more software help please

[sunnybob]

I have a drawing on my computer. Because of my ignorance of all things I cant actually touch I have no way of knowing how big it is untill I print.
If I want that drawing to be a particular size for a template for example, I might have to resize and print a half dozen times before I achieve my goal.

Is there a SIMPLE software program that will tell me how big the finished drawing will be without wasting all that ink please?
I have windows office manager on my laptop, as well as paint.

 

[Yojevol]

In a recent there was a link to an app called Big Print. You can ge a trial copy for free. It basically allows you to print what's on your screen. You put in a required dimension to get it to your particular size. There's a useful demo video.
Brian

 

[Yojevol]

Following on from my contribution a few minutes ago you can find it here woodgears.ca/bigprint/
Brian

 

[sunnybob]

I've just tried the demo of that. Its not what I want unfortunately.
Its for extra large over multiple pages and is far too complicated for what I want (complicated for ME, that is).

For example, I have a picture /drawing copied from an internet source. Normally this is very small, sometimes only a couple inches square when printed. I want to enlarge that drawing to fit an A4 sheet of paper. Not interested in print quality, just the outline.
At present that can take me four or more more sheets of paper through the printer in a trial and error zoom percentage trail. over an hour, half a cartridge of ink, steam coming out my ears, etc etc.
Another example. I have a drawing thats 10 cm long. I want a hard copy in the same dimensions and ratios, but 18 cm long.

when i try windows office manager, on the print screen is a box marked "fit to frame". Exactly what I want. When i tick that box, the picture suddenly shoots off each side of the paper. WTF?

see my problem, a software moron. Thats me.

 

[Garno]

Set you printer to "Actual Size" that should do it.

 

[Garno]

I have just reread your 2nd post.
When you have the drawing make sure that the sizes are correct, what I mean by that is make sure your original is in centimeters and not inches or worse meters. Before importing your drawing into paint or any other program make sure your template is set to A4. If all is ok and you are not really that concerned about detail highlight the drawing and in the size box ( usually near the top) type in the size you want and tick the keep ratio button. Then when ready to print use the print to actual size option.

 

[Yojevol]

Bob,
I've just had a go with the trial BigPrint and I'm sure it will do the job for you. I've just got ready for printing a random image which is 18cm long and fits onto a single A4 sheet. Unfortunately its virtually obliterated by an 'Eval Copy' overlay so you would have to buy the full app. It's very simple to use. If you are thinking of rescaling, up or down, a number of images/drawings it may be worth buying.
Brian

 

[pulleyt]

If you want to print a picture from the Internet and expand it to fit on a piece of A4 paper without the need for accurate dimensions I would recommend pasting or inserting the image into a word processed document. Then you should be able to adjust the size of the image on screen and see how it fits on the page before you print.

You can usually resize pictures accurately on screen by typing in a replacement dimension in the resize dialogue box but this will use the overall dimension of the image including any background. But if the dimensions have to be accurate on the printout you will need to check the accuracy of your printer. And that is where the BigPrint programme excels apparently (I've not used it personally).

I hope I've understood your dilemma properly.

Trevor

 

[AES]

If it's of any help Bob, you just CANNOT be a bigger software dummy than me, honest!

I bought that big print software from Woodgears (Mathias Wandel) and it's very good IMO. it does exactly what I (and I think you too) want.

It's also very simple to use: E.G. do you want a printout where the overall length of the object is (just for example) 10 centimetres (or inches or millimetres), and just for example, the 10 cm should be the length (rather than, say, the width)? Simple: just choose the units you want in the drop down menu, type in the number (for the above example it's "10" and "cm" of course), press the "print" button and out it comes. Magic! (well it is to me anyway).

Note that when first installing the programme you do have to make sure your printer set up is set to "Print Full Size" and not to "Fit to page". But that's it - it doesn't matter if it's A4 size paper that your printer uses or not, if the size/s of the object that you select are bigger than the A4 you use, it just automatically prints out on the required number of sheets and gives you alignment marks on each so that when joining sheets (IF necessary) they line up accurately. And if the size/s you choose are smaller than A4 you just get it all on the single sheet. But either way, the printed image ends up with exactly the dimension/s you have specified. Same if your printer is, say, an A3. You only have to set up the paper size before printing and the program does all the clever stuff automatically.

It works great for me anyway, and wasn't expensive (I forget how much, sorry). And usual disclaimers BTW.

HTH

Edit for P.S. I've just seen pulleyt's post and what he says is also correct - you can use word to do this, but just as he says, if the original image (photo or sketch) includes a background which is bigger than the item itself - most do have such a margin) then what word will give you is a print out the size of the item PLUS any margin/s. Wandell's Bigprint program overcomes that problem

 

[sunnybob]

The confusing thing for me with big print is that I dont want to print big. At least not bigger than a single A4.

