Print Large Plans Drawings by Tiling

Print Large Plans Drawings by Tiling

Introduction:

Most of the Guillemot Kayaks plans are formulated to print on 24" x 36" [61 x 91 cm] (aka D-sized) paper. Obviously, if you have access to a large format printer, getting hard copies of these drawings is not a big deal. You may be able to find a local blueprint shop that specializes in architectural or engineering drawings to get hardcopy at fairly reasonable price.  

But if you can't find a place to print or you just need to save money and if all you have is a typical desktop inkjet or laser printer, getting copies of the full size PDF plans may be more complicated. Printing large D-sized drawings on smaller paper sizes like A or letter can be challenging, but with the right techniques and software, it becomes manageable. Tiling is a method that allows you to split large drawings into smaller sections for printing, which can then be assembled to recreate the original size. In this article, we'll explore how to tile D-sized drawings for printing using A or letter-sized printers, and we'll suggest software options for Windows, Mac OS, iOS, and Android platforms.

 Full-size Pre-Printed Plans from Guillemot Kayaks

If all of this seems too complicated, you can purchase full size pre-printed hardcopy plans for all these designs at the Guillemot Kayaks website.

1. Understanding Tiling:

Tiling is a process of splitting a large document into smaller sections, often referred to as tiles, that fit onto smaller paper sizes. Each tile contains a portion of the original document, and when printed and assembled correctly, they recreate the full-size image.

Tiling in Acrobat

2. Software Options:

For Windows:

- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC: Offers basic tiling functionality under the "Poster" option in the print dialog.
- Poster Printer: Third-party software specifically designed for tiling large documents.
- PDFill PDF Tools: Provides comprehensive PDF editing features, including tiling options.

For Mac OS:

- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC: Similar to its Windows counterpart, offers tiling options for Mac users.

For iOS:

- PDF Expert by Readdle: Offers advanced PDF editing features, including tiling, directly on your iOS device.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader: Provides basic tiling functionality for iOS users.

For Android:

- Adobe Acrobat Reader: Available for Android devices, offering basic tiling features.
- Xodo PDF Reader & Editor: Provides tiling options and other PDF editing features on Android devices.

3. Printing Process:

  1. Open the PDF file using a PDF viewer or editor software that allows you to adjust the print settings.
  2. Tile the Pages: Most PDF viewers and editors have a setting called "Tile Large Pages" or "Tile All Pages" that will split the large page into smaller tiles or sections that can fit on standard paper sizes. Locate this setting in your software's print menu or print dialog box.
  3. Set the Tile Overlap: Some software allows you to set an overlap between the tiles, which can help you align the printed pages when assembling them later. A typical overlap setting is 0.25 inches or 0.5 inches.
  4. Select the Paper Size: Choose the paper size that your desktop printer supports, such as Letter (8.5" x 11") or A4.
  5. Adjust the Scale or Fit to Paper Size: Depending on your software, you may need to adjust the scale or select the "Fit to Paper Size" option to ensure that the tiles are printed at the correct size for your paper.
  6. Print Each Tile: Print each tile or section of the large page one by one. It's recommended to print one or two tiles first to check the alignment and scale before printing the entire set.
  7. Assemble the Printed Tiles: Once all tiles are printed, carefully align and assemble them using the overlap guides or crop marks. You may need to use tape or glue to join the tiles together.
  8. Optional: Use a Large Format Print Shop: If you need a high-quality print or find the tiling process too cumbersome, consider using a professional large format print shop or service. They have specialized printers that can handle large format prints directly.

Keep in mind that printing large format PDFs on a standard desktop printer may result in lower quality and potential alignment issues compared to using a dedicated large format printer. However, this method can be a cost-effective solution for occasional or non-critical large format printing needs.

    4. Tips for Accuracy:

    • Ensure that the tiling settings are configured correctly to avoid overlap or gaps between tiles.
    • Use a ruler or straight edge to align and assemble the printed tiles accurately.
    • Consider printing a test page to verify the tiling settings before printing the entire drawing.

    Conclusion:

    Printing large D-sized drawings on smaller paper sizes is made feasible through the tiling method, which splits the document into manageable sections for printing and assembly. With the suggested software options available for Windows, Mac OS, iOS, and Android platforms, users should be able to tile and print their drawings using A or letter-sized printers, enabling efficient handling of large-format documents.

    Example of Tiling Large Drawings

    Be Sure To Test This Capability Before Purchasing Plans

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