Size & Cost
Paper: 28lb bond paper only
Minimum 3mm margins
24", 36", and 42" paper available.
At least one edge of print must be less than or equal to maximum available roll size.
Other edge can be any size, min. 10" max. 150"
Please see staff for information, including assistance with setting up your file to print on the Plotter!
Plotter printing costs $2.50 per square foot.
Payment is made through NUPrint. We cannot accept a chartstring for printing.
Calculate Printing Cost
Need Help?
See a Mudd Library staff person for assistance with the Plotter in the Mudd Library (Mudd Hall)
Email library@northwestern.edu with any questions!
Locations
Want to print a poster? Come try our Plotter! This plotter is located in the Information Commons, just down the steps from the main entrance. - see map (below)
We also have a Plotter in the Mudd Library (2nd floor, Mudd Hall) on the north end of Northwestern's Evanston campus.
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!
Step 1 : Adobe Reader Print Settings
0. Optional: If you need to check the actual size of your document, go to "File > Properties" click to the "Details" tab and make note of the Dimensions.
- With the PDF open in Adobe, select "File > Print"
- In "page size & handling" choose "FIT"
- For Printer, choose "MainLib-Plotter" or "Mudd-Plotterr"
- Click "Properties" and follow the steps below.
Alternative Step 1 for PDFs in browsers:
This step is not recommended and if you've already followed the first block of instructions you can skip this section. These instructions may be useful if Adobe is not working for some reason.
Printing PDFs in a browser (Chrome, FireFox, Edge, etc.)
- In "Destination" select Plotter as your printer (IC-PLOTTER or MUDD-PLOTTER)
- Under "More Settings" click "Print Using System Dialog"
- 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.
- Select "Preferences"
- 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?
1. Once you press "Properties," this settings page comes up. It allows you to 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. If you want to create a custom size that is not on the list keep reading, if not continue to the next block of instructions.
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."
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!
- 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. - Wait! There's one more step before release your print job!
- 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.
- Release your print job by going the print release station located next to the Plotter and tapping your wildcard or entering your netID, then selecting the job and pressing release.