I did like the fact I could put two points on the drawing and tell it how long that was, but when i put my snapshot into big print, and it spread it over 2 pages, despite what I wanted was only 18cm long.
I didnt find any way of shunting the whole thing left so only one page was used.

I really am blind as far as computer programs go, I'm just not intuitive enough. I can follow a set of instructions from a book, but by the time I have looked up the help (it usually doesnt) and got back to the drawing I have forgotten what to do again. I would need 2 computers, one open to the instructions.

I have used word documents many times, but never inserted a picture, let alone adjusted sizes. I think that might take longer than printing several test pages.
I will give big print another try, but its annoying that you cant even print one or two test pieces without purchasing.

 

[Yojevol]

Bob, from your last post it sounds as though you need to crop the image so it only contains the bit you want. Do you have a photo editing software to do this? If not there are online sites that will do it See https://www199.lunapic.com/editor. Or you could download a free photo editing prog such as https://www.gimp.org/downloads/. This one may not be the easiest to use but there are plenty around. Or get a mate to crop it for you - send it to me by email. I'll send you my address on a PM. This still leaves you having to buy BigPrint, but you should be able to see if it will work on the Eval edition.
Brian

 

[sunnybob]

This is getting too complicated for me. I thank everybody for their help and offers, but the last thing i want to do now is learn a new software program from scratch, just to save a few sheets of printing.

I have no other use for this software so dont really want to spend out. The purchase alone would pay for the next several years trial and error printing.

 

[AndyT]

I have used word documents many times, but never inserted a picture, let alone adjusted sizes. I think that might take longer than printing several test pages.
I will give big print another try, but its annoying that you cant even print one or two test pieces without purchasing.

Printing stuff is one of the biggest challenges for the occasional user!

If I were you, I'd use your familiarity with Word and carry on from there.
There are endless subtle differences between the many versions, but I suggest that you start a new blank document, with no text, making sure that the page size is set to A4. If your drawing is landscape, set the page setup to landscape, otherwise leave it as portrait.

Insert your picture. You'll probably have a menu "insert" with "picture" as an option, or else a button like a picture in a frame.

Under your View menu, make sure you are in "print layout" with the zoom level set to 100%. (There will probably be a zoom control on a toolbar.)

Use a plastic ruler to measure the size of the paper, as shown on your screen. If it's A4, it will be 210 x 297mm. That measurement should reassure you that your screen is showing the actual size of what will be printed.

Now look at the object in your inserted picture when it's displayed onscreen and measure it in the same way. Adjust the size of the picture until it's right. (There will be draggable handles if the picture is selected ok, and also a dialogue box for the overall rectangle of the inserted picture, where you can increase or decrease dimensions. Notice a checkbox to keep the proportions in step - leave this checked if you don't want to stretch or squash your picture. )

When you have got the size right as measured on screen, save the file and start exploring the print dialogue.

Make sure the printer is expecting A4 paper, not American "legal" size. Turn off any offers to scale or rotate your print to fit.

Print!

And if it still doesn't work, curse once and relax by your pool instead, having re-read the first line of this answer.

 

[sunnybob]

Andy, I got quite excited there. I managed to follow several steps.
but the on screen size of the sheet is 34.5cm and the on screen size of the picture is 22.5

so I'me going to throw myself completely at your mercy. Here is the drawing. I need the SHELL only, to be 18 cm long and 15 cm wide.I have no idea how big it will print in its current form
Any chance?

 

[sunnybob]

Andy, pm sent.

 

[AndyT]

I've had a quick go but the biggest I can make it on A4 is about 16cm long.

1. Do you need to print the whole picture with the shell 18cm or just the shell, without the legs?

2. Can you only print A4?

3. Can you tell what size paper Word thinks you have?

I'll be out the rest of the day but can have a proper go tomorrow.

 

[sunnybob]

I only want the shell, to trace the pattern.
I have an A 4 printer which should be big enough for the 18 x 15 shell. The wood is already cut so those sizes are non negotiable.
Happy to wait for a full scale drawing, thanks.

 

[Jack (W)]

Hope this helps:
PDF
A4
Landscape
Page Scaling: None

18cms x 15cms drawing of just the shell:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/slw2eyel10m0f ... e.pdf?dl=0

Regards,
Jack

P.S. Here's the cropped image of just the shell should you wish to import it and scale it in a program:

 

[AndyT]

I've had a go too and emailed you a Word document, Bob.

It's slightly more complicated than I thought as the size on screen isn't always right, as the software doesn't know how many dots per inch your screen can display. I had to zoom to 106% in Word for the page on screen to match an A4 paper page held up to the screen, and then it worked for me.

Of course, your printer may have different ideas!

 

[Racers]

Use a grid and pencil.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=088v4hXE4xs

Pete