Pharos Poster Printing

OIT Large Format Printer/Plotter in ERB 1102: INSTRUCTIONS R.10/23/2012

BEFORE YOU BEGIN Read ENTIRE instruction manual carefully!

Your poster needs to be on a SINGLE SLIDE in Microsoft Powerpoint. We are currently developing printing instructions for other programs, but for now, this is the easiest way to print from the plotter and the best way to ensure your poster prints correctly.

Replenishing supplies is costly. Precisely follow the instructions; double check everything and ensure that what you’re printing is what you want. A second print attempt will be charged to you, unless the plotter itself malfunctions.

If ANYTHING AT ALL seems wrong, wacky, or out of place, or you would just like someone to double check something, talk to the Lab Support Staff.

It’s what we’re here for. :)

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Before Printing

About Image Quality:

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If you are using ANY kinds of images, ensure they are hi definition, as anything less will come out pixelated/distorted when printed.

To see if your poster will come out distorted, zoom in on it in PPT. The following chart will tell you how far to zoom in based on how big your poster is meant to be once it has printed:

Length of Longest Side Percent to Zoom To

11.5 inches 100%

22 inches 200%

36 inches 330%

44 inches 400%

(x) Inches (10 · x)%

Plotter Printing

Open up your poster in Microsoft Powerpoint

Click the Design tab at the top of the program, and on the left side of the toolbar, click the button labeled Page Setup.

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Plotter Printing In the “Slides Sized For” drop down

box, pick Custom. In the fields below, change the Width to 44 in, and Height to 36 in. Click OK. (note: This might resize or stretch a couple things, double check your poster to make sure it is the way you want it)

For posters OTHER than standard size, refer to pages 7-11.

Once you’re sure it looks right, click File, then Print. For the Printer, select the Plotter (Bsu Plotter Pearlcreek on PEARLCREEK). Then Click Printer Properties.

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Plotter Printing Under the Paper/Quality tab, open

the‘Quick Sets’ and select Poster. Under ‘Paper Options’ click Custom.

Under Custom Paper Size, change the Width to 36 in, and Length to 44 in. Change the name to Poster . Click Save and then click OK.

Click OK, then click OK again to return to the Powerpoint Print Preview screen.

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Plotter Printing Your poster should fit the entire

preview screen with a small white edge—this is because the plotter only has a printable range up to the last quarter-inch of the poster on all sides.

If the poster does not fit the description, consult the Lab Support Staff!

If the preview looks correct, then click the print button at the top and enter your information in Pharos to print your poster. Then swipe your print card out in the hallway to send the job to the Plotter, and the Lab Staff will help you retrieve the job.

SKIP TO PAGE 12

OIT Helpful info!

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Page 7

Plotter Printing For posters OTHER than 36” by 44”:

In page setup under the design tab, select the size of poster that you’d like to create. Ensure that the width is the longer side.

Plotter Printing

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Go to File, and click Print. A preview screen like this should appear, with your poster not fitting the scale of the page.

Select BSU-Plotter Pearlcreek on PEARLCREEK as the printer, then click printer properties.

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Plotter Printing

Under the Paper/Quality tab, open the ‘Quick Sets’ drop-down menu, and select Poster. Under Document size, click Custom.

Enter the same dimensions you entered under Page Setup for the size of your poster (page 7). In this case, it will force you to make width the shorter of the two sides—this is OK!

Name the custom size by it’s dimensions—here, it’s 34hx9.75w, as that’s what is entered in these fields. Click save, then OK.

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Plotter Printing Now click on the Features tab

Under Resizing Options, click Print document On: and select the custom setting you just created.

Look at the document preview on the right; if it shows the poster is oriented so the long side is vertical, make sure to select the Rotate by 90 Degrees option. This lays it down, long edge first. (If your poster is LARGER than standard (36”x44”), DON’T check the Rotate by 90 box)

Now click OK to return to the Print Preview screen.

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Plotter Printing Your poster should now be set up so that it’s centered, with only a tiny

white margin on the top and bottom of the long edges. There may also be decent sized white margins on the left and right, this is OK.

Final preparation step: Under slides, click Full-Paged Slides, and select Scale to Fit Paper. This should make sure all edges of your poster are visible when printed.

If the poster does not fit the description, consult the Lab Support Staff!

If the preview looks correct, then click the print button at the top and enter your information in Pharos to print your poster. Then swipe your print card out in the hall-way to send the job to the Plotter, and the Lab Staff will help you retrieve the job.

Plotter Printing

When you are positive that your file is ready to print, press OK. Check the screen on the plotter to see if it is receiving the data. If something looks horribly wrong, press cancel on the plotter (marked by red arrow).

Remember, you will be charged to reprint unless the plotter malfunctions on its own.

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Plotter Printing: Catching Once the plotter has stopped printing, a drying delay will take place

and be timed in the printer dialog window. Pick up the poster by holding the edge closest to floor and hold it

away from the plotter (step back two or three steps) Leave some slack (the paper roll will move suddenly). Do NOT pull. You will hear a definite slicing noise from the cutter

when the plotter is done. After the poster is cut, you may need to gently pull to help the poster release from the printer

KEEP INK SIDE AWAY FROM YOUR CLOTHING, and let the other end of the poster float down in front of you, ink side away

Lay the poster over the printer or an empty computer station. Some may take up to 30 minutes to dry, others are dry by the time the paper is cut.

Roll the poster with the printed side out so the edges don’t curl when posted.

Congratulations! If you have any suggestions for these directions, please contact the Lab Support Specialist on duty or the OIT Labs Manager at kathleenfitzgerald@boisestate.edu

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