I often e-mail AA5 files (that have been scanned directly into AA5 --
File, Import, Scan).  I use B&W bitmap at "200" to keep file size to a
minimum -- the files consist of foreign printed documents that are all
text with occasional simple graphics -- as often found in the patent
literature and scientific journals.  My scanner is an HP ScanJet with
ADF.  I also have HP PrecisionScan Pro 2.0. When scanned, the
dimensions of the "file" always seem to be 8.5 x 14 inches.  When the
recipients of these files attempt to print them on 8.5 x 11 paper,
lines are often clipped from the top of the page and there is usually
an unwanted blank gutter of 2" or so at the bottom of the page.

Question:  Is there something I can do when scanning to prevent this
printing problem -- or is there something the recipient can do to
prevent it?  The type size of the foreign documents that I scan is
often very small to begin with, and I would like to prevent reducing
it even further, if possible.  So far, the only way the receivers of
these .pdf files can print them successfully is to use 8.5 x 14"
paper, and this does not make them happy!

---

Request for Question Clarification by feilong-ga on 15 Aug 2003 07:24 PDT

Hi Frank2,

Some questions:

1) I use B&W bitmap at "200" --> Is this dpi? Also, if you use a
program such as Photoshop to scan the file.
2) What's the file format you use to save the scanned image - .bmp,
.tif, .pdf etc.?
3) Do you send the file "as is" or do you paste or it on a file, for
example, paste a bmp file on an MS Word document?
4) Any idea on the type of printer used by the recipient?
5) Any idea on the program used by the recipient to print the file -->
photoshop, ACDSee, etc.?
6) If 8.5 x 14 media is not acceptable, what is the preferred paper
size?

Please add other details if possible. Thanks.

-Feilong

---

Clarification of Question by frank2-ga on 15 Aug 2003 12:16 PDT

I use an HP ScanJet 6300C with an ADF (automatic document feeder) and
the program is called HP PrecisionScan Pro 2.0.  "200" is the "output
resolution" but I don't know the actual parameter (your guess of dpi
is probably correct), which is the "output resolution".  This number
can be changed manually from 12 to 999,999 (or so they say!).  The
"output type" setting I use is black & white bitmap (raster).

I scan the document through Adobe Acrobat 5.0 as a .pdf file
(File/Import/Scan -- this activates the scanner, which then scans the
document).  I then name and save the file in My Documents; later I
e-mail the document as an e-mail attachment.  One recipient (my
loudest critic) uses a small Canon InkJet printer which apparently
jams when he tries to use 8.5 x 14" paper, but he just purchased an HP
LaserJet 1200se (which isn't set up yet).  This recipient uses Windows
98 SE on an old Acer computer with a Pentium II processor.  All my
recipients, however, prefer to use 8.5 x 11" paper.  I do know that,
when they use 8.5 x 14" paper, all the "sizing" problems I listed in
my original question disappear.

Hi Frank,

Thanks for your clarification. As a direct answer to your question,
"...or is there something the recipient can do to  prevent it?", the
answer is a definite YES. To give you an idea, do you know that you
can even print a 5' x 5' image on an 8.5 x 11" paper?

Since the image is in pdf format, I assume that your client also uses
Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and print the email attachment. I don't
know about the Acrobat version that your recipients are using because
I'm using version 6 now but Adobe Acrobat Reader has a feature called
"Page Scaling" (also known as "Fit to page") in the Print options
dialog. With it, your clients will be able to print the image on an
8.5 x 11 sheet. Also, the Canon InkJet printer software might have the
"Fit to page" feature but if it doesn't, you can just use the Acrobat
print options. You can try it out by following the instructions below:

To print a large PDF image in Adobe Acrobat Reader:

1) Go to File > Print. The print dialog box will open

2) Open the printer properties. Make sure that the paper size is
specified as "Letter" or 8.5 x 11, the paper orientation is okay and
set according to your desired preference.

3) In "Page Scaling" there are 3 options -- None, Fit to paper, and
Shrink large pages. Choose "Fit to paper". Leave the "Auto-Rotate and
Center" bx checked. Make sure to uncheck (if the option is present)
"Choose Paper Source by PDF page size". That's all you need to do to
print the file and fit it on an 8.5 x 11 sheet. From the preview on
the right of that dialog box, you can actually see if your desired
output is correct.

In case there's still a problem, download Adobe Acrobat Reader 6
through this link:

Adobe Systems Incorporated
Download Adobe Reader
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html


In case there's a problem, the Canon printer software or other printer
have a layout option for the paper. Through it, they can change the
size of the file by removing the following (if available):

- Adjust the margin

- Center the page

- Remove the Gutter, Header, and Footer option by declaring "0".


I hope this helps you. In case you have a clarification regarding the
answer, please feel free to post it before rating this and I'll attend
to you as soon as possible. Thanks for asking.


Search strategy:

Personal knowledge +  Adobe Reader search in Adobe.com

Regards,
Feilong

Essentially everything "Feilong" stated was true, but none of it
solved my problem.  The answer, it turns out, was in the correct usage
of the HP PrecisionScan Software, which I stumbled across on my own.