Specifying the media size and orientation


    Adobe Illustrator normally uses the default page size defined by the PPD file for the selected printer. However, you can change the media size to any of the sizes listed in the PPD file as well as specify portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) orientation. Page sizes are listed by familiar names (such as Letter) as well as by dimensions (in the Width and Height text boxes). The imageable area is the total page size less any unprintable border used by the printer or imagesetter. Most laser printers cannot print to the exact edge of a page.

    Note the following when specifying the page size and orientation:

    • If you select a different media size (for example, if you change from US Letter to US Legal), the artwork is repositioned in the preview window. This is because the preview window displays the entire imageable area of the selected media; when the media size is changed, the preview window automatically rescales to include the imageable area.

    Note: The imageable area may vary by PPD file, even for the same media size (for example, US Letter), because different printers and imagesetters define the sizes of their imageable areas differently.

    • Make sure that your media size is large enough to contain your artwork as well as crop marks, registration marks, and other necessary printing information. To conserve imagesetter film or paper, however, select the smallest page size that accommodates your artwork and necessary printing information.
    • You can specify a custom page size using the Custom option in the General options of the Print dialog box. This option is only available if the PPD file supports it, something generally found with high-end imagesetters and wide-format printers, and less often with laser printers.
    • If you specify a custom page size, the page size is automatically generated based on the settings in the Print dialog box. Everything that adds to or modifies the artwork (such as printers marks, the amount of bleed, what you are cropping the artwork to, which layers you're printing, and how you're scaling the document) contributes to generating that custom value. However, if you then change one of these settings, the page size remains the same unless you change the page size or choose the Custom option again.
    • The largest custom page size you can specify depends on the maximum imageable area of your imagesetter. Consult the documentation on your specific printer for more information.
    • The default placement of the page on the film or paper depends on the imagesetter used to print the page.
    • If your imagesetter can accommodate the longest side of your imageable area, you can conserve a considerable amount of film or paper by using Transverse or changing the orientation of the printed artwork.
    Original orientation compared to landscape orientation, which saves enough film space to print an extra page
    Original orientation compared to landscape orientation, which saves enough film space to print an extra page

    You can set the following General options in the Print dialog box:

    Size

    Specifies a page size. If the PPD file for the printer allows this, choose Custom to specify a custom page size in the Width and Height text boxes.

    Width

    Specifies a custom page width if you choose Custom from the Size pop-up menu.

    Height

    Specifies a custom page height if you choose Custom from the Size pop-up menu.

    Note: Be sure to increase the width and height values; decreasing the default values may clip your artwork.

    The Portrait Up button Portrait Up button

    Prints in portrait orientation, right side up.

    The Landscape Left button Landscape Left button

    Prints in landscape orientation, rotated to the left.

    The Portrait Down button Portrait Down button

    Prints in portrait orientation, upside down.

    The Landscape Right button Landscape Right button

    Prints in landscape orientation, rotated to the right.

    Transverse

    Rotates the printed artwork 90°. To use this option, you must use a PPD that supports transverse printing and custom page sizes.