12 Replies Latest reply: Feb 22, 2012 7:15 PM by mckinney3 RSS

    Dimensions of printed image not equal to document

    mckinney3 Community Member

      I am running PS CS5.5 on a a MAC running OSX 10.7.3 and priting to an Epson Stylus Photo 2200.

       

      Background:

      Basically, the dimensions of a printed graphic are different than the size that is specified in the PS version of the graphic. The amount of error is about 1/16 of an inch over a 6 inch distance. This matters as the printed output must fit a template exactly.

       

      Details:

      I create a 300 dpi resolution document. I am using inches as the ruler setting and the method for specifying the size of an object in the Free Transform Dialog. I create, with the rectangle tool, a rectangle and then use command-T to specify the dimensions to be 6 inches X 1 inch. I check using the ruler tool and verify that the shpe is 6 X 1. When I print, the object is smaller.  In fact, it will be 5 29/32 inches instead of 6 inches.

       

      If I create the same object using Illustrator, the object prints (same printer)  exactly the specified dimenstion. If I place the illustrator object into Photoshop it will "say" that it is 6 inches but prints at the reduced size.

       

      After pulling my hair out, I have just adopted the work-a-round of scaling the output, in the printer dialog, by an appropriate % to compensate.  There must be a better way to address this problem.

       

      Thanks in advance to all that provide advice and help!

       

      dan mckinney

        • 1. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
          Community Member

          What is puzzling is that, in your case, the same printer behaves differently in Illustrator and in Photoshop. 

           

          Strictly from the point of view of the Epson driver (and I also have an Epson 2200), the size of the paper makes a big difference.  If you are printing a 6" long image on 4" x 6" paper in normal mode, the driver will shrink the image by about the factor you mention just to make sure the whole image prints inside the printing boundaries.  On the other hand, if you are printing in borderless mode, then the printer driver enlarges the image a bit so that it bleeds off the page in order not to leave any hint of a white border around the image.

           

          Another factor that makes a difference is checking the "Fit to Size" "Scale to Fit Media" in the Photoshop printer dialog box.

           

          As a test, try printing your 6"-image in normal mode in a letter-sized, 8.5" x 11" page.  It should print at exactly the specified size with very wide white margins around it.

           

          As I said at the beginning of this message, I have no explanation why the printer driver should behave any differently in Illustrator.  It is after all the very same printer driver, and it is the driver that determines how an image prints.   I have no idea if the printer driver is smart enough to know the difference between expecting photographs from Photoshop versus illustrations from Illustrator.  This is a good question to pose to Epson; their tech support people are usually very cooperative.  Personally, I'm more concerned with photographic prints.

           

          Message was edited by: R_de_Gokker

          • 2. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
            Community Member

            Please note that I've edited my previous post to read "Scale to Fit Media" in lieu of "Fit to Size".

            • 3. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
              mckinney3 Community Member

              Thank you for your comments.  Since you have a 2200, maybe you could run the experiment on your machines and see what happens.

               

              I have also changed the PS resolution design size to 360 thinking that the epson native resolution of 360 increments might be a factor but I get the same result.

               

              I also opened the PS graphic in Illustrator  instead of designing in Illustrator and it prints just fine.

               

              I also printed to my HP laser Jet printer and experienced the exact same problem -  A 6 inch object prints smaller by 1/16 - 3/32 inch.

               

              I think this narrows the issue to PS.

              • 4. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
                mckinney3 Community Member

                I also am making sure that I am not getting a cropping effect due to the limitation of the printer and its printable area.

                • 5. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
                  Community Member

                  I'll be glad to help if I can, but before risking wasting our time, I really need to ask you to address the key issues in my post in order to eliminate at least most of the variables:

                   

                  * What exact paper size are you using?

                   

                  * What's the version of the Epson driver you're running?

                   

                  * What mode, standard or borderless, are you selecting?  in other words, which of the six virtual 2200 printers installed by the Epson driver installer are you using to print this particular image (see screen shot) ?

                   

                  Ps_print_dial_box.jpg

                   

                  In order for my experiment to have some meaning, could you please upload the actual, exact image file you want me to print to a site like yousendit.com or Dropbox so I can download it?

