How to Fix HP Designjet Not Automatically Rotating PDFs
Question details
The user needs to make an HP Designjet T790 automatically rotate PDF documents during printing, as the rotation feature is enabled but not functioning properly.
- Product
- HP Designjet T790, Adobe Acrobat Pro 9
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Printing PDF documents to a large-format HP plotter.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF document does not automatically rotate to fit the loaded paper, resulting in incorrect orientation despite auto-rotation being enabled in Adobe Acrobat.
Ensure you have administrative privileges on your Windows 10 computer to modify system printer driver settings, and confirm your HP Designjet has enough paper loaded for the intended print size.
Configure Auto-Rotate in Windows Printer Driver Defaults
Large-format printer drivers can override application-specific print settings. You must ensure the auto-rotate feature is enabled at the system driver level outside of Adobe Acrobat.
When printing from applications like Acrobat, the software sends rotation instructions, but the printer's core driver settings dictate the final output behavior. Adjusting the default properties directly in Windows usually resolves this conflict.
Click the Start menu, type 'Printers & scanners', and press Enter to open the system printer settings.
Click on your HP Designjet T790 from the list, select 'Manage', and then click on 'Printer properties'.
Navigate to the 'Advanced' or 'Device Settings' tab. Locate the 'Autorotate' or 'Page Allocation' option and change it to 'On' or 'Enabled'.
Click 'Apply' and then 'OK' to save your new default driver settings, then try printing your PDF again.
Test with an Alternative PDF Application
To determine whether Adobe Acrobat Pro 9 or the printer driver is causing the issue, test printing the document from a different PDF reader.
Switch Between PostScript and HP-GL/2 Drivers
The type of driver communicating with your printer can affect how PDF orientation commands are interpreted. Switching your driver version may restore proper rotation functionality.
Easily Manage and Print PDFs with WPS Office
If your current PDF reader struggles to communicate rotation settings to your large-format printer, try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, intuitive PDF reader with robust print controls that flawlessly handle auto-rotation, scaling, and formatting.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office on your Windows 10 computer.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS PDF and open the document you wish to print to the HP Designjet.
- 3. Access Print Settings: Click the 'Print' icon or press 'Ctrl + P' to open the print configuration dialog.
- 4. Enable Auto-Rotate: Under the Page Handling section, check the box for 'Auto-rotate and center'.
- 5. Print the Document: Select your HP Designjet printer and click 'Print' to send the correctly oriented file to the plotter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my HP Designjet ignore the auto-rotate setting in my PDF software?
Large-format printers prioritize saving roll paper and often use their own driver settings to optimize layout. If the Windows printer driver has auto-rotate disabled, it will actively override the commands sent by applications like Adobe Acrobat.
What is the difference between HP-GL/2 and PostScript drivers for PDF printing?
PostScript drivers are specifically designed to accurately interpret complex graphics, fonts, and PDFs, making them the standard choice for document printing. HP-GL/2 is a vector-based language optimized for CAD drawings. While PostScript is generally recommended for PDFs, switching to HP-GL/2 can sometimes resolve specific software compatibility bugs.
Does upgrading my PDF reader fix printer rotation issues?
Yes, it often does. Older software versions, such as Acrobat Pro 9, may have compatibility issues with modern Windows 10 printer drivers. Upgrading your PDF software or using a frequently updated alternative like WPS Office ensures better communication with the print spooler.
