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Printing From ArcGIS to Plotters

Important: Please ask the Operator to check your settings before you print. Additional adjustments may be necessary.

These are basic instructions for printing from ArcGIS to the color plotters in Mann Library (located in the Stone Computing Center (map it)). These instructions will work for most print jobs. Preview your print job before you print to make sure you'll get the desired results. If you know in advance that you will want to print a map, set up the page size and orientation before you make the map because it will affect the size of features, symbols, labels, text, and other map elements.

If you need assistance with the plotter, please ask a Computer Operator. If you need GIS assistance, please ask the staff at the Information & Research Help Desk.

  1. Open your file in ArcGIS.
  2. Left-click on the File menu and choose Page and Print Setup. 
  3. Change the page orientation if necessary, and make sure that "Scale Map Elements proportionally to changes in Page Size" is checked. Your map will automatically adjust to changes in page size, but you may also want to make adjustments.
  4. Select a plotter from the Name pull-down menu:
    • $5/ft Color VendaPlotter (42" Plain Paper)
    • $10/ft Color VendaPlotter (42" Semi-Glossy)
    • $14/ft Color VendaPlotter (60" Glossy Photo Paper)
  5. Click on Properties
  6. On the Paper Size list, scroll down to the bottom of the list and choose <Edit Paper List...>
  7. Under Custom paper sizes, choose one of the custom settings, and change the the width and height settings to conform to your desired page settings. The plotter paper is 42 inches wide, so do not enter a width of greater than 42 inches.
  8. Click OK to close the Paper Sizes dialog box.
  9. Make sure your size settings now appear in the Printer Properties box, which should still be open. Click OK to close the dialog box.
  10. Make sure your size settings now appear in the Page and Print Setup box, which should still be open. Click OK to close the dialog box.
  11. From the File menu, choose Print Preview to preview your print job. Close the preview window.
  12. Make any changes and preview again, if necessary.
  13. When you are ready to print, select Print from the File menu. Make sure the Printer Engine is set to "Windows Printer."
  14. Click OK to start your print job.

The computer operator at the Computing Help Desk can provide a bill to take to the Circulation Desk (map it) for payment.