PUB2002: Large Banners and Posters Printed in Separate Sections

When you print a banner or poster that has a height or width greater than 48 inches to an Hewlett-Packard (HP) DesignJet 350c, 650c, 2000, or 3000 series plotter, the banner or poster prints in sections separated by gaps. In addition, the sections may appear to print in an incorrect order.

When you attempt to print a page that has a height or width greater than 48 inches, Publisher attempts to tile the page before it prints it.

This is a design implementation that prevents Publisher from stopping (hanging) when you print to printers that support roll paper.

The Microsoft Windows 98 printer drivers for the HP DesignJet 350c, 650c, 2000, or 3000 series plotters allow you to automatically enlarge a small page to fit on a larger one. You can reduce the size of your publication banner and then configure the printer driver to enlarge the print out on paper.

For example, to create a banner publication that is 18 inches tall by 36 inches wide that will be printed on the HP DesignJet as 36 inches tall by 72 inches wide (in landscape), follow these steps.

NOTE: You can substitute the actual dimensions of the poster or banner you want to create as well as the actual dimensions of the poster or banner you want to print. For best results, follow these steps before you add any text or graphics to your banner or poster:

1. Start Publisher 2002.
2. In the New Publication task pane, click Blank Publication.
3. On the File menu, click Page Setup.
4. In the Page Setup dialog box, click the Printer & Paper tab.
5. In the Name list, select HP DesignJet.
6. Click Properties. Click the Paper Size tab.
7. Click to select the Fit to this page check box, and then click More Sizes.
8. In the custom Paper Sizes dialog box, type the dimensions of the banner or poster that you want to print. For example, if you want to have a printed banner that is 36 inches by 72 inches, then, in the Width box, type 72 and in the Height box, type 36. Click OK. (This step determines the size of the publication that will be outputted by the plotter.)
9. In the Application Page Size section, click More Sizes button.
10. For the Name Custom 1, type the dimensions for the publication that is actually being created. For example, if you created a banner that is 18 inches x 36 inches then, in the Width box, type 36 inches and in the Height box, type 18 inches. Click OK. (This step determines the size of the publication before it will be enlarged and outputted by the plotter.)
    
    NOTE: This measurement should be less than 48 inches.
11. Click to select either Landscape or Portrait.
12. Click the Advanced tab. Select the In Computer option.
13. In the Hint dialog box, click OK.
14. Click OK.
15. In the Page Setup dialog box and in the Preview window, you will see an outline of the poster or banner publication without any section breaks or lines.
    
    The actual publication size is 18 inches by 36 inches; the size of the page when enlarged and printed by the plotter will be 36 inches by 72 inches.
16. Click OK.
17. Add any text or graphics you want to appear on your banner.

When you view the page in Publisher, it appears to be 18 inches by 36 inches. However, when you print the page, it prints as a continuous 36 inches by 72 inches page.

This feature is under review and will be considered for revision in a future release.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

For information about how to contact the third-party companies mentioned in this article, visit the following Microsoft Web site: