Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

I posted this question recently on the Adobe Lr forum and did not receive an answer:

I'm hoping that there are settings to use in Lightroom Print Module in order to get cell size to print exactly as entered. I have determined how to get exact width, but cannot figure out how to get exact height printed.

Printed heights are about 1/4" less than cell height.

Settings I'm currently using are:

Printer: Epson a Stylus Pro 9900
Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC 2015, up to date version
OS: WIN 8.1

Example 1 (printing on 36" wide Epson Exhibition Canvas)

Page Setup>
-borderless printing checked

Layout Style>
-zoom to fill checked

Cell Size entered. Actual Printed Size
Height 25. 24.75 (1/4" shorter than input)
WIdth 21. 21.25 (1/4" wider than input)

SOLUTION re width determined in Example 2 below.

Example 2

all same as above except
Printer Settings>
EXPANSION set to retain Size

Cell Size. Printed size

Height 25. 24.75 (still 1/4" narrower)
WIdth. 21. 21. (Width printed as input)

Other info:
Borderless check or unchecked results in printed height being approximately 1/4" less than cell size height.
Zoom to to fill unchecked reduces size of image within cell

My current fix is to input about 1/4" more height, but the height variance is less, the smaller the print size requested.


Anyone have a solution so cell height is exactly the same as printed height?

N4646W

I believe you have to tinker with the border size to release the print to print to your specified size. If your 1/4" short on a dimension, remove 1/8" from the corresponding border on each side. Some times you have to restart LR to get the settings to take, but not always. Seems the preset borders are a priority with LR, and not the printed area.

I am using LR5 stand alone, so no updates. They may have corrected this on other versions.

Ron

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

I am not really qualified to join this discussion because I don't have the same printer as you so can't test what I say, however one thing you have not mentioned are the margin settings in the LR Print Module. Are they zeroed?

On my Epson, (small one), I can instruct the printer driver to show a print preview. This preview also contains print area dimensions (cell size) as well as the paper size and orientation. Sometimes the preview screen gives out a clue as to what is going on.

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

Thanks for your reply Searcher. My margins are zeroed. I can do a print preview, and will check what print area dimensions are indicated.

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

Hi Ron. Thanks for your reply. My borders are zeroed, but will try your suggestion. I just don't get it why the cell size is not the actual printed size.

Actual cell size height seems to vary, depending on the height input. The height that is printed increases proportionately more, the greater the height.

N4646W

Just a thought, try in the printer defaults, set it to borderless. This may force Lightroom to work within the parameters of the sheet by passing any supposed borders LR may think the printer defaults to. I have not been able to get anyone to respond to this even in some of the printer forums. It has to be a LR issue as my CAD programs have no problem printing to scale in either Architectural or mechanical drawings.

One other thing I did notice, is if you use the border outline in LR, you can type in the size instead of using the sliders.
Also, had to shut down LR to get size to stay. But as I said, we are using the stand alone version with no update capabilities, and there are a lot of subtle differences between it and the trial version. It is getting less and less use as we progress.

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to matter whether I have Borderless checked or unchecked, there are print cell size selected vs. actual print size issues. With Borderless unchecked (as in with borders), I believe that the final print size is smaller than the cell size that was input.

I haven't called Adobe to ask, as I'm not sure how to get through to them, or if they will reply. My question posted on the Lr forum was not answered.

I could call Epson, but I'm pretty sure their answer would be that is is a problem with Lr, though, if I am not the only one with this issue, then perhaps thy might have a solution.

I'm wondering if I should learn how to print using Photoshop?

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

I have come across several users with the same print problems in LR and they all have succeeded with Photoshop.

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

It's looking like I will have to go that route Searcher. Any tutorials you can point me towards?

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

I don't know of any, although I am sure there must be some out there.

I just tried to print a photo that was far larger than the paper and the only help I got from PS was a message that some clipping would occur.

From that, I imagine the image must be set up correctly in the first place - dimensions and print resolution etc. then meticulous attention be paid to the printer settings.

Perhaps some of the Hoggers who are used to prints from PS would chime in here and offer their expertise.

N4646W

All the other photo programs we use including Adobie CS4 do not have this problem. So it kind of indicates that it is a LR problem, or, something we are missing.

Did you try to create a new size in the "custom" on the left hand side? I tried it last night, but crashed LR and said "enough" and went to bed. Will play with it tonight after I get back from work. There has to be a way, it does not make sense that it cannot be done.

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

Was wondering about that. Does it relate to a custom page size or a custom cell size?

N4646W

It appears to allow you to set up a paper size. So I set up an 17 X 11 sheet. Set the boarders at 1/2", clicked "Zoom to fill" and got a 10 X 16 print. That is the best I've gotten so far. If you go down to the "Guides" section and click "Page Bleed" you will see that it is not a true bleed. It leaves a 1/4" boarder. So this is where I believe you are getting the 1/4" difference.

See if you get the same thing. Click the "Image Cells" in the Guides section after ward and it should come out correctly.
I won't have my printer on line till later tonight or tomorrow as it needs some TLC, and ink refills.

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

Thanks for the tips Ron. I'm running some print today and will experiment on the smallest one to start.
I will post my results.