Plotter
Large Format Photo-Quality Printing
Q: What is a Plotter?
A: A Plotter is a large-format printer intended for CAD line drawings. It "plots" architectural and product design technical drawings, for example.
Note: The lab plotters are filled with draft-quality paper. If you notice banding on your print-out in an area filled with color, this is to be expected.
For image-heavy, large-format photo-quality printing, submit your job to the Print Output Center, which has a 58-inch wide plotter for posters and other print design work.
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Q: Where can I plot?
A:
| Plotter Printing Information | |||||
| Printable Area | Cost | Printer Name | Printer Location | ||
| 34" | Draft Paper (you may experience banding in areas saturated with color) |
see Plotters FAQ |
i802-Plotter1 |
55 West 13th St., 8th fl. | |
| 40" | Draft Paper (you may experience banding in areas saturated with color) |
see Plotters FAQ |
i802-Plotter2 D707-Plotter1 E208A-Plotter1* E300A-Plotter1* |
55 West 13th St., 8th fl. 6 East 16th St., Room 707 25 East 13th St., 2nd fl. 25 East 13th St., 3rd fl. |
|
| 58" | Premium Satin Photographic Paper
|
see Plotters FAQ |
Submit in Person | Print Output Center, rm 408, 55 West 13th St. | |
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Q: How do I plot in Autocad?
A: To plot in AutoCAD...
1. Choose the drawing tab you want to plot.
2. Open the Plot dialogue box, File > Plot
3. Make sure the correct printer is selected. Make sure the "Plot to File" box is not checked.
4. Choose the Paper Size.
5. Choose the Plot Style Table.
6. Set the Drawing orientation.
7. Choose the area of the drawing that you want to plot. Under the "Plot Area" heading you will see a list of different settings, each of which instructs CAD to plot a slightly different area of your drawing.
Display Plot - the area of the drawing currently displayed onscreen.
Limits Plot - all of the drawing – from one set of limits to the other. (This option is available only when plotting the Model tab.)
Extents Plot - the area of the drawing that has drawn objects in it.
View Plot - a preset view of the drawing. (You must have already created a view for this option to be available.)
Window Plot - the area of the drawing enclosed by a rectangular window that you select. (To select a window, click on the Window button, which causes CAD to bring up a display of your current drawing tab. Next, click once on your drawing to set the window's top left corner, then click again in a different spot to set the window's bottom right corner. After you select both corners, AutoCAD returns to the Plot dialog box.)
Layout Plot - all of the drawing that fits within the margins of the chosen Paper Size. (This option is available only when plotting a Layout tab.)
8. Set the scale at which you want your drawing plotted.
If you want it to fit on the sheet of paper – then choose "Fit to Paper" under Plot Scale.
9. Set the Plot Offset. On the Plot Settings tab, look under the Plot Offset heading. Plot Offset specifies the vertical and horizontal alignment of your drawing on the page.
10. Set the Plot Options. Make sure the "Plot with plot styles" box under the Plot Options heading of the Plot Settings tab is checked. If this box is left unchecked, CAD will plot using its default settings for plot style.
11. Preview your drawing. To make sure that your plot will look like you want it to, click either the Partial Preview button or the Full Preview button at the bottom of the Plot dialog box.
12. Make corrections to the plot settings, if necessary. If you are dissatisfied with the Partial or Full Previews of your drawing, modify the settings you have specified on the Plot Settings and Plot Device tabs as needed, and then re-preview the plot.
13. Save your plot settings.
If you want to save your plot settings for the current drawing tab so that you won't have to set them again the next time you plot it, check the "Save changes to layout" box on the Plot Settings tab under the Layout Name heading.
14. Plot your drawing. When you are satisfied with your plot preview, click on the OK button at the bottom of the Plot dialog box to plot your drawing.
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Q : What page size options are available for plotting?
