Fixing HP .PDF Printing Problems!

So let me start out by saying I LOVE HP hardware, they build stuff well, that being said their software sucks! (Well the HP Quick Start App for Windows 8 that works as a proper start menu rocks, but that’s about it).  Once we figured out the Windows 8 printing issues with the Adobe App vs Desktop, and using Adobe Reader on MACs instead of the built in OS reader, printing in general has gone smoothly… unless you have an HP printer.

Now not ALL HP users have had issues.  I think in part because people like myself won’t touch the CD that comes with and just install the drives (Windows 7 & 8 make this very easy).  Again, HP software sucks!  Many people just don’t know how to install it with out the CD and that’s okay.  The big issue that people are having is the software or a driver that is with it automatically sets a large print margin on the bottom of the page.

Now unless doing ‘borderless photo’ which will waste ink and NOT print to scale, printers are not meant to print to the vary edge of the page.  there is a 1/8-3/16″ of unprinted area around all 4 sides and designers take this into account.  But because of the larger print margin issues on the bottom with the HP software this it cuts off about 1/2″ of the bottom of each page, cutting into the image/pattern piece.  While for some stuff this is not a big issue, for .PDF sewing patterns this is often a HUGE issue.  Because of the unique assembly of EYMM patterns my customers have been okay, even with this missing section; but it makes many other designers patterns unusable, which has led to ladies paying to get them printed elsewhere or buying a new printer. Some have had luck using legal size paper, but honestly it’s a pain.

For the last year I have been trying to help troubleshoot the issue because it will NOT let you adjust the margins in the settings.  Well today Rylee was chatting with me and tried something and it WORKED.  I sent her a few patterns to try it on and I can say she is relieved to know she is not/was not crazy, just her printer software is.

So the trick?  Instead of using the auto 8.5×11″ paper size, she changed it to manually be 8.5×11.4″.  You can see here from the screen shots.  If you are using A4 and have similar issues you just want to adjust your paper size length so that it’s long enough to include the full picture.  Because A4 is longer this isn’t generally an issue when printing US patterns designed for letter size.   Now keep in mind you are still USING 8.5×11″ Letter sized paper, you are just telling the printer it’s 11.4″ so it doesn’t cut off your pattern.

 

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Standard 8.5×11″ Paper Size Preview. Notice the thick gray bar at the bottom, that is what will be cut off. But you want the scale size to still be Actual size or Custom 100%.
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Custom (page setup) 8.5×11.4″ Paper Size Preview. Notice their is no longer a thick gray bar on the bottom. But the scale size is still set at Actual size or Custom 100%.

To change this you are going to click ‘Properties’ and change your paper size UPDATE, got the screen shots from the wrong computer, I will updating them later this week when I have a chance to print from our other computer.

Now here are 2 examples of what the differences are when you actually hit print.  Note the missing image at the bottom with the default settings.

 

LEFT: Modified 8.5x11.4" settings, RIGHT: Default 8.5"x11" settings.  Note the missing image at the bottom with the default settings.
LEFT: Modified 8.5×11.4″ settings, RIGHT: Default 8.5″x11″ settings. Note the missing image at the bottom with the default settings.  Pattern: EYMM My Little Superhero Cape Set
LEFT: Default 8.5"x11" settings, RIGHT: Modified 8.5x11.4" settings.  Note the missing image at the bottom with the default settings.
LEFT: Default 8.5″x11″ settings, RIGHT: Modified 8.5×11.4″ settings. Note the missing image at the bottom with the default settings. Pattern: EYMM Free NICU Smock (older print layout)

So who does this effect and WHY does this matter? This effects a HP printer owners who have that thicker bottom margin in their print preview on both PC AND MAC. Why does this matter? While EYMM patterns have a .75″ overlap which is bigger then the approx .5″ print gap for HP printers, many designers don’t. And if you are missing .5″ of your pattern pieces they will generally not assemble correctly (the marks for lining up/laying out the pieces is one of the things often cut off) and if they are rectangular pieces that seam to line up fine they may be off size wise.

So if you are one of Rylee’s fellow HP printer owners who also happens to love .pdf sewing patterns I hope this helps you not only know that you are NOT crazy, but also makes your .pdf sewing experience MUCH more positive!

4 Responses

  1. Tiffany
    | Reply

    I have an HP printer and when I print PDF patterns, they don’t line up correctly–ever. When I match up the circles, the lines of the actual pattern never line up. Will this fix that problem? Also as I’m going through my HP settings, I can’t find anywhere that I can enter the margins myself. I noticed when I chose A4 under setting it increased the margins to 8.27x 11.69. Can you help me with this?

    • kymy
      | Reply

      I just added a screen shots of the settings to change. That being said if the lines still don’t line up then it is most likely not printing properly to scale. This post about windows 8 helps make sure that you are using the desktop version of adobe. No matter PC or MAC you always want to make sure you use Adobe Reader to print, because other readers will scale them internally sometimes. http://www.eymm.com/2013/08/27/printing-pdf-patterns-in-windows-8/

      The one other issue that seems to vary is some people need auto rotate on, others need it off, so that is something else you can try as well.

  2. Angala
    | Reply

    I have a HP 8620 and do not see the “user defined” option?

    • kymy
      | Reply

      just realized I did the screen shots from the wrong computer!!!! I will try to get them corrected later this week.

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