topic Re: Plotting problem in AutoCAD Forum

Plotting problem

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 10:50:35 GMT

Hi,

I recently updated to AutoCAD 2022 (with the updates) and since then I cannot plot correctly. The raster images on a drawing are not printed and the page is cropped by 1-2cm at one edge.

I am running Win10 x64 with all the latest updates and the plotter is a HP DesignJet 500 42". I uninstalled the latest windows updates in case any of them was causing the issue, reverted to an older driver, even tried an earlier AutoCAD version, but the problem persists.

If I print the drawing to a .pdf file and then print it through Acrobat everything is fine. Printing from other programs, like Photoshop, is ok as well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Re: Plotting problem

Valentin_CAD — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 11:07:48 GMT

@Anonymous

My general rule is to always plot from a PDF.

Otherwise, consider the suggestions from these links:

Re: Plotting problem

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:49:39 GMT

Thank you for your quick reply

I typically avoid printing from .pdf as the result is often a "softer" image.

I managed to fix the raster image problem. HP Spoolsmart in the driver options was causing the issue.

My problem now is that the printable area is being cropped by 3cm at the end of the print. The drawing prints correctly, but the printing job stops 3cm before the end of the drawing and the plotter cuts the paper there

Re: Plotting problem

Valentin_CAD — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:06:33 GMT

@Anonymous ,

Consider using Full Bleed in your plot options.

Borders or edge of drawing are cut off when plotting or creating a PDF from AutoCAD

Re: Plotting problem

ChicagoLooper — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 01:17:08 GMT

This common issue can be easily resolved. It's a printer issue, more specifically it's a 'printable area' issue. That dotted line you see running along the edges of your page in layout view is demarcating your printer's printable area. Each printer varies in maximum printable area because it depends on how the individual printer grips and pushes a sheet as well as how far the pen can go before it reaches the edge. There will always be a margin of white space and that margin is referenced by the dotted line.

<<Only professional printers can print to the edge of a sheet. They accomplish this by using a taller and wider sheet than necessary and printing beyond the 'finished' dimensions then physically trimming both the white margin AND some of the printed area (e.g. 1" white margin + 1/2" of the actual printed material). For example, an over sized sheet is mounted onto a foam board then both board and the mounted sheet are trimmed simultaneously down to the actual finished dimensions. This results with the printed material having a clean and professional appearance b/c the ink runs all the way to the edge. This process of printing to the edge is called 'full bleeding.' Why AutoCAD mentions or provides the full bleed option when plotting is beyond me. Maybe Acad has a different definition of full bleed compared to full bleed used in the printing industry.>>

The easiest way to prevent Cad from chopping off parts that should be printed is to move the dotted line, printable area, all the way to the edge of the sheet.

1) From plot dialog, next to printer name, click Properties. Then Device and Doc settings tab, in top box, select Modify Standard Paper Sizes (Printable Area).

2) Right below, In Mod Standard Paper Sizes, find your sheet size and click Modify button. (Note: Cad didn't make finding your sheet size easy.) The list is not alphabetical and the view window showing the sheet list is very small. Based on your printer, each sheet is shown, you just have to find it.

3) Next, in Custom Paper Size-Printable Area, reduce all four margins by entering "0" in the top, bottom, left and right boxes. When you do this, the preview will update and show the dotted line moving to the edge of sheet. Click Next. Click Finish. You can overwrite your pc3 file so you won't have to do this again and again whenever you use the exact named sheet.

Warning: this procedure is applicable on a sheet-by-sheet basis so perform it on all the 'sheet sizes' that are subjected to printing cut-offs. Over write the same pc3 file so your all of your 'custom' margins on all your sheet sizes are contained in the same pc3. Once you've maxed all of your sheet sizes, you're good to go b/c the pc3 file stores your customized margins.

1. Select your printer and paper size. Then click Properties.

2. Click Modify Standard Paper Sizes and your paper size in the smaller box below. Then click Modify.

3. Reduce non-printable area by entering "0" in top, bottom, left and right.

Your printer's printable area for that specific sheet size, is now maxed out. You will never be able to print up to, and onto, the absolute edge but it will print as close as possible given the limitations by the printer's manufacturer.

Re: Plotting problem

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 08:24:07 GMT

Thank you both for your replies.

I am plotting on rolls of paper, so what I do is set in the custom properties of the printer the width of the roll (in this case 609mm),then set the length according to the drawing and finally select the "Oversize" version of the dimension, witch minimizes the margins.

Up until now, everything was being printed just fine with minimal margins all around (I know I cannot expect a commercial plotter to print right to the very edge of the paper). What seems to be the problem now is that it completely disregards the "oversize" option and just prints with the normal margins, witch crops my print.

I tried modifying the custom paper sizes, but nothing changed.