1. Print/Print Preview
This plugin takes the place of the ‘Print’ button with the Mozilla ‘Print/Print Preview’ button. It works with Firefox versions 1.5 through 3.6. If you already have the ‘Print’ button on your toolbar, the change will be automatic. If you do not, simply click on ‘View’ then ‘Toolbars’ and ‘Customise’ to add it. Once added, there will be an additional arrow for the dropdown menu. It is a very useful extension that’s an easy fix for FF 3.5.5 and 3.6. This plugin is great for making PDF files of a page.
2. Print
When on a web page that you want to print, this add-on allows you to do so straight from the context menu. It uses the original FF commands much like those located in the file menu and not the javascript window.print. It also offers support for many locales-English, French, German, Italian, Korean and Thai.
3. PrintPDF
This plugin allows those using Windows and Linux to print web pages to PDF. It requires just one click to save a web page as a PDF file – much like the export button does in OpenOffice. It is a great extension but it should be noted that it doesn’t support printing the horizontal orientation of a page.
4. Print Context Menu
This extension provides you with the ability to print and preview web pages from the context menu. It is compatible with Firefox 1.5 through 3.5. If you have ever wanted to print something that was located inside a scrolling box, but couldn’t, or if you were only able to print what was visible, this add-on bypasses this type of web page design problem. It is quite useful and it is actually a bit surprising that this option is not included in Firefox in the first place.
5. Print Hint
This add-on assists you in quickly locating printer-friendly versions of web pages. A green icon indicates the presence of a ‘print stylesheet’ which are web pages that are in print-ready format. Click on the green icon to print. Some sites provide a separate page for printing. An orange icons shows that the add-on detects a link to a print version, so simply click on the orange icon to load the ‘print version’ of the page. In the most recent version of the extension, the icon is integrated into the browser’s print button. If you do not have the button on your toolbar, right click on toolbar then click ‘customise’ and simply drag the print icon to the toolbar.
6. Print Image
This last plugin adds “Print Image” to the context and it allows you to just print a single image on a page, which is very convenient and saves a good amount of ink when you do not necessarily want the entire page printed. It is a handy add-on that saves time. You may find that your pop-up blocker stops it before it gets to the print stage. If this is the case, disable your pop-up blocker, right click and print. Then close the unwanted tab and enable the pop-up blocker again. This is a guest post by Tom Walker who writes and designs for an online specialist supplier of HP 350 ink cartridges and toners for the print industry.
