I have a PDF file of a rocker template that I created. The file has a single page that is 10" wide by 81" long (attached below).
Does anyone know how to print such a thing on a normal printer? I was hoping that my printer would understand that the page is bigger than 8.5" x 11" and automatically cut it up into smaller sheets that I could later glue together. Unfortunately it just prints a single page of a chunk taken out of the middle.
Would they be able to print it out in one piece for a reasonable price if I took it in to Kinkos?
I don’t know if there’s any drivers for mac that can understand this – my guess is that there is, but I’m not a mac guy.
Call kinkos and similar places until you find one that will do it for a reasonable price. Someone will print it full size for 10 bucks or so, it’s just a question of finding the right employee…
Go into print settings, select custom paper and set up a paper size 10" wide by 120" long (or whatever you need)
When you preview this you’ll see the entire rocker on a single sheet.
Your printer should automatically print multiple pages for the single sheet (it might simply complain about incorrect paper setting, though :<)
But printers don’t give sufficient line-up or crop marks, so it’s really easy to glue the single sheets up at incorrect angles (I speak from experience!).
Rather find a printer that can print from a roll of paper. Most shops that print plans can do this.
Like Rachel said: Kinkos. Make sure to tell them its B/W on BOND paper (cheapest option). Go in when its quiet and they might get it done while you wait.
My experience with making pretty curves in CAD and translating them to paper, then to masonite, and then to a fully 3-dimensional blank is that the curves invariably need a little something here and there. They’re almost too clean.
I do this all the time and I also use a Mac, you need to set a custom paper size, as someone else already mentioned. In my case I happen to have an 18" wide printer that can print from a roll of paper so the length limit is 150 ft.
I create a lot of templates in Illustrator and then print them out, makes beautiful templates.
If you don’t have any luck getting the template printed out send me a PM and maybe we can work out something where I can print it for you. Although before I would print it I would highly recommend NOT making it the RED color that you have as that will burn a lot of ink. Instead just outline it in BLACK using a 2pt stroke.
Most sign companies have wide format printers and they can handle .pdf as well as most file types. You don’t need anything fancy but since they print off wide rolls, one rocker template could waste a lot of square footage. If you can load it up with other templates like other rockers, outlines, fins, home made calipers (have that if you need it), etc. you can make the most of the print charge.
Look for a company that does short run jobs. They’re used to projects like yours. Typically companies that do kids team banners, and retail sale signs should help.
I don’t know what they cost but I bet they’re competitive with Kinkos.
Try a local Tech college, they usually have every printer under the sun. We’re doing this stuff all the time for all sorts of “outside” projects on an HP large format printer.
Hey everyone. Thanks for all the tips. I tried resizing the paper in the printer preferences, but the printer only spits out a single page. I think the printer is either too dumb or too smart, and is refusing to split the document into multiple pages.
I’m going to try Kinkos next (B/W on BOND paper).
Robin/Surfding: Thank for offering to print everything out for me. If Kinkos doesn’t work out, then I may be contacting you.
like dlock said download adobe illustrator. then, open the template with it and select print. in the printing pop-up go to the setup tab and make sure that the “crop artwork to” is set to ‘artboard’ and that the “tiling” setting is set to ‘tile full pages’ and hit print… when they print out tape them together so that the lines are aligned and touching and then you’re done…
Go into print settings, select custom paper and set up a paper size 10" wide by 120" long (or whatever you need)
When you preview this you’ll see the entire rocker on a single sheet.
Your printer should automatically print multiple pages for the single sheet (it might simply complain about incorrect paper setting, though :<)
But printers don’t give sufficient line-up or crop marks, so it’s really easy to glue the single sheets up at incorrect angles (I speak from experience!).
Rather find a printer that can print from a roll of paper. Most shops that print plans can do this.
Red
Hi, can I do the same with the legendery clark-foam rocker\template pdf ?
how do I resize the pdf to the original scale? ( 1:12 under 9 feet 1:16 over 9 feet blanks)
Shouldn’t be an issue printing on 8.5 x 11 sheets. Just create horizontal lines on the template from page to page and line them up when you glue onto your template material. I mark mine from 1 to x so that i don’t mix up the pages after i’ve printed them out. The dark black box on the pictures below is the artboard or actual printed area. It’s how i do all my templates in illustrator…
