A printing method is described that allows the user to conveniently either
print a document, or generate an output file from it in a desired image
file format and save the file for late use, or both at once. The user
opens a document using an application, and issues a print request. From
the print dialog box, the user chooses to set printing preferences. The
print preferences dialog box includes an "output file" tab allowing the
user to specify whether an output file is to be generated, specify an
output file format, specify a destination for saving the output file, and
specify whether hard copies of the document are to be printed on the
printer. The method may be implemented as a part of a printer driver
program.