A: Reference the table below. To select your desired page size, go to File > Page Setup (on Mac) or File > Print Setup (on PC), select the plotter as your printer, then select your desired page size.
| Win Paper Size Title | Mac Paper Size Title* | Dimensions (in.) | Printable Area (in.) | Open Lab Plotters | POC Plotter |
| ANSI A | US Letter | 8.5 x 11 | 8.5 x 11 | Size Restricted. Use ARCH A. | $2.81 |
| ISO A4 | A4 | 8.26 x 11.69 | 8.26 x 11.69 | Size Restricted. | $2.90 |
| ARCH A | Arch A | 9 x 12 | 9 x 12 | Size Restricted. | $3.24 |
| JIS B4 | JB4 | 10.13 x 14.33 | 10.13 x 14.33 | Size Restricted. | $4.35 |
| ANSI B | Tabloid | 11 x 17 | 11 x 17 | Size Restricted. Use ARCH B. | $5.61 |
| ISO A3 | A3 | 11.69 x 16.54 | 11.69 x 16.54 | Size Restricted. | $5.80 |
| ARCH B | Arch B | 12 x 18 | 12 x 18 | $.65 | $6.48 |
| JIS B3 | JB3 | 14.33 x 20.28 | 14.33 x 20.28 | $.87 | $8.72 |
| ANSI C | C | 17 x 22 | 17 x 22 | $1.12 | $11.22 |
| ISO A2 | A2 | 16.54 x 23.39 | 16.54 x 23.39 | $1.16 | $11.61 |
| ARCH C | Arch C | 18 x 24 | 18 x 24 | $1.30 | $12.96 |
| JIS B2 | JB2 | 20.28 x 28.67 | 20.28 x 28.67 | $1.74 | $17.44 |
| ISO A1 | A1 | 23.39 x 33.11 | 23.39 x 33.11 | $2.32 | $23.23 |
| ANSI D | D | 22 x 34 | 22 x 34 | $2.24 | $22.44 |
| ARCH D | Arch D | 24 x 36 | 24 x 36 | $2.59 | $25.92 |
| JIS B1 | JB1 | 28.67 x 40.46 | 28.67 x 40.46 | $3.49 | $34.89 |
| ISO A0 | A0 | 33.11 x 46.81 | 33.11 x 46.81 | $4.65 | $46.50 |
| ANSI E | E | 34 x 44 | 34 x 44 | $4.49 | $44.88 |
| ARCH E | Arch E | 36 x 48 | 36 x 48 | $5.18 | $51.84 |
| JIS B0 | JB0 | 40.56 x 57.32 | 40.56 x 57.32 | $6.97 | $69.75 |
| 42x60 | 42x60 | 42x60 | 40x60 | $7.20 | $72.00 |
| 42x70 | 42x70 | 42x70 | 40x70 | $8.40 | $84.00 |
| 42x80 | 42x80 | 42x80 | 40x80 | $9.60 | $96.00 |
| 42x90 | 42x90 | 42x90 | 40x90 | $10.80 | $108.00 |
| 42x100 | 42x100 | 42x100 | 40x100 | $12.00 | $120.00 |
| 42x110 | 42x110 | 42x110 | 40x110 | $13.20 | $132.00 |
| 42x120 | 42x120 | 42x120 | 40x120 | $14.40 | $144.00 |
| 58x60 | 58x60 | 58x60 | 58x60 | Not available on this printer. | $104.40 |
| 58x70 | 58x70 | 58x70 | 58x70 | Not available on this printer. | $121.80 |
| 58x80 | 58x80 | 58x80 | 58x80 | Not available on this printer. | $139.20 |
| 58x90 | 58x90 | 58x90 | 58x90 | Not available on this printer. | $156.60 |
| 58x100 | 58x100 | 58x100 | 58x100 | Not available on this printer. | $174.00 |
| 58x110 | 58x110 | 58x110 | 58x110 | Not available on this printer. | $191.40 |
| 58x120 | 58x120 | 58x120 | 58x120 | Not available on this printer. | $208.80 |
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Q : Can I print without margins on the plotters?
