GIS Plotter

The GIS Plotter is a HP DesignJet 500ps model and is located in the GIS Computer Classroom. This plotter allows for plots up to 42 inches wide. Minimum width and height printable dimension is 8.27 inches.

Plotting with Photoshop

1. Choose Image > Image Size and change the image size as desired (in inches)
2. Choose File > Page Setup > and select Printer in the bottom right of this box.
3. Select \\labprinters\gis_plotter in the name dialog box.
4. Click on Properties.
5. Choose the Paper/Quality tab. Under Paper Options, click on Custom...
6. If your plot's width is 42" or less: Set the width value as the longer edge of your image.
   If your plot's width is greater than 42": Set the height value as the longer edge of your image.
7. Set the width and height value approximately 1” to 1.5” greater than the document size to ensure that clipping or scale reduction does not occur. (e.g. if your document is 30” x 10”, make the width 31.5” and the height 11”)
8. After you input your dimensions, click OK and ensure that the Printable Area displayed in the ‘gis_plotter on labprinters Properties’ is larger than your image size. If not, click on Custom… again to alter the dimensions.
9. Adjust the Print Quality on the right side of the ‘gis_plotter on labprinters Properties’ as desired. Click OK. OK. Adjust the orientation accordingly in the ‘Page Setup’ box. Click OK.
10. Click on File > Print with Preview… Ensure that the preview displayed here looks oriented and scaled correctly.
11. Click Print. \\labprinters\gis_plotter should be selected in the Name box. Click OK.

Plotting with MS PowerPoint 2007

This is accomplished by converting the slide you wish to print to a PDF.

NOTE: To avoid skewing, make sure to set the ratio of width and height of your document to correspond to what you want the plot ratio to be.

1. Click on the Design Tab and click on Page Setup.
2. Select your height and width as desired. Click OK.
3. Click on the globe in the top left of the page, then click on the right expansion arrow next to Save As and select PDF or XPS. Choose the location you would like to save the PDF and save it.
4. See instructions on “Plotting with Adobe Reader”.

Plotting with Adobe Reader

1. Choose File > Print. In the printer name drop down box choose \\labprinters\gis_plotter.
2. Click on Properties for the plotter.
3. Choose the Paper/Quality tab. Under Paper Options, click on Custom…
4. If your plot's width is 42" or less: Set the width value as the longer edge of your image.
   If your plot's width is greater than 42": Set the height value as the longer edge of your image.
5. Set the width and height value approximately 1” to 1.5” greater than the document size to ensure that clipping or scale reduction does not occur. (e.g. if your document is 30” x 10”, make the width 31.5” and the height 11”)
6. After you input your dimensions, click OK and ensure that the Printable Area displayed in the ‘gis_plotter on labprinters Properties’ is larger than your image size. If not, click on Custom… again to alter the dimensions.
7. Adjust the Print Quality on the right side of the ‘gis_plotter on labprinters Properties’ as desired. Click OK. OK. Adjust the orientation accordingly in the ‘Page Setup’ box. Click OK.
8. Choose File > Print. Check that the print preview looks oriented and scaled correctly.
   NOTE: Under certain circumstances in which you cannot change the size of your PDF document, it may be necessary to change scaling. Under the Page Handling in the Page Scaling section choose between ‘None’, ‘Fit to Printable Area’, and ‘Shrink to Printable Area’. Note that any scaling may result in a print size slightly different than exactly desired.
9. Click OK to plot.

Plotting with AutoCAD 2008:

1. Choose File -> Page Setup Manager…
2. Under ‘Page setups’ click on New…
3. Type in a name (e.g. 16x12), then click on OK.
4. Under Printer/plotter name box select \\labprinters\gis_plotter. Click on Properties.
5. In the ‘Access Custom Dialog’ click Custom Properties… (near the bottom of the ‘Device and Document Settings’ tab.)
6. Choose the Paper/Quality tab. Under Document Size click on Custom…
7. If your plot's width is 42" or less: Set the width value as the longer edge of your image.
   If your plot's width is greater than 42": Set the height value as the longer edge of your image.
8. Set the width and height value approximately 1” to 1.5” greater than the document size to ensure that clipping or scale reduction does not occur. (e.g. if your document is 30” x 10”, make the width 31.5” and the height 11”)
9. After you input your dimensions, click OK and ensure that the Printable Area displayed in the ‘gis_plotter on labrpinters Properties’ is larger than your image size. If not, click on Custom… again to alter the dimensions.
10. Adjust the Print Quality on the right side of the ‘gis_plotter on labprinters Properties’ as desired.
11. Go to the Finishing tab and choose the orientation as desired. Click OK. OK. OK. OK. Close.
12. To plot, choose File > Plot (or type Ctrl + P).
13. In the Page Setup section, under 'Name:', click on the down arrow on the right side of the selection box. Choose the profile you just created (e.g. 16x12). Click on Preview in the bottom right if desired. Click OK.