System:  MS Windows XP Prof. 2002, Service Pack 2, Intel Pentium 4 CPU
3.2 GHz, 1 GHz RAM, 120 GB HD, DVD-RW Drive, 3-1/2 Floppy, HP ScanJet
6300C, Lexmark Optra T614.
  
Problem:  I have 500 .tif files in a folder on a CD and need to print
them out quickly.  Each file consists of one 8-1/2 x 11 page.  I also
have Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Professional.  Since it takes forever to print
out each file one at a time, I want to combine all these files into
one file so I can print all 500 of 'em out at once (or possibly use
some special software that I don't currently have).  I tried
converting each file into a .pdf file and then combining the files by
inserting them, one at a time, into an Adobe .pdf file -- this works,
but takes forever!  It took me almost 2 hours to combine 90 files.
 
Question:  (1) Is there some special way I can use Adobe Acrobat 6.0
Prof. to do this job quickly? -- and if so, please give me
step-by-step directions; or (2) Is there some other software I can
purchase that will allow me to possibly combine these files print them
out rapidly?  I have over 10,000 .tif files distributed about evenly
in approximately 20 separate folders that will eventually have to be
printed out, and I don't feel like paying the totally outrageous
prices charged by FedEx/Kinko and similar document-handling companies
to do this job, nor do I feel like taking WEEKS to do the job myself.

Hello Frank2-ga

Thank-you for your question.  

If I understand your problem correctly you have 500 TIF images in a
folder that you simply wish to print out, one after another.  You also
have a large number of additional images that you require to print out
in the same manner.

As you already know, the speed of the printing of the images is
governed by the speed of your printer so this step cannot really be
speeded up (without buying a faster printer!).  What can be speeded up
is how you go about printing the images and this is what you have
tried to address with Adobe Acrobat - having all the images all in one
document means you only have to open one document and press print
once.

However, I think combining the images into one document is not the
correct way to go about this problem, since you are using TIF images
these are probably already quite large in size and a document
combining them will soon become cumbersome and difficult to work with.

I would suggest using a piece of image management that can automate
the task for you.  Google has recently upgraded its Picasa software
and I believe that this will easily accomplish your task.  Best of all
Picasa is FREE and couldn't be easier to use!  Picasa can take all (or
a selection of) the images from one folder and print out each one
individually.

You can download Picasa here:  http://www.picasa.com

To use the software simply download the file from the Picasa website
and install it as you would normally.  When you run it for the first
time Picasa will look for image files on your computer, you can either
stop this process or allow it to continue.

You will also need to copy the TIF files from your CD onto your
computer hard drive.  In Picasa go to Tools->Folder Manager on the
menu bar and instruct Picasa to index the folder you created with the
images from the CD.

Once Picasa has finished indexing your images, simply select all the
images you wish to print out and go to File->Print.  A window/wizard
should then open with several different print options, including print
each image on a seperate piece of paper or compile a wallet-sized
preview of your selection.

I hope you will agree that this is a much simpler solution than
creating one document with an image on each page and if I understand
your problem correctly will achieve what you are looking to do.

If you require any further assistance on this subject please ask for
clarification and I will do my best to respond swiftly.

---

Clarification of Answer by palitoy-ga on 27 Jan 2005 06:33 PST

I forgot to add this is the direct link to the Picasa printing guide
on their website:

http://www.picasa.com/features/features-print.php

Monday, I printed about 20 different .tif files by selecting them in
windows explorer, right clicking, and selecting print. It worked even
better than printing them separately, since it defaulted to a larger
size that filled the page with the images.

No charge for this answer.

Found this answer when googling on how to print tif files.  Super
suggestion to use Picasa!  Works like a champ.  Was able to take 12
tif schematics, resize to fit 11"x17" and print all in one quick job.