General

1. Please do not use dark backgrounds. These can be expensive to plot due to high ink volumes required and also do not look good. Colors appear darker when plotted as opposed to how they appear on the computer monitor.
2. If you use an image as your background in PowerPoint, use the Design tab, select Background Styles, select your image and set Transparency to 75 percent. Make sure your image is close to the XY ratio of your slide, as it will be stretched to fit.
3. Leave at least 1/2 inch margins, based on final output size, and ensure that the object boxes are all within the poster.
4. Maximum paper width is 42 inches.
5. If the longest dimension of your final product is 42" or less, to reduce paper waste please select the features tab in printer properties and check Autorotate.
6. A 60" paper cutter is located in room 112.
7. PDF files created on a Mac can sometimes be problematic. If this is the case try using Adobe Photoshop to send the PDF to the plotter.

Microsoft Powerpoint

1. Powerpoint does not always play well with our plotter. To be on the safe side, you should use a PDF format.
2. First, make sure your presentation is saved in Powerpoint format.
3. Then, save it as a PDF file using the Office Button > Save As > PDF.
4. Open this PDF file with Acrobat Reader and proceed to the following section.
   NOTE: PowerPoint only allows maximum X and Y dimensions of 56 inches. This sometimes is not long enough for a poster or banner. To create posters larger than 56 inches, create the slide (i.e., poster) in PowerPoint at a scaled-down size, and then scale the print up when it is plotted.

Acrobat Reader (PDF)

1. Select File > Print.
2. In the Name: field of the Print dialog box, using the drop-down menu, select "Plot Room 224".
3. In the Comments and Forms: box select Document.
4. Click the Properties button.
• Select the Paper/Quality tab.
• Click the Custom... button.
• Enter a Name other than Custom.
• Set the desired Width and Length of the output. If this is different than the size of your slide due to scaling, maintain the XY ratio of your slide.
• Click the Save button.
• Click the OK button.
• In the Print Quality section, under Standard Options, move the slider from Quality to Speed.
• If the longest dimension of your final product is 42" or less, to reduce paper waste please select the Features tab and check Autorotate.
• Click the OK button.
5. If you are scaling your document, choose the appropriate option for Page Scaling: Most likely this will be Fit. You will see a small preview, including dimensions, in this Print window. This will help you determine the layout of your resultant output.
6. Click OK to print. Please watch your poster start to plot... layout/page/paper size problems are evident immediately. If there is a problem, the red X button on the plotter will cancel your plot.