Printing > Setting PostScript prepress options > Choosing a paper size and orientation

 

Choosing a paper size and orientation

Use the Paper Setup tab to choose a paper size and orientation.

The Paper Size menu displays paper sizes defined in the selected PPD file. If the selected printer supports custom paper sizes, the Paper Size menu also displays Custom paper sizes. A Transverse option is available to rotate the paper size 90° . The Transverse option is useful for saving imagesetter film or paper by printing pages perpendicular, rather than parallel, to the paper path (across the width of the paper).

To choose the paper size and orientation:

1

Choose File > Print or click the Print button in the Main toolbar and select a PostScript printer from the Printer pop-up menu.

2

On the Macintosh, select FreeHand from the pop-up menu.

3

In Windows or on the Macintosh, click Setup.

4

In the Print Setup dialog box, click the Paper Setup tab.

If you've selected a PPD, the Paper Size menu is available. The panel displays the height and width of the selected paper.

5

Choose a paper size from the pop-up menu.

Generally, match your largest page size if you plan to print the document without labels, marks, bleeds, or file information.

If you plan to print separations with bleeds, crop marks, and file information, choose a paper size that is larger than your page size by the following amounts:

For bleeds, add twice the bleed size for both height and width. Printing an object to the edge of the printed page requires creating a bleed. Bleeds ensure that when the printed paper is trimmed, the ink coverage extends to the edge of the paper.

For crop marks, increase the paper size by 36 points (0.5 inch or 12.7 mm) for both height and width.

For separation names or file name and date (or both), increase the paper size by 9 points (0.125 inch or 3.2 mm) for height.

6

If your imagesetter supports custom page sizes, select Transverse to rotate the entire document (including crop marks, halftone screen angles, and so on) by 90° on the imagesetter paper or film at print time.

Transverse printing (left) and default printing
 

Note: If you select Transverse, make sure that your page fits completely on the imagesetter media.

7

Select the Orientation: Tall (Portrait) or Wide (Landscape). Select Automatic if pages in your document differ in size and orientation.

Tall orientation (left) and Wide orientation (right)