat file through shell object, line command in text.bat file launch the printing process through IrfanView.

Maybe there's another way in windows, but this worked.

Fantastic.