How to Print PDF Comments on 11x17 Landscape Drawings
Question details
The user wants to print 11x17-inch landscape PDF drawings with their associated numbered comments on full-size pages without reducing the main drawing to an unreadable thumbnail.
- Product
- PDF Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing large-format landscape drawings, such as architectural or engineering plans, along with reviewer comments for physical review.
- Observed behavior
- By default, printing a document with comments shrinks the drawing to fit both the document and comments on a single standard page, resulting in an unreadable thumbnail of the drawing.
Ensure your printer supports 11x17-inch (Ledger/Tabloid) paper and that the correct paper size is physically loaded into the appropriate printer tray before adjusting your PDF print settings.
Configure PDF Print Layout and Scaling for 11x17 Pages
Adjust your PDF print dialog settings to output the document and comments on designated 11x17-inch paper without scaling down the original drawing.
To prevent your drawing from shrinking to a thumbnail, you must force the PDF software to print at "Actual Size" and explicitly tell both the software and the printer driver to use 11x17 paper. Printing comments as a summary on separate pages rather than in the margins is usually the best approach for large-format drawings.
Open your 11x17 landscape drawing in your PDF editor. Navigate to 'File' in the top menu and select 'Print' to open the print dialog box.
Click on 'Properties' or 'Page Setup' next to your printer's name. Set the paper size to 11x17 inches (often labeled as Ledger or Tabloid) and choose 'Landscape' orientation. Click 'OK' to return to the main print dialog.
Locate the 'Comments & Forms' dropdown (or similar section depending on your software) and choose 'Document and Markups' or 'Create Comment Summary'. If using a comment summary, opt to print the comments on separate pages to preserve the drawing's size.
Under the 'Page Sizing & Handling' section, select 'Actual Size' or set a 'Custom Scale' to 100%. This ensures the drawing will not be auto-shrunk to fit margins.
Review the print preview pane to confirm that the drawing fills the 11x17 space properly and that the comments are placed correctly. Once verified, click 'Print'.
Print Large PDF Drawings with Comments Using WPS Office
WPS Office includes a robust PDF tool that easily handles large-format printing, allowing you to print 11x17 landscape drawings with comments without sacrificing readability or size.
- 1. Open the Drawing in WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your 11x17 PDF drawing in the WPS PDF Editor.
- 2. Access the Print Menu: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or use the Ctrl+P shortcut.
- 3. Enable Print Comments: In the Print dialog box, check the box labeled 'Print comments' located under the Print Content section.
- 4. Adjust Paper Size and Scaling: Click the 'Page Setup' button to select 11x17 (Ledger) paper size and Landscape orientation. Back in the main print window, select 'Actual Size' under Print Handling.
- 5. Print the Document: Check the preview pane on the right side of the window. If the drawing size looks correct, click 'Print' to generate your physical copies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF drawing shrink to a thumbnail when printing with comments?
This happens because the PDF software automatically tries to fit both the large drawing and the comment text onto a single standard-sized page. Selecting "Actual Size" and printing the comments on separate summary pages prevents this scaling.
What is 11x17 paper commonly called in printer settings?
In most printer drivers and page setup menus, 11x17-inch paper is referred to as "Ledger" or "Tabloid" size.
Can I print PDF comments on a separate page from the drawing?
Yes, most PDF editors offer a "Create Comment Summary" or "Print Comments on Separate Pages" option within the print settings. This keeps your drawing at full size while listing all numbered comments on subsequent pages.
How do I ensure my printer doesn't override my PDF landscape settings?
Before printing, click on the "Properties" or "Printer Preferences" button within your PDF print dialog. Ensure the orientation is set to Landscape and the paper size is explicitly set to 11x17 in the hardware driver settings, which prevents the printer from reverting to Letter size.
