Math problem Can any of you help me? . . . .

[kgrafix]

Normally I get a file that is 1/20 scale. . . It is in inches, so I multiply by 500 and get the 100% size. . .

Today I got a file that is in Points. It is still 1/20 scale. I need to know how to get it into inches at 100%. . .

Sorry, but my mind is about design, not math. . .

Any math whiz out there who might be able to help me?

Lynn

[Bill Silbert]

The simplest thing is just to change the Illustrator file's "General" units of measure from points to inches. You can do that in the Units section of your Illustrator preferences.

[kgrafix]

When I did that, I ended up with a truck that was 18 inches (or something like that) tall instead of the real size.

[kgrafix]

My defaults are even set to inches. I went into the file and changed the doc default to inches. . . .

It wasn't in proportion. My truck ends up at about 18" tall.

[Jacob Bugge]

Lynn,

I believe it will help helpers help if you can state:

1) The actual size in inches or points or whichever unit of the document you receive, as it appears in the Transform palette,

2) The desired final size that you call 100%.

Math can be evasive unless pinned down.

[John Mensinger]

then multiply that by 500.

Err, by 500% (5.00)

For what it's worth, notation of the simple scaling in play here is all over the place.

It's not 1/20, it's 20% (1/5), thus the multiple to 100% is 5. Units are irrelevant to this.

[jdanek]

Yes, multiply by 5.

Sent from my iPhone

[jdanek · Accepted solution]

Scale at 500%.

Sent from my iPhone

[Test Screen Name]

Um, if I got a file at 1/20 scale, I'd multiply by 20 to get the real size. Not 500.

[kgrafix]

Yes, I know it seams strange, and my husband would agree with you. But, in order to get 100% you need to scale by 500%. . . my mentor convinced me. I would be happy to attach a template so you can try it, but I can't attach an .ai file!

Let me change that a little - Go to Object, Transform, Scale 500%

[meganchi]

72 points = 1 inch

so just multiply how many inches the document is supposed to be by 72 to get your points.

For example:

5 inches x 72 points = 360 points

Also, note: In any length or width field, you can type particular units like "pt" after your measurement value and hit enter, no matter what your document units are set at.

[Test Screen Name]

Ah, multiplying by a percentage and multiplying by a number are very different.

I can make sense of your numbers by this case:

The numbers are reduced to 20% (which is, divided by 5).

To get back the original number you multiply by 5 (which is, 500% of the value).

[jdanek]

Just divide the point file by 72 to get inches, then multiply that by 500.

[kgrafix]

So the final way I did it was to copy all and then paste on a new document that was set up for inches. Then I scaled by 500%. Then I checked the measurement guage on the template to see how close I was. I had to increase all of the items until the line reached the length I needed. Once that was done, I figured the whole thing would be within range. We will go back to the actual vehicle once again and measure by hand to make sure that the graphics will fit the actual spots.

Would you believe, the next job I got, the car was measured in mm? I've been doing this for over 5 years - never had anything but inches to worry about. . . I'm going to try and add a jpg version of the template so you can see what I am talking about. So far I'm not finding a place to attach. . . I already know that it won't take an .ai file, so here it goes.

Thank you all for your support!

Lynn