The print progress names its last step for what it does (preparing the print), and lets it paint before the print image is drawn

library/components/poster/PosterWall.vue

@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ const STEP_EN = {
   records: 'loading the people groups', boundaries: 'loading the map outlines', generator: 'loading the poster engine',
   'map-frame': 'fitting the map', neighbours: 'drawing the neighbouring provinces', seas: 'naming the seas',
   pins: 'placing the pins', 'side-lanes': 'laying out the side lanes', cities: 'adding the cities',
-  names: 'placing the names', header: 'writing the header', print: 'opening the print dialog',
+  names: 'placing the names', header: 'writing the header', print: 'preparing the print',
 }
 const stepKey = (name) => name.replace(/-([a-z])/g, (m, c) => c.toUpperCase())
 const nowMs = ref(Date.now())
@@ -616,6 +616,8 @@ async function exportPoster(item) {
         // (60in 96in), where an image of it would be shrunk onto letter. A download still rasterises, without them.
         if (props.posterAction === 'print' && hasExternalImages(html)) { await printSheetDocument(html); return }
         step('print')
+        // let the step paint before the raster starts: the SVG decode below holds the page while it draws
+        await new Promise((r) => (typeof requestAnimationFrame === 'function' ? requestAnimationFrame(() => setTimeout(r, 0)) : setTimeout(r, 0)))
         const blob = await rasterPoster(html, { scale: 2 })
         if (await looksRendered(blob)) { await deliverPoster(blob, item); return }
       }

library/i18n/locales/ar/wall.json

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
       "cities": "adding the cities",
       "names": "placing the names",
       "header": "writing the header",
-      "print": "opening the print dialog"
+      "print": "preparing the print"
     },
     "stepOf": "step {n} of {m}",
     "elapsed": "{s} s"

library/i18n/locales/de/wall.json

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
       "cities": "adding the cities",
       "names": "placing the names",
       "header": "writing the header",
-      "print": "opening the print dialog"
+      "print": "preparing the print"
     },
     "stepOf": "step {n} of {m}",
     "elapsed": "{s} s"

library/i18n/locales/en/wall.json

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
       "cities": "adding the cities",
       "names": "placing the names",
       "header": "writing the header",
-      "print": "opening the print dialog"
+      "print": "preparing the print"
     },
     "stepOf": "step {n} of {m}",
     "elapsed": "{s} s"

library/i18n/locales/es/wall.json

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
       "cities": "adding the cities",
       "names": "placing the names",
       "header": "writing the header",
-      "print": "opening the print dialog"
+      "print": "preparing the print"
     },
     "stepOf": "step {n} of {m}",
     "elapsed": "{s} s"

library/i18n/locales/fr/wall.json

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
       "cities": "adding the cities",
       "names": "placing the names",
       "header": "writing the header",
-      "print": "opening the print dialog"
+      "print": "preparing the print"
     },
     "stepOf": "step {n} of {m}",
     "elapsed": "{s} s"

library/i18n/locales/hi/wall.json

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
       "cities": "adding the cities",
       "names": "placing the names",
       "header": "writing the header",
-      "print": "opening the print dialog"
+      "print": "preparing the print"
     },
     "stepOf": "step {n} of {m}",
     "elapsed": "{s} s"

library/i18n/locales/it/wall.json

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
       "cities": "adding the cities",
       "names": "placing the names",
       "header": "writing the header",
-      "print": "opening the print dialog"
+      "print": "preparing the print"
     },
     "stepOf": "step {n} of {m}",
     "elapsed": "{s} s"

library/i18n/locales/pt/wall.json

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
       "cities": "adding the cities",
       "names": "placing the names",
       "header": "writing the header",
-      "print": "opening the print dialog"
+      "print": "preparing the print"
     },
     "stepOf": "step {n} of {m}",
     "elapsed": "{s} s"

library/i18n/locales/ro/wall.json

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
       "cities": "adding the cities",
       "names": "placing the names",
       "header": "writing the header",
-      "print": "opening the print dialog"
+      "print": "preparing the print"
     },
     "stepOf": "step {n} of {m}",
     "elapsed": "{s} s"

library/i18n/locales/ru/wall.json

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
       "cities": "adding the cities",
       "names": "placing the names",
       "header": "writing the header",
-      "print": "opening the print dialog"
+      "print": "preparing the print"
     },
     "stepOf": "step {n} of {m}",
     "elapsed": "{s} s"

library/i18n/locales/zh/wall.json

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
       "cities": "adding the cities",
       "names": "placing the names",
       "header": "writing the header",
-      "print": "opening the print dialog"
+      "print": "preparing the print"
     },
     "stepOf": "step {n} of {m}",
     "elapsed": "{s} s"