Can I print one PDF at any size?

[JeffreyW]

I create vector art in AI and would like to save to a PDF at say 8"x10". Could I then print that PDF at any size using a online print solution liek Walgreens, my local commercial printer, etc?

Just want to make sure that one PDF can be printed at 8"x10" to 24"x36" or higher, and any size in between. I dread exporting to multiple sizes via PNG/JPG.

Thx

[Test Screen Name]

That's entirely up to the online print service provider. There is no standard answer, you'd need to ask them.

[JeffreyW]

Thx for the reply. So I couldn't save an AI file that's at "24x"36 to a PDF and then submit to Walgreens or some other print service to have it printed at say 11"x14"?

I understand I would need to make sure the print service can handle printing PDFs, but I just want to make sure I understand if a PDF can be printed at any size as long as the printer can handle printing PDFs.

Thx again

[Test Screen Name · Accepted solution]

I didn't say you couldn't. I didn't say you could. I said you'd have to ask.

Specifically you need to ask if they can scale your PDFs when they print them.

" I just want to make sure I understand if a PDF can be printed at any size as long as the printer can handle printing PDFs." You have to ASK.

[JeffreyW]

Thx

[JeffreyW]

What determines if a PDF can be scaled or not?

[Dov Isaacs]

Any PDF file can be “scaled” — This is fairly obvious since when you view a PDF file in Adobe Reader or Acrobat, you can zoom in or out without any issue other than the fact that content that is represented as raster images may begin to either blur, become pixelated, or both. Text realized via fonts and vector graphics continuously scale without any loss of quality. Similarly, if you print from Adobe Reader or Acrobat, you can set scaling either automatically (fit to page) or manually.

The issue you are asking is whether a print service provider, given a particular PDF of your creation, is knowledgeable enough to print your PDF file scaled up or down to your specifications on the devices they have or whether the print service provider is willing to do so. That is obviously an answer that we cannot provide here. You will need to ascertain that with whoever you considering for printing your PDF file.

          - Dov

[Test Screen Name]

What determines whether a PDF can be scaled? The hardware, software, systems and preferences of the service provider. Bear in mind that many online services are COMPLETELY automated, and so if the system doesn't offer you a choice of scaling, then there isn't a choice. Overlarge files might be rejected, cropped or scaled according to whim.

I don't think you like my one word answer: "ask". Why not?

[JeffreyW]

I greatly appreciate the answer as I wasn't clear on the variables of why a PDF might not scale and no, I don't mind the one word answer of "ask" at all. Could do without the attitude though.

[Test Screen Name]

The attitude (and ever increasing emphasis on the word "Ask") came because, from where I was sitting, you kept ignoring the key part of the reply, and asking the original question again in different ways. I'm sure you saw it entirely differently, but this is (from my perspective) considered about the rudest thing a poster can do.