How to Print Mixed PDF Paper Sizes in Adobe Acrobat on macOS
Question details
The user needs to print a PDF document containing varying page sizes (like Letter and Legal) to their respective paper trays on macOS.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Printing a multi-page PDF document that has mixed paper sizes using a multi-tray printer on a Mac.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat ignores the mixed page sizes and prints every page from a single default paper tray.
Ensure your printer is loaded with the correct paper sizes in their respective trays and that the printer is securely connected to your Mac.
Enable Auto Tray Selection by PDF Page Size
Adjust Adobe Acrobat's print settings to automatically pull paper from the tray that matches each individual page size.
By default, Adobe Acrobat may send the entire print job to the default paper tray configured in macOS. You must explicitly tell Acrobat to use the document's page sizes to select the appropriate paper source.
Open your mixed-size PDF document in Adobe Acrobat for macOS, go to the 'File' menu, and select 'Print', or press Command + P.
In the Print dialog box, locate and check the box for 'Choose paper source by PDF page size'.
Ensure that your specific multi-tray printer is selected in the 'Printer' dropdown menu at the top of the dialog, rather than a generic virtual printer.
Check the print preview to ensure the page sizes are being recognized correctly, then click 'Print' to send the job to the printer.
Update macOS and Printer Drivers
Outdated software or generic drivers can prevent Acrobat from communicating paper size changes to the printer hardware.
Print PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you are experiencing printing glitches with your current PDF reader, try WPS Office. It includes a powerful, lightweight PDF tool that easily manages page sizes and printing configurations directly on your Mac.
- 1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office for Mac and open your PDF document containing mixed page sizes.
- 2. Access Print Settings: Click on the 'Print' icon located in the top toolbar or press the Command + P shortcut.
- 3. Configure Paper Settings: In the print dialog, adjust the paper size, scale, and tray settings according to your multi-tray printer's capabilities.
- 4. Print: Click the 'Print' button to send the properly scaled document to your physical printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my printer only using one tray for a mixed-size PDF?
This usually happens if the 'Choose paper source by PDF page size' option is not checked in your print settings. Without this enabled, the application defaults to sending all pages to the primary tray, regardless of their actual dimensions.
Do I need special printer drivers to print mixed paper sizes on a Mac?
Yes, generic macOS printer drivers (like standard AirPrint) sometimes lack advanced tray mapping features. It is highly recommended to download and install the official manufacturer drivers for your specific printer model to ensure full tray control.
How can I verify my printer's tray assignments on a Mac?
You can verify tray assignments by opening System Settings > Printers & Scanners, selecting your printer, and clicking 'Options & Supplies'. From there, check the 'Options' or 'Utility' tabs to ensure all hardware trays are recognized and configured for the correct paper sizes.
