Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge
Just when I think that I know what’s going on with the printer, it jumps up to bite me and make me “waste” paper and ink on learning … the hard way. Honestly, I’m not like my son, Tony, I’ll listen to suggestions. I don’t need to learn everything the hard way. I don’t.
So, in preparation for some more frames, I printed out a number of prints that I intended to hang. Printed them on 13 x 19″ (Super A3) paper. They looked glorious. I decided to re-frame a print. So, I took one of the large prints that I had framed, removed it from its frame and mat and put my newly printed masterpiece under the mat and … the print was quite a bit smaller than the opening. Huh? Everything in Lightroom said 12 x 18 or 13 x 19 paper. However, the prints were coming about 11.375 (28.9 cm) x 17.125 (43.5 cm), not 12 (30.5 cm) x 18 (45.7 cm). To make a long story short, nothing that I did seemed to change the outcome.
After spilling a bit more liquid gold and paper, I hit Google. After refactoring my searches, I finally came upon the issue, present in both LR and PS. There is a checkbox on one of the dialogs, Scale To Fit Paper Size, which is checked by default. Seems that this will automatically add “borders” for you, regardless of what you put into the LR or PS. Unchecking this box leaves the print exactly as you want it. It seems to me that this would be the default behavior! Grrr! This makes no sense to me as how much scaling is needed to fit a 12 x 18 rectangle in a 13 x 19? Seems like a defect, not a feature!
The Magic Checkbox
You’d think that considering how long I’ve had this printer I would have noticed this. Well, though I’ve printed what I thought was 12 x 18 before, I’ve never tried to frame one of the prints. I went back and looked at some older, 12 x 18 prints and, yep, they suffer from the same lack of the correct size.
Now all of that business is fixed and I printed the same print, once again, and it fit perfectly under the mat. I don’t even want to know how much it cost me to print that particular one and have a number of others that will need to be reprinted if I expect to hang them with that particular mat size.
No one said that it was going to easy, or free for that matter.
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I sympathize with your frustration there man! I agree, seems like a silly thing as a default. I don’t recall seeing that default as I am often trying to squeak every last millimeter of print area. Guess I have to look for it now, maybe I turned it off a long time ago and don’t remember.
Mark recently posted..Always do that 180
Mark, as much as you print, I’m sure that you probably unchecked that box long, long ago and never gave it another thought. It is a silly thing to have as the default.
Paul, I’m going to make a note and change this setting so I don’t have to relive “your pain.”
Thanks for the heads up.
Earl recently posted..Walk Photos
I would have gladly gone without the pain, Earl. I hope that it helps you and others.
Well, thanks for the tip as I will also make the change. But, I’m sorry you had to go through more liquid gold to find the answer and thank God for googling for answers. Listening to your reports about your escapades triggers the urge to make my own prints again. Maybe I will again someday.
Monte Stevens recently posted..I’m a Photographer: Part 1
Monte: These expensive lessons are certainly memorable, as well as humorous AFTER I solve them. LOL – If I can help prevent someone from going through it, it’s much better. I am, though, really enjoying seeing the prints come off of the printer, more than I thought I would and that’s a good thing.
Everytime I print something that doesn’t turn out quite right, I see the dollar signs. It’s not cheap, but when I look at the cost of having a custom lab do the print, the cost is still much less – even if I have to do it three times. Especially with prints above 11×14. Live and learn – I’ll have to see if I have that box checked or not, though I suspect it’s unselected since I haven’t had that issue.
Nice image – did you take it from a boat or peer?
John – Visual Notebook recently posted..Small Town Churches – Pauline, Nebraska
I’ve not done a cost comparison, John, but I can say that the enjoyment is far superior to opening a box and seeing your prints, printed by someone else and their interpretation of it.
I don’t really think about the cost unless I’m going through something like I went through this weekend because that is the extreme case when you can see the ink levels dropping, the unused paper stack getting lower, and you don’t seem to be getting closer to your goal of solving it! Now that I have it figured out, I can resume printing and framing as $$$ allows.
As for this image, thanks. I took it from the shore using the zoom capabilities of that Nikon P-510. This was taken at 350 mm.
I have never yet figured out who most default settings were designed to satisfy. Watching money go down the drain is never fun. Glad you solved the problem.
I am delighted to hear that you have not yet been able to control this desire to print and frame. That comes out sounding cold, but you know I wish you the very best.
Anita Jesse recently posted..My New, Shiny Toy
Well, I’ve already lain the blame for this addiction squarely in front of you and have sent repeated e-mails for monetary help.
I guess that I’m on my own in this. LOL I am having a blast, though. As a matter of fact, I just ordered four more large frames. I’ll be ready to print and hang when I get back from my little trip that I’m taking tomorrow. More on that later.
I have never gotten so much pleasure out of being a “bad” influence on someone. As for that monetary assistance you seek, I thought we agreed that when you find a suitable benefactor you would share with me. Since I put you on the path to financial ruin by leading the way, couldn’t you spare a little compassion and spread some wealth in my direction?
I just noticed an old post of yours in which you mentioned the possibility of seeking an opportunity for an exhibit. Any recent activity in that area? See. I am beginning to settle into this bad influence role. It’s fun!
Anita Jesse recently posted..My New, Shiny Toy
Thanks, Ove. I find that I really like doing them myself as well. I get to use my own interpretation of the photo, not what the photo lab thinks it should look like.