How to Fix Acrobat Printing an 11x17 PDF as Letter Size
Question details
The user needs to correctly print an 11x17 PDF document, which is currently printing only a portion of the page as if it were an 8.5x11 Letter size document.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a wide-format (11x17) PDF document on a printer that supports it, such as a Canon Pixma.
- Observed behavior
- The 11x17 PDF prints only part of the page on the printer, as though the paper size is configured to 8.5x11, and the page orientation changes unexpectedly.
Ensure that your printer physically supports 11x17 (Tabloid) paper and that the correct paper stock is currently loaded into the printer's input tray.
Adjust Paper Size and Scaling Settings in Acrobat and Printer Driver
Explicitly set the paper size to 11x17 in both the PDF viewer and the printer properties, and disable automatic size substitution to resolve layout issues.
Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat and click on 'File' > 'Print' to launch the main print dialog window.
Click the 'Properties' or 'Preferences' button located next to your selected Canon Pixma (or other) printer name.
In the printer properties window, navigate to the paper size settings and select '11x17' or 'Tabloid'. Disable any 'automatic paper-size substitution' settings if present, then click 'OK'.
Back in the Acrobat Print dialog, look under the 'Page Sizing & Handling' section. Select either 'Fit' or 'Actual Size' depending on your margin requirements.
Uncheck 'Choose paper source by PDF page size' if the layout is still incorrect. Manually set the Orientation to match your document (Portrait or Landscape), then click 'Print' to test.
Print 11x17 PDFs Accurately Using WPS PDF
WPS Office includes a powerful, built-in PDF reader that makes formatting and printing large documents simple. Avoid complex configurations and easily print your 11x17 documents in their correct size and orientation.
- 1. Open the PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open the 11x17 PDF document you wish to print.
- 2. Open Print Settings: Click on 'Menu' and select 'Print', or use the keyboard shortcut 'Ctrl + P'.
- 3. Configure Printer Properties: Click the 'Properties' button next to your printer and ensure the paper size is set to '11x17' or 'Tabloid'.
- 4. Set Page Scaling: In the Print Handling section, select 'Actual Size' or 'Fit for printing margins' to ensure the document scales properly.
- 5. Print Document: Confirm your orientation settings and click 'Print' to output your document correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF shrink or crop when I print it?
This usually happens when the print dialog is set to 'Actual Size' but the printer driver is defaulted to a smaller paper size (like Letter). Ensure your printer properties match the intended PDF page size to prevent cropping.
How do I stop my printer from automatically selecting paper size?
In your PDF software's print dialog, uncheck options like 'Choose paper source by PDF page size'. You may also need to check your printer's 'Advanced' properties to disable automatic paper-size substitution.
Can I print an 11x17 PDF if my printer only takes 8.5x11 paper?
Yes. You can print the document on 8.5x11 paper by selecting 'Fit' or 'Shrink to Printable Area' under Page Sizing in the print dialog. Alternatively, you can use the 'Poster' option to print the 11x17 layout across multiple 8.5x11 sheets.
Why is the orientation changing when printing a Tabloid PDF?
The orientation might flip if 'Auto portrait/landscape' is enabled and the printer driver receives conflicting dimensions. Manually select Portrait or Landscape in the print settings to force the correct layout.
