I need a driver or free software to print a plat in Carlson 2010 w/icad to a 17" x 22" PDF output. I currently use PrimoPDF, but it does not seem to go that big. Or do I need to plot my 17" x 22" into the corner of an 18" x 24" or 24" x 36" 'sheet' and hand cut the actual mylar output? Someone from Carlson suggested CutePDF, but I have not tinkered around with what I need to do at all. I'll spend part of tomorrow doing that. I just thought the fine people here may have had to deal with the same issue that I have just described.
Thank in advance!!
Carl
You can create any custom size with CutePDF.
I've plotted large PDFs directly to an HP 500 plotter.
Paul in PA
Carl
I use the CutePDF Writer. If I can figger it out, anybody can.
Does your pdf driver have an "ARCH C" paper size? I think that's the paper size you're looking for.
> You can create any custom size with CutePDF.
Thank you. It looks like I'll be going that way.
🙂
> I've plotted large PDFs directly to an HP 500 plotter.
>
> Paul in PA
Great to hear. I do not have a plotter in house. I need to plot to a 17x22 to take to the local print shop to plot a mylar as a requirement to finish my project for a neighboring town. I have the Brother CW-6490 or whatever everybody else has that plots up to 11x17 and it has done just fine for me for over two years. I don't see the need to spend for a plotter and paper and all the other things when I can move a file to a thumb drive and print at the shop once every other year.
Thank you for your input though.
Carl
Carl
> I use the CutePDF Writer. If I can figger it out, anybody can.
>
> Does your pdf driver have an "ARCH C" paper size? I think that's the paper size you're looking for.
The one I had been using does not. This is the first 17x22 plot I have had to make in over 2 years of being in business. I will download the CutePDF driver and test it out tomorrow.
Thank you for the info!!
🙂
Carl
make sure to check your scale
I don't know if it's just me, but it seems that the margins or something need adjusting to get it plot to exact scale. We need bar scales on everything, and the agencies will scale the final plot and call you on it if it's slightly off.
Unfortunately, taking things to an outside vendor to pick up the plot you just emailed them takes time. Then to find out it's not quite exact just wastes more time and money.
I never have the problem when I plot direct from CAD on my plotter (HP 110C), just from the pdf.
Carl
Carl, if you prefer to use the Primo driver then you should be able to add the C size sheet directly through Windows.
Locate the printer in the Devices and Printers section of the Control Panel, and select it. The shortcut command bar at the top of the window should display an option for the print server properties. Select that and you should see the list of sheet sizes that your Windows system is currently using. You can add any new size that you want, and then it should be available for use.
make sure to check your scale
I use PDFCreator from SourceForge, a lot of prebuilt page sizes as well as any custom size.
Plot large PDF on an HP 500 plotter - how?
> I've plotted large PDFs directly to an HP 500 plotter.
>
> Paul in PA
Paul - would you mind explaining HOW? I have had problems with that one.
Thanks
Ken
Carl, Are you running Windows7? If you go to the printing preferences in the control panel for the PrimoPDF driver and click on the advanced button, you can select Postscript Custom Page Size and define it there. Then select that as the option to print inside Cadd.
make sure to check your scale
> I don't know if it's just me, but it seems that the margins or something need adjusting to get it plot to exact scale. We need bar scales on everything, and the agencies will scale the final plot and call you on it if it's slightly off.
>
> Unfortunately, taking things to an outside vendor to pick up the plot you just emailed them takes time. Then to find out it's not quite exact just wastes more time and money.
>
> I never have the problem when I plot direct from CAD on my plotter (HP 110C), just from the pdf.
Again, I don't have a plotter for this size paper. It's roughly $5 for pdf conversion and $1 a sheet there after. I'll take a scale with me. These guys know what they are doing. I can't justify the cost of a plotter for projects that I MIGHT do one every other year.
> Carl, Are you running Windows7? If you go to the printing preferences in the control panel for the PrimoPDF driver and click on the advanced button, you can select Postscript Custom Page Size and define it there. Then select that as the option to print inside Cadd.
Yes Jason, Win7 here,
I tried that and it didn't work right.
I have some things to look at this afternoon for sure. Thanks for the help!!
Carl
+1 on the CutePDF writer.
After you install it, it appears in the list of printers. Set up your drawing as normal and select CutePDF writer as your printer.
You can plot any size with primo as well. Go onto the plot settings, find the custom paper size and save the plot settings as a plotter style. Be sure to select the postscript size for your page size in the plot window. I can get more detailed if you need it, spledeus@c4.net.
CARL
All my Carlson upgrades have had a DWG to PDF option under printer names or options.
Primo PDF
will work. Change the custom postscript paper size. I do it all the time.
Carl,
A couple of others have already responded suggesting CutePDF and I suggent the same. I've been using this software for a few years now and find it very user friendly and easy to implement. I'm not familiar with the other softwares mentioned and they may work just as well but I do know that CutePDF is a very useful and easy to use means of plotting to a .pdf file. After loading it shows up as another printer and then allows you to set the printer parameters as far as size, file name, file location, etc.
It will definitely handle the need to create a .pdf file for a 17" x 22" drawing. Many of my plats are 17" x 22" and I suspect I use this size for the same reason you have in this case, it makes meeting Virginia's plat standards easier as the drawing will only need tick marks at the midpoint of each margin.
Thanks Todd.
You are right on, and it sounds like this is the way for me to go. The PrimoPDF was not heavily encouraged by the fellow at Carlson, and CutePDF was specifically mentioned, especially for 17x22. The only two sheet size options that I was allowed in the neighboring town were 17x22 and 24x36. I can't see using the bigger when I got my project on the smaller, even at a 1" = 20' scale. I've also never under stood plotting on a lager sheet (even 18x24) when the largest my county wants to record is 17x22.
I'll be downloading CutePDF this afternoon, and testing it out.
Thank you everybody for your help!!
Carl
