Print and Export PDF
Output ▸ Print… (Ctrl+P) and Output ▸ Export PDF… open the same dialog. Pages are printed at true size (1:1), spread over as many sheets as needed (or scaled to fit a number of pages across), with a 100 mm ruler on the first page so you can check the size.
The dialog has four groups.
Page
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
| Paper size, Portrait / Landscape | The sheet. |
| Margins | The unprinted border: Left, Top, Right and Bottom of the page as printed (in its orientation), each set on its own. |
Size
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
| True size (1:1) / Scale to fit pages across | True size (the default) prints the drawing at its real size. Scale to fit pages across scales it so its width spans the number of Pages across (as many rows as its height needs); the dialog shows the scale, and the first page notes it under the 100 mm ruler, which stays true size. Scaling to fit always lays the pages out automatically. |
| Overlap between pages | How much neighbouring pages overlap on paper, to help lining them up. |
| Keep the 100 mm ruler inside the margins | Put the ruler inside the printed area instead of in the margin. |
| Apply the printer's size calibration | Correct for your printer (PDF export; printing always applies it). |
Lines and holes
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
| Stitching holes | Solid outline (the default, so a laser cutting from the PDF cuts each hole whole), Dotted outline (as on screen), or Dot at the centre of each hole. |
| Line thickness | Multiplies the line widths. |
| Print in colour | Colour, or everything in black. |
What to include
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
| Only the selected shapes | Print just the selection. |
| Shapes and line types set to Hide when printing | Print them anyway. |
| Tracing images | Print the tracing images under the drawing, at their true size, place, rotation and opacity (off by default; only offered when the project has some). The pages then cover them too. |
| Shapes that run into the margins | Print into the margins instead of stopping at them. |
Under the options, Arrange pages, Add a page and Remove placed pages switch between the automatic layout and pages you placed yourself (see below).
Printing opens the PDF in your browser's print window. Always choose Actual size (100%) there, never "Fit to page".
Calibrating your printer
Printers often print slightly too large or small.
- Output ▸ Print calibration… and print the page at Actual size.
- Measure the two 100 mm rulers with a steel rule.
- Enter what they measure in File ▸ Options… ▸ Print calibration.
From then on, printing corrects the size. Check the 100 mm ruler on your prints.
Print areas on the drawing
View ▸ Print areas (F7) shows the pages as frames on the drawing.
- Drag a frame to move that page; frames snap to the drawing's edges and to each other.
- Click a frame to put the 100 mm ruler on it.
- Right-click a frame: Print this page / Don't print this page, Put the 100 mm ruler on this page, Remove this page.
Pages you place are saved in the project.