Plot to PDF in AutoCAD cuts off border

[jamied2000]

How can i get the AutoCAD plot to PDF to stop cutting off my layout border.  When I do a plot to PDF on an A-size border it cuts off the right side of my border.  But if i move the border over in paper space approximately a 1/4" it then cuts off some of the left edge but leaves more of the right edge  It has always done this since you were able to PDF plot in AutoCAD.  But if i go and install a 3rd Party PDF writer program it comes out fine. But that is a hassle because then i have to switch all my page layouts to print to this PDF program in order for them to print into one file.  What would be causing the PDF to print that way?

@jamied2000

john.vellek has edited your subject line for clarity: Plot to PDF

[ian.mag]

Hey,

Could you possibly attach the image of the plot setting before plotting as well as the eventual two results? That would be helpful to understand your case the more.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @jamied2000,

Try setting the margins to 0 in the PC3 file.  If you can attach a sample drawing with a page setup applied, I am happy to take a look and make further recommendations.  Which specific version of AUtoCAD are you using?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[dmfrazier]

Which version of AutoCAD are you running?

Which paper size do you select? (The full paper size name from the Plot dialog or the PC3 editor.)

Do the proportions of your border match the proportions of the printable area of the selected page size?

[ian.mag]

Thought the same too. The drawing should possibly be withing the printable area (dotted line in paper space)

[cadffm]

There are no hidden tricks, you change the plotter and so you change the paper definition(every plot driver has there own paper definitions).
What i read and understand from your description is:

If you choose LAYOUT as plot area, i am right?
If you change the plotter from xyz to abc plotter (for example DWG to PDF.pc3) and the choosed paperdefinition is not the same as before of the other plotter, you have trouble.
The outer dimension of norm papers are the same, but not the available Plot area.
The non-plotable plot BORDERS are different!
You should see the difference when you set up your pagesetup in paperspace, when you have enable the display settings for plot area(options, dispay, lower left corner).
You should see the dashed plot area border line.

If the plot area of your selected paper size is big enough, use WINDOW or EXTENTS (if possible) as Plot area in your pagesetup or plot dialog.
Without offset or with CENTER option.

If you want to user LAYOUT as Plot area option, then you have to take the trouble to align the margins of your paper sizes on all your plotters.
Upload a sample dwg with well saved pagesetup how you use it (for your normal plotter), so we can talk exactly about this one case.
Use command etransmit top zip your file incl. all external files (pc3 ctb xrefs fonts and so on).

[pendean]

Like any other printer to plot to that cuts off your print, you have to deal with the new margins. There is no universal margins settings anywhere.

FWIW PDF margins are wide by default: change your margin settings or aim for an Oversized-A1 sheet instead.

[ChicagoLooper]

Do you see that thin black dotted line running just inside the paper's edge when you're in layout view? That dotted line represents the printable area of your chosen plotter. You can easily increase the printable area by revising the dotted line then saving the new area to your settings so the next time you use that plotter you'll have the increased printable area. The problem is your plotter,  Adobe PDF, doesn't allow you revise the dotted line. This plotter 'grays' out those options. The solution is to switch from Adobe PDF to AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3. If the dotted line in the latter doesn't provide enough printable area to accommodate your titleblock, you can adjust it by doing this:

1. Plot dialog, printer/plotter section, select AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3 from the dropdown.
2. To right of printer's name, click Properties.
3. In Plotter Config Editor, under 'User-defined Paper Sizes & Calibration' click 'Modify Standard Paper Sizes (Printable Area) in the hierarchal tree.
4. In Modify Standard Paper Sizes area, use the slider and select the specific sheet sizes you are using then click the MODIFY button.  
5. For printable area, make Top, Bottom, Left and Right margins all "0" (I dunno why zero is NOT the default).  In the preview area, you'll see the dotted line expand and move to all four edges of the sheet. Cool! Click Next and Finish to exit. 
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for all sheet sizes you plan to use in the future.
7. Back in Plotter Config Editor, click SAVE AS and overwrite AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3. Click SAVE.
8. When asked whether you want to overwrite the existing .pc3, click YES. Click OK to return to Plot dialog window.
9. Using the same .pc3 you just modified, select the sheet size with the newly expanded printable area. You are good to go.

[scot-65]

Two additional items that may have not been mentioned:

Set PLOTOFFSET to 1.
Select a paper size that contains the phrase "full bleed".

???

[john.vellek]

Hi @jamied2000,

You have gotten quite a few great suggestions to get this working. Have you had the chance to try any of them yet?

Please let me know your status.