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MicaThomas
MicaThomas
Participant
June 20, 2023
Answered

Printing Small AI CC 27.0

  • June 20, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 266 views

I've made artwork for many years in Illustrator that I use as a template for constructing real-life items that need to fit in a particular space with tight tolerances. Recently, all my prints are coming out too small. I've tested on 3 different printers, and reinstalled the driver on the printer I primarily use with the same results.

 

So I made a 6 inch ruler with snap to grid. When on-screen at 100% it measures out perfectly. On print out, the ruler is 5-13/16 inches long. Printer settings are set to the US Letter and Do Not Scale.

 

Any ideas on how to remedy this or what steps I should take to further troubleshoot?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer MicaThomas

    Mica,

     

    As I (mis)understand it, you get the same size in PDF as in AI, but it still prints smaller (by the same proportion).

     

    In that case I believe the issue is outside AI and yourself.

     

    What happens if you make a corresponding print from another application?

     

    Still pondering.

     

     

    By the way, Save a Copy is always safer than Save As. Únder unfortunate circumstances the latter can cause the (pilot) error of unknowingly continuing with a PDF version of the artwork instead of the original AI. The former leaves the original AI document be, whatever happens next.

     


    Well I wish I knew what happened. But I scrapped my file and made a new one. It's working on this new file. Whew!

     

    There seem to be a few files that I've been using as templates since 2014, and they all behave with the small printing. I haven't solved the issue for them - but I was able to complete my project before the deadline with an entirely new file.

    1 reply

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2023

    Mica,

     

    What happens if you create a PDF and print from Acrobat (if not already)?

     

    MicaThomas
    MicaThomasAuthor
    Participant
    June 20, 2023

    Same thing - registers perfectly. I used Save As to generate the PDF from Illustrator.

     

    When you posed the question, I first thought that it must mean it's an issue outside of Illustrator and I should look at a system issue. But since Illustrator is generating the PDF, I suppose it could still be the culprit.

     

    I'd like nothing more that to lean it's pilot error - that's the easiest thing to fix.

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2023

    Mica,

     

    As I (mis)understand it, you get the same size in PDF as in AI, but it still prints smaller (by the same proportion).

     

    In that case I believe the issue is outside AI and yourself.

     

    What happens if you make a corresponding print from another application?

     

    Still pondering.

     

     

    By the way, Save a Copy is always safer than Save As. Únder unfortunate circumstances the latter can cause the (pilot) error of unknowingly continuing with a PDF version of the artwork instead of the original AI. The former leaves the original AI document be, whatever happens next.

     

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