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Plotter (Poster Printer) Guide

A step-by-step guide to wide-format printing at the Main and Mudd Library.

Adobe PDF

This page focuses on printing files with Adobe Reader. We recommend using this method as you can easily save PowerPoint slides, web pages, text documents, and photographs as PDF files without losing your original formatting!

PDF

Step 1 : Adobe Reader Print Settings

  1. Optional: If you need to check the actual size of your document, go to "File > Properties."
  2. Select "File > Print"
  3. In "page size & handling" choose "FIT"
  4. For Printer, choose "PLOTTER-IC" or "PLOTTER-MUDD"
  5. Click "Properties" and follow the steps below.

Alternative Step 1 for PDFs in browsers:

Printing PDFs in a browser (Chrome, FireFox, Edge, etc.)

  1. In "Destination" select Plotter as your printer (IC-PLOTTER or MUDD-PLOTTER)
  2. Under "More Settings" click "Print Using System Dialog"
  3. In the Print dialog box, select the PLOTTER again under the list of printers. You may need to scroll to see it. Make sure it is selected.
    Print Dialog Box with Plotter selected and the Preferences button highlighted
  4. Select "Preferences"
  5. Follow the steps below. When you are finished, you will return to  this dialog box and click "Print."

Paper Size TABBED INSTRUCTIONS

Step 2 : Paper Size!

In this step, you are choosing settings that specify the dimensions of the paper it will print on. What size does your poster need to be?

Oce Print Setting box that shows settings for paper dimensions, paper size, and scaling
1. Once you press "Properties," the settings page comes up where you can set your paper size and choose other options. To set the paper size, click the blue/grayscale umbrella icon that says "Page as in Application" to choose a different size or set a custom size.


A window with a selection box to choose a predefined page size or create a custom page size
a. A list pops up with some common paper sizes. Select the one that you want. If your desired poster dimensions are not on this list, click "Create a Custom Page Size."

A custom page size dialog box with 36 as the width and 48 as the height, and a descriptive name entered.
b. In "Custom Page Size" enter the width and length of your poster (in inches). Name your poster and click "Save."

You may need to go back to Note: At least one edge of your poster must be 42" or shorter to reflect the available paper sizes (24", 36", and 42"). It can be either the length or width of your poster. The other edge can be set to any length over 10.25 inches.

*If "Save" is grayed out and one of your sides is less than 42", try swapping the width and length numbers. This will not affect the orientation of your poster as the printer will automatically rotate it.

If you created a custom page size, you may need to click "Page as in Application" again and scroll to find and select the name you entered.

2. Once you have set your page size, click "OK."

Step 3 : Print Preview

Step 3 : Final Preview!

  1. Once you click "OK" on the Oce Preview window, press "Print" in the Print Dialog Box.
    Note: If you not using a browser, you will be able to double-check that program's small preview screen looks right.
  2. Wait! There's one more step before release your print job!
    The Oce Preview Window showing a poster coming out of a printer and listing dimensions.
  3. A window will pop up with a final verification. Check the width and length measurements of the poster. If it looks correct, click "OK" and move to the next step. If it looks wrong, click "Cancel" and go back to check that the print settings in step 1 and the page page size in step 2 are correct.
  4. Release your print job from the print release station located next to the Plotter.