                   

                  What I can unequivocally tell you is that the image shown in the screen shot prints at exactly the same dimensions shown in the settings of that print dialog box. i.e. 6.636 inches by 8.133 inches as measured by a vernier caliper.

                   

                   

                   

                  mckinney3 wrote:

                   

                  …I also printed to my HP laser Jet printer and experienced the exact same problem -  A 6 inch object prints smaller by 1/16 - 3/32 inch.

                   

                  I think this narrows the issue to PS…

                   

                   

                  …unless the Epson printer driver makes that decision when it detects an image file coming from Photoshop. 

                   

                  Would that be a distinction without a difference, perhaps? 

                   

                  An insurmountable difference may be the fact that, on the Mac, I am using the prior version of Photoshop and not running Lion, as I have stopped upgrading OS X at Leopard, and run version 11.0.2 on it.  At a different location I run Photoshop 12.0.4 under Windows, which is not a valid or even relevant comparison.

                  • 6. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
                    Community Member

                    Check out this thread from a couple of months ago:

                     

                    http://forums.adobe.com/message/4066570#4066570

                    • 7. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
                      mckinney3 Community Member

                      Thank you again for trying to help me!

                       

                      Here are the answers to your questions:

                       

                      What exact paper size are you using?

                       

                      My document size is 7 x 7 inches so I want run into any clipping problems with printer. The paper size is standard Letter - 8.5 x 11 inches

                       

                      * What's the version of the Epson driver you're running?

                       

                      8.6.1

                       

                      * What mode, standard or borderless, are you selecting?  in other words, which of the six virtual 2200 printers installed by the Epson driver installer are you using to print this particular image (see screen shot) ?

                       

                      My dialog drop down for printer does not indicate but one epson option.  Attached is screen shot:

                       

                      Screen Shot 2012-02-22 at 10.14.10 AM.png

                       

                      You are probably right that your set up will not be apples to apples to mine.  I hope a Lion and Epson user monitors this thread.

                      Would you still like a file?

                       

                      -dan

                      • 8. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
                        mckinney3 Community Member

                        Let me amend the info about printer options.

                         

                        Ther eis a furthur drop downs in the dialog for selecting paper.

                         

                        Attached is a screen shot of the type of paper I have selected.  US Letter and standard US Letter sub-option.

                         

                        Untitled.jpg

                        • 9. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
                          Community Member

                          mckinney3 wrote:

                           

                          …Would you still like a file?

                           

                           

                          It certainly wouldn't hurt to examine it, as the print settings  are saved with the document itself. But, yes, your setup is substantially different from mine.

                           

                          Have you talked to Epson?  In particular, it will be worth to inquire whether the Common Updater v9.0 is applicable in your case, and why the Epson tech support page for the 2200 still shows printer driver 8.1 for this printer.

                           

                          http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=14402&prod oid=20306147&infoType=Downloads&platform=Macintosh

                           

                          Epson also has a Liion support page at;

                          http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supportLion.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes

                          but the 2200 is not specifically listed there.

                           

                           

                          • 10. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
                            Community Member

                            My feeling is that, with Lion, Apple has taken a turn away from professional and serious computing and is directing the entire corporation to mobile devices, to the point where the most dedicated contributors at the Apple discussion forums are expressing a belief that in a few short years, professional users won't even be able to get desktop computers from Apple.

                             

                            However, that's a different issue.

                            • 11. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
                              Community Member

                              Epson2200_in_Lion.jpg

                               

                              …and UNCHECK the "Center Image box".  (Just to approximate my settings.)

                              • 12. Re: Dimensions of printed image not equal to document
                                mckinney3 Community Member

                                I made the set up selections that you specified.

                                 

                                The problem still exists.

                                 

                                Remember this is not just Epson 2200 issue but also occurs on the HP laser printer as well.

                                 

                                Again, thanks for hanging in an continuing to make suggestions.

                                 

                                The PS file just tested is at this link.

                                 

                                http://dl.dropbox.com/u/36524202/dimension%20target.psd

                                 

                                dan