Print Size Problems?

There have been some questions about odd print sizes popping up with various versions of GIMP.   Now this obviously is distressing to the Gimp Wimp who hates problems and feels that once something is worked out nicely, it should run smoothly thereafter.

Unanswered questions cause the Gimp Wimp to toss and turn, trying to fall asleep at night  while the problem looms menacingly out of the darkness demanding attention.  I’ve already lost two weeks sleep over the concept of the Space/Time warp.   And now several questions have arisen online and here on this blog about those business cards sometimes printing out smaller than the standard 2 by 3.5 inches which my template provides.

The hitch seems to be a relatively easy one to solve.   If you are printing directly from GIMP and not from another program.

First of all be sure your cards have been created at 1050 by 600 pixels ( don’t use inches because that won’t give the correct pixel resolution)

Then be sure your template has been copied onto the 8.5 by 11 option at 300 ppi   (which you’ll see is 2550 by 3300 ppi)   … and your cards neatly positioned.

NOW  ….  Open your file and select PRINT   …. Don’t open Page Setup because that will show margins which we are going to ignore.

PRINT will open up this menu.   Select Image Settiings.   Ignore “Preferences”

You will now have this menu below.  If you are lucky.   You will see that the paper size is correct.  And most importantly … the x and y resolutions are also correct at 300 ppi.  Note too that there are NO margins in the Preview.   And that the tiny Ignore Page Margins box on the lower left hand side is nicely checked.   If these stats are correctly displayed  … then you’re in clover.  Cowabunga!  Load your paper and print your cards.

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However, you may be one of those unfortunates who are having your meticulously prepared card sheets spewing out of your printer in an odd size.   Sometimes smaller than the standard 2 x 3.5 inch business card.   Which will not do at all.

If this is happening your menu probably won’t be showing those nice even numbers. It may look like this one.  Now look at it carefully and you’ll see not only are the inches odd numbers, there’s a  margin around the Preview and the resolution has mysteriously assumed a weird proportion as well.   Who ever heard of 318.870 pixels?   Sounds like one of those equations from a Quantum Theory text.  Light travels at precisely 186 282.397  miles per second.    But 318.870 pixels?  Well that’s just plain crazy.

Okay … if your menu looks like this, we’ve diagnosed and nailed the problem.   It’s all in that tiny little box on the lower left hand of the menu.   “Ignore Page Margins” .  I’ve written this in bold letters but on that menu, it’s almost invisible.  Now you MUST check that box.   Click on it and add your CHECK mark.

Then go up to the page sizes and toggle up once  … the correct 8.5 by 11 inches will appear. Don’t forget to go up and edit those sizes.   You will then notice that magically your pixels are restored to the correct 300 ppi as well.

( If you want to fiddle around and get a little thrill of controlling the situation …. see what happens when you remove that check mark on a 8.5 by 11 at 300 ppi  …. and you will immediately witness     DISASTER  …       Then add the check mark and restore both your sanity and the correct print dimensions and resolution.)

The Gimp Wimp      ( Now looking forward to a good night’s sleep …)

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