PDF Margins Lost When Printing
PDF documents are designed for easy transmission, scaling and readability. When it comes to printing, however, it can be difficult to find the correct settings. Losing margins is a common issue when printing PDFs; with a few simple changes to the document and printer settings, however, you can fix the problem without altering the original file.
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Document Size
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One of the first things to check when a PDF prints without the margins is the size of the document. Because PDF files can be created from a variety of programs, you may be trying to print a document that is larger than your paper size. Unlike the default settings for most word processing software programs, PDF files do not have automatic margins. If you are printing on standard letter paper, anything larger than 8.5 inches by 11 inches may be causing problems. Size differences may not be readily apparent in a PDF viewer because it will usually fit the document to your screen. To check the size, open your PDF and choose "Properties" from the File menu.
Printer Settings
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The print settings for a PDF document affect the way it appears after it is printed. If the document is too big and is not set to fit to the page, you will lose the margins. In the Print dialogue box, the paper should be set to the correct size in the Paper Handling section, the Page Layout should be set to a single page with the borders turned off and the page scaling should be set to shrink to the printable area. Depending on your printer, you may also be able to adjust the scaling by percentage. The preview box shows how the document will look as you adjust settings; watch out for the margins.
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Printer Margins
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Most desktop printers cannot print full bleed documents, where the ink goes all the way to the edge of the paper. Although printer margins vary by brand and individual model, it is usually safe to assume a margin of .5 inch on standard letter-sized paper. If your document is 8.5 inches by 11 inches but you are still experiencing problems, it may be because the document content extends beyond the printer's margins.
Page Setup
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When you experience problems after ensuring that the document is the correct size and the print settings are adjusted to account for printer margins, the Page Setup option might be the culprit. From the File menu in Adobe, choose "Page Setup." The Page Setup dialogue box allows you to change the paper size, page orientation and scale. If any of the settings do not match your printer settings, it can cause distorted printing.
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References
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