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How do i print a drawing the size that i want???

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RCduck7

MIS
Dec 23, 2007
7
BE
I'm only just using adobe illustrator 10.
I have a drawing that should be 227,00 mm by 160,00 mm.
When i print the drawing it is only 179,00 mm by 126,00 mm.
I want to print it at the actual size so i tried zooming in but the printer ignores that and still prints the drawing in the small size.
Went to print setup but it seems the settings to make the drawing bigger is allready 100% and it seems i can only make it smaller.
I'm certain that i overlook something as i'm new to adobe illustrator.
Can someone help me out on this??
 

...in illustrator preferences check your settings are in mm...

...you can also do this by a right click on the ruler measure that surrounds the document window (view > show rulers)...

Andrew
 
...also ensure you have the option 'do not scale' turned on in the print set up dialog...

...ensure media size in print set up is the size of paper you are printing to, i assume A4 (297 x 210mm)...

Andrew
 

...also, check that the printer driver isn't scaling it, at the moment you have scaling of 78.85% going on somewhere, assuming the artwork really is in mm...

...it sounds to me you may have a media size of A5 perhaps, with trim marks on?

Andrew
 
I have seen by showing the rules in mm the drawing is only about 175mm instead of 227mm.
The drawing has to be used as an example to cut out a metal plate.
I want the drawing to be the exact size (227mm by 160mm) as an example to what the finished product (the metal plate) should be.
As i zoom in the drawing with the 'navigator" option the rules in mm go bigger with it to.
This way i can't seem to make the drawing bigger, it's just zoomed in.
Since the actual drawing is smaller then the 227mm it should be i can't print it out in the desired size.
How can i print out the drawing bigger??
 
...either manually change it to the correct size using the scale tool or transform palette or print to scale in your print settings...

...percentage can be calculated as follows:

output width / original width (x 100) = Percentage Required

...your would therefore be 227/175 (x100) = 129.71 %

Andrew
 
I'm sorry I'm just laughing at this thread.

Select everything and go to WINDOWS>TRANSFORM and enter the size.

I'm sorry for laughing, but zooming in does nothing regards to output. Whatever size it is is the size it will print. You have to physically make it the size you want.

I'm really sorry but this is the weirdest and funniest thing I've seen in ages.
 
...worth noting that simply selecting everything and tapping in a width and height may not always work as the selection in some cases can sometimes include elements that extend a given area (clipping masks), so the width and height would include a calculation of all elements selected...

...use the scale tool to get a required size in these circumstances...

...also not all desktop printers are completely perfect either, so might not be mm accurate with regards to "what you see is what you get"...

Andrew
 
Eugenetyson... I am aware that zooming doesn't physically make the drawing bigger.
I asked the sender from where i have the drawing from and read lots of different things to print the drawing the size i want.
Sorry if it makes you laugh but why won't you put your money where your mouth is and let me send you the file by email and make it the appropiate size that is stated on the drawing???
I know of software that is peace of cake to work on as i am used working on it but everyone was a newbie on something once.
 
Hi RC...

...don't let the Tyson get to you, i'm sure he can forgive those not to know, what with Christmas and New Year upon us...

...moving on...

...have you had any success with scaling at print (or using the scale tool) using the output width divided by original width formula?

Andrew
 
RCduck7 (MIS)

I don't want to seem condescending. Sorry if I came across that way. I wasn't laughing at your solution or your school of thought on it. It was a laughing directed at you at all.

I would take a look at your file if you wish. I've looked at many documents from folks on tek-tips and I would be happy to help.

If you want to put your file on and post the link I'm sure a lot of people would be interested in looking at it.

Again, I'm sorry if I came across as arrogant or condescending or anything like that. I've just seen some of the best things over the years and that one there about zooming is an oldie and a favourite of mine, it just makes me chuckle. An old comp that I used to work for. He was my boss and not computer savvy at all. But he was an amazing compositor and came from the old school of printing but knows everything there is to know about printing. He came in to check on one of the illustrations I was working on, picked up a ruler and said to me that's on 5mm, I wanted it 8 mm it's the wrong size. But he was measuring from the screen. I zoomed in a bit and he remeasured and left the room satisfied.

That's why i was laughing, not that you'd know that mind.
 
EugeneTyson... The link you gave me wants me to send the file to an email adress.
To send the file with an URL link for a forum like you mentioned seems not an option at
Apepp... During the bussy season i didn't had the time in the last couple of days to look into it properly but i will soon.

Thanks
 
Just send the file to any email address. If you have two send it to yourself. You will then be given a link, copy and paste the link onto here.
 
...the original is scaled by 26%...

...so needed to go up to 126% with the scale tool, you could also print your original at 126% and it should be pretty near, unless your printer isn't very accurate...

Andrew
 
apepp might be onto something. I will have to look at it tomorrow to see what the problem is. It's a very technical drawing, which I love. I will look at it and give my opinion tomorrow. Too many drinks today.
 
Apepp was very close there. The measurement is 125.92% in scaling it to get the size that you want, exactly the size you want.
 
Got it the size i want!
With the file you gave me it opened with an older version of adobe illustrator.
It also opened up a lot of more options to in my print setup to scale the drawing.
The drawing could actually be seen in my print setup wich wasn't like that before.

The drawing will be used to make a metal plate as i said.
The metal plate will be used to mount on an ECU from a GM 2.2 ecotec engine that is used in a car like vauxhall astra, vectra, vx220,...
Wit the ECU out of the way the engine would make place for a bigger inlet manifold which makes the bhp figure goes up 15-20 bhp.

A big thanks!

RCduck7
 
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