Comments for Why don't PDF's print at the same size as the original?

Comment from nebigfoot on 2012-01-27

2012-01-27T13:30:59Z

We create forms as PDF's that we publish on our WEB site. We also have vendors that produce the same documents with 2D barcodes as PDF's. We scan/image the returned doucuments and run OCR, ICR and 2D interpretation of data. When the public prints the documents in Adobe Reader with scaling set to none (or actual size in Reader X), everything is fine. The issue is when the the users leave the size option set to something other than none or actual. We have margins over 1/2 inch on all sides and the pages will always scale. This moves the exact positioning of the fixed print documents and shrinks the 2D barcodes to where they are unreadable. We have the page scaling set to none in the document itself but of course the user can always override.

I have been told that if you change the size of the page to something less than 8 1/2 by 11, you can prevent the scaling. I have played with this and found that what works best for a laser printer is different than what works with an inkjet. Does anyone know a size that will prevent scaling on the most printers?

Is there any other way to prevent a PDF document from scaling? I have even created a PDF with one word in the middle of am 8 1/2 by 11 page and it will still scale.

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A comment on: Why don't PDF's print at the same size as the original?

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Comment from Joe on 2010-08-12

2010-08-12T19:16:22Z

My problem is similar to one above (Bert Coules, Nov 2009). I can print PDF without scaling down (Page scaling: None), but my page nbr and other folio material are cut off at page bottom. Again, I know it is not the printer because the PDF creator (InDesign) prints fine. Why the difference? Seems Acrobat introduces a fatter NO-PRINT zone at page bottom . . . and we need prints at 100%, so again, scaling will not work. Help.

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A comment on: Why don't PDF's print at the same size as the original?

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Comment from Joerg on 2009-12-07

2009-12-07T08:34:59Z

Very good to understand. My problem: how can I print without margins from a batch-job (DOS-Box) ? There is no option for "not scaling" ...

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A comment on: Why don't PDF's print at the same size as the original?

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Comment from Bert Coules on 2009-11-12

2009-11-12T20:59:58Z

Thanks for the article. Unfortunately, even with the page scaling set to "none" I'm still having documents print out smaller than the originals (converted from Word 2000 with PrimoPDF). I know that my printer can handle the necessary area (I can print the document from Word with no problems at all) so I'm totally baffled as to why printing the pdf version causes it to shrink.

It's really very odd.

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A comment on: Why don't PDF's print at the same size as the original?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Gwen on 2009-01-12

2009-01-12T22:20:16Z

I am sending a .pdf document by email for a company to print. They just called and told me the first two letters in each row are cut. Since I have no access to their printers, how can I change my document from my end?
Thanks!

You'll have to adjust the margins when you create the PDF.

- Leo
13-Jan-2009

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A comment on: Why don't PDF's print at the same size as the original?

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Comment from Mary Ann on 2008-12-30

2008-12-30T17:37:40Z

Thanks for the answer to,"Why Don't PDF's Print At Same Size As Original?" It's a real aggravation to print from A PDF and the print comes out so small you can barely read it. I just rescaled my page to "none" and it worked beautifully.We struggle with these little things and it doesn't occur to us sometimes to just "Ask Leo!" Mary Ann

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A comment on: Why don't PDF's print at the same size as the original?

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Comment from Joseph on 2008-12-30

2008-12-30T16:18:59Z

Nice explanation, Leo. I print a lot of ebooks and sometimes I need to 'put' more on the page. I mean make it more readable. This article helps me with this issue. I'll work with this and I always can print just one page and see the results.
thanks Leo
joseph

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A comment on: Why don't PDF's print at the same size as the original?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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