can't print illustration

can anyone help me please?

I am using illustrator 10 under windows xp, printing to lexmark x1160.(usb)
(athlon2400+2.01ghx and 1 gbite of ram)

But...all I get when sending a print job is the same message

'can't print illustration', I have had the same message at work on a much
older slower machine, a simple reboot is effective there, suggesting a memory
issue?

I dont know?

Could be transparancy issues. If you have any transparancies, they might be creating massive postscript files that are crashing the print job. If you have PS, try saving your image as an eps and then opening it in PS to rasterize it. Otherwise you can also flatten your illustration in Illustrator. Also, make sure it's in CMYK mode. It will still print in RGB, but its a good habit to get into.

Also, make sure it's in CMYK mode. It will still print in RGB, but its a good habit to get into

Most home printers are still geared towards RGB output, only a few of the more pro hobbyist printers and above are setup for CMYK.

However, I concede that it is sensible to use a CMYK workflow over RGB. I was also going to ask about the size of your postcript files, is it queing it the print jobs or not even getting that far?

sometimes if you have alot of vectors it helps to rastorize them before printing.. asuming that was the case

Check your ink cartridges. The last 2 printers I have had used CMYK ink cartridged. I think home printers are getting away from using RGB. (and was some HP pos and current Lexmark pos. Never buy a Lexmark again. I curse that Staples salesman taking advantage of my printer newbiness)

curse that Staples salesman taking advantage of my printer newbiness

Amen to that. We have all been there. I have a naff printer and seem stuck in a rut of not wanting to buy a hobby printer, but not being able to afford an a3 printer of repute.

I found my Lexmark worked the best when I stuck it into one of those giant water-balloon slingshots and fired it into the Pacific... :p

Dang, can you send me that Slingshot?