How to Print Mixed PDF Paper Sizes from Acrobat Reader
Question details
The user needs to print a PDF containing multiple page sizes to a dual-tray printer, ensuring each page pulls from the correct tray automatically.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Printing a document with mixed paper sizes (such as Letter and Legal) to a multi-tray printer.
- Observed behavior
- All pages print from Tray 1, ignoring the document's mixed page sizes and the printer's Tray 2 configuration.
Ensure your printer has multiple trays loaded with the correct paper sizes (e.g., Letter in Tray 1 and Legal in Tray 2) and that your printer drivers are fully up to date.
Enable Choose Paper Source by PDF Page Size
Configure Acrobat Reader to automatically select the printer tray based on the dimensions of each PDF page.
By default, PDF readers may send the entire document to the default printer tray. Adjusting the print handling settings forces the application to request the correct tray for each individual page size.
Open the mixed-size PDF in Acrobat Reader and click 'File' > 'Print' from the top menu, or press Ctrl+P on your keyboard.
In the Print dialog box, look for the section labeled 'Page Sizing & Handling'.
Check the box labeled 'Choose paper source by PDF page size' to enable automatic tray selection.
Click the 'Print' button at the bottom right to send the document to the printer.
Print Separate Page Ranges Manually
If automatic tray selection fails due to driver limitations, manually specify page ranges and assign them to specific printer trays.
Print Mixed-Size PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
WPS PDF provides a lightweight, user-friendly interface for viewing, editing, and printing PDF documents. It perfectly handles document dimensions and seamlessly integrates with your system's printer drivers for hassle-free physical output.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office and open your mixed-size PDF document using the built-in WPS PDF tool.
- 2. Open Print Settings: Press Ctrl+P or click the Print icon in the top toolbar to launch the Print dialog box.
- 3. Configure Paper Handling: Ensure your dual-tray printer is selected and check the print settings to allow the document to dictate the paper size.
- 4. Execute Print: Click 'Print' to easily output your multi-size document with the correct physical trays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my printer ignoring the 'Choose paper source by PDF page size' setting?
This often happens if the printer driver is locked to a specific tray instead of 'Auto Select'. Open your printer properties from the Print dialog and ensure the paper source is configured to automatically select the tray based on incoming data.
How do I know the page sizes of my PDF document before printing?
In Acrobat Reader or WPS PDF, you can hover your mouse cursor over the bottom-left corner of the document viewing pane to reveal the current page dimensions. Alternatively, you can check the document properties under the File menu.
Does this printing method work for all multi-tray printers?
Yes, as long as the printer hardware supports multi-tray functionality and the manufacturer's printer drivers are properly installed and configured to recognize the different paper sizes loaded in each tray.
Can I combine multiple PDFs with different sizes before printing them?
Yes. You can use a PDF editor like WPS PDF to merge documents of different sizes (e.g., A4, Letter, and Legal) into a single unified file, and then use the automatic paper source selection feature when printing the combined document.