A: Yes. In the Print Setup window, the Paper panel's Size menu lists all available setups. The industry standard sizes will feature multiple options for each available paper size. The "oversize" option will format your file to print without margins. If you wish to print without margins, select the "oversize" option. Academic Technology sizes (40"x 60"...) are automatically configured to print without margins.Note that the hardware cannot print to the edge of the paper. To be sure your image is not cropped, leave an inch buffer from the page edges.
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Q : Can I customize my paper size for plotting?
A: Yes. To create a custom page size for plotting from a Windows or Mac station, follow the steps below:
For Mac...
1. Go to File > Print and select your plotter.
2. Click Page Setup to continue to the Paper Size drop-down menu.
3. Click on Manage Custom Sizes at the bottom of the Paper Size menu.
4. Click the "+" to create and name a new size, then enter your desired dimensions and margins (Note the maximum printable page width indicated above).
For Windows...
1. Go to File > Print and select your plotter.
2. Click Properties to continue to the Advanced tab.
3. Go to Paper Size drop-down menu and choose PostScript Custom Page Size Definition.
4. Enter your desired dimensions. Make sure units are set to Inch and paper type to Roll Feed.
Q: How do I plot on Heavyweight Coated Paper at Parsons East Lab?
A: To print to Heavyweight Coated Paper...
For Windows...
1. File > Print. Select E208A-Plotter1 or E300A-Plotter1.
2. Click Properties.
3. Click Paper/Quality Tab.
4. In the dropdown menu under "Paper Source", confirm setting "Automatically Select" (default).
5. In dropdown menu under "Paper Type", select the desired paper type (Heavyweighted Coated Paper).
6. Click OK to close Properties Window.
7. Click OK in Print window.
8. Enter your NetID username and password, wait for cost confirmation and accept.
For Mac...
1. File > Print. Select E208A-Plotter1 or E300A-Plotter1.
2. In the Copies & Pages dropdown menu, select Finishing.
3. In the menu label "Typs is", select Heavyweight Coated Paper.
4. Click Print.
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POC Photo Quality Plotter
Q: What is the POC Plotting?
A: Print Output Center (POC) Plotting is a service provided by Academic Technology for large-sized files which are output on high-quality satin photographic paper.
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Q: What's the difference between large-format photo-quality printing and plotting?
A: The plotters you will find out in the open labs are primarily intended for printing CAD line drawings. Paper types ideally suited for line output are not suitable for photographic and/or graphic images, and will result in poor quality (such as banding in areas filled with color). For high-quality output of photographic and/or graphic images, use the large-format, photo-quality printing services. Please refer to the Dimension List above for available sizes and pricing.
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Q: Where can I print large-format, photo-quality prints?
A: All Large-Format Photo-Quality Printing orders are submitted for processing at the Print Output Center (55 West 13th Street; room 408).
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Q: What are the submission and file format requirements?
A: All files submitted for Large-Format Photo-Quality printing must meet the following criteria & guidelines.
| • Files may be no larger than 58” x 120” | • File(s) must be submitted as .pdf |
| • Cost is determined by paper setup | • All transactions require presentation of your New Card. |
| • Black and white sample(s) must be included | • File size in excess of 100MB may require compression, resubmit |
| • File must be submitted on CD or DVD | • Do not use “registration black” |
| • Allow 3 days to process your request | • Maximum resolution is 300 dpi |
| • Only one user per order form. | • No more than three files may be submitted per request |
| • Person who submitted file(s) must be present at point of submission. No Proxies. | • Requests for reprints must be submitted via web form by logging in to Mynewschool, Report A Problem |
Q: What do I do if there is an issue with the quality of my output?
A: If there are any issues with quality of your print and/or service, you must submit a Problem Report online in order to receive consideration for a refund or reprint of your file. The Problem Report web form may be accessed by logging into MyNewSchool under the Student tab, in the section titled Academic Technology.
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Q: Who has access to large-format photo-quality printing?
A: All registered students, faculty, and staff have access to large format photo quality printing.
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Last updated 01/24/2012