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Printing Large Track plans


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Hi,

 

Apologies if this has already been asked.

 

I have almost finished temploting a large track plan and was wondering how I can save it so that I can printed off as one large plan (I'll be using a printing company to do it for me on a long roll of paper).

 

I'd rather have it as one large plan than having to put lots of sheets of A4 together to make up the plan.

 

Can it be saved as a jpeg so that a printers can use it or would a different file format be better? How do I do this?

 

Does anyone know of any reliable printing companies that would be good for printing this?

 

Many thanks in advance for any help that anyone can give me.

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

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Most printers like a pdf file for Templot prints. I think that Templot can do this for you, the instructions are on the Templot Forum. I can't post a link as I am on me tab. I think that there is limit to the size that can be printed, I would contact them to see what they can handle and allow a reasonable overlap.

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Hi Jeremy,

 

It is very easy to save such files from Templot. The two options suitable for large format roll-paper printing are DXF files or PDF files.

 

DXF files are mainly used with specialist engineering CAD software and suitable printing firms are not so common, and may be more expensive.

 

PDF files should be acceptable to any digital printing firm who produce posters, signs, banners, etc. Mostly such firms use Adobe PDF software, which means the length limit is about 4 metres (4000mm, 13ft) per page, so you may need more than one page for a large layout. All the pages will go in one PDF file.

 

Templot can produce PDF files with pages to any size you like much longer than 13ft, but you would need to find a firm willing to use software other than Adobe.

 

The usual widths offered for roll-paper printing are 24in, 36in, 42in. Ideally you need to find out what the printing firm can do before creating the file from Templot.

 

Click the output > export a file... menu item, which will display this dialog:

 

post-1103-0-82419600-1421776771.png

 

1. set the page size required. I suggest you start with a page size say 3000mm long side by 500mm short side and see if your printing firm can print it. You could then try larger sizes later if you want everything on one page.

 

2. then click the create PDF... button.

 

regards,

 

Martin.

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I suppose I could print the plan on sheets of A3 which would make it easier? I assume its the same process as saving the plan for A4 printing, with just adjusting the page size to A3.

 

Yes, Templot will print to whatever paper size you set on your printer. Set the printer first -- output > printer setup... menu item.

 

regards,

 

Martin.

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Thanks Martin. I'll probably have to save it first to a pdf and then print at work as we have an A3 printer. I assume I adjust the page sizes to A3 before saving?

 

Yes. A3 paper is 420mm x 297mm, but you need to allow something for the printer margins, and Templot's trim margins.

 

I suggest you set 390mm x 270mm before clicking the create PDF button... :

 

post-1103-0-82419600-1421776771.png

 

regards,

 

Martin.

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Cheers Martin!

 

You're welcome. I should have added that when printing PDF files it is important to set the scaling option to 100% or none. Otherwise the PDF program may try to stretch or shrink the page to fit the paper exactly. You can check for accurate printing by measuring the grid squares on the Templot print.

 

regards,

 

Martin.

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On 28/01/2015 at 21:36, martin_wynne said:

 

You're welcome. I should have added that when printing PDF files it is important to set the scaling option to 100% or none. Otherwise the PDF program may try to stretch or shrink the page to fit the paper exactly. You can check for accurate printing by measuring the grid squares on the Templot print.

 

regards,

 

Martin.

 

Hi Martin,

 

I've been printing plans with ease now but unfortunately today, my A3 printout seems to have shrunk the plan. I've set the printer settings to "actual size" and it seems to to print wrong still. I've tried the "fit to page" setting at that doesn't seem to work either.

If I custom set the size to 104%, this seems to work fine as I've measured the grid squares and they are 5cm. I just don't know why its changed as my printer is the same.

Any ideas?

 

Thanks again in advance and really appreciate your help.

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

 

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Hi Jeremy,

 

Are you printing exported PDF files from Templot, or printing directly from Templot? If PDF, have you tried direct printing?

 

p.s. printer calibration is only for direct printing from Templot.

 

cheers,

 

Martin.

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15 minutes ago, martin_wynne said:

Hi Jeremy,

 

Are you printing exported PDF files from Templot, or printing directly from Templot? If PDF, have you tried direct printing?

 

p.s. printer calibration is only for direct printing from Templot.

 

cheers,

 

Martin.

 

 

Hi Martin,

 

I'm exporting an A3 pdf from templot and then printing from that pdf.

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

 

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28 minutes ago, cornish trains jez said:

I'm exporting an A3 pdf from templot and then printing from that pdf.

 

 

Hi Jeremy

 

Make sure the PDF reader program is set to scaling=none or 100% in the printing dialog. This is not normally the default setting, so you need to make sure it is set.

 

If it's still not working after that, maybe switch off the computer and/or the printer and on again?

 

Templot has no control over the way PDF files are printed, after they have been exported. Presumably you are printing on a different computer from the one Templot is on? If not, I suggest printing directly to the printer from Templot instead of exporting a PDF file.

 

p.s. do you know that the printer is capable of printing accurately? If it's a laser printer, slight mismatches and errors are inevitable, because of the way they heat the paper and cause differential shrinkage. For best results, use an inkjet printer on best quality paper, preferably 160gsm.

 

cheers,

 

Martin.

Edited by martin_wynne
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2 minutes ago, martin_wynne said:

 

Hi Jeremy

 

Make sure the PDF reader program is set to scaling=none or 100% in the printing dialog. This is not normally the default setting, so you need to make sure it is set.

 

If it's still not working after that, maybe switch off the computer and/or the printer and on again?

 

Templot has no control over the way PDF files are printed, after they have been exported. Presumably you are printing on a different computer from the one Templot is on? If not, I suggest printing directly to the printer from Templot instead of exporting a PDF file.

 

cheers,

 

Martin.

 

 

Hi Martin,

 

How do I print directly from templot?

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

 

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On 21/07/2020 at 16:04, cornish trains jez said:

Weirdly, just used my steel rule to double check against my plastic office ruler and its spot on. Plastic ruler is slightly out!

 

 

 

 

I was a draughtsman for 35 years. Never trust a plastic ruler!

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