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How to Use the 'Fit to Printable Area' Setting

Published in Print Scaling 4 mins read

The 'Fit to Printable Area' setting is a valuable print option that automatically adjusts your document's size to ensure it fits perfectly within the printable boundaries of your selected paper, regardless of the original page size.

Understanding 'Fit to Printable Area'

This print scaling option is designed for optimal paper utilization. When you select 'Fit to Printable Area', your printing software intelligently handles different document sizes:

  • Small Pages: Content from pages that are smaller than the chosen paper size will be scaled up to fill the paper's printable area. This prevents small documents from appearing tiny or being confined to a small portion of the physical page.
  • Large Pages: Content from pages that are larger than the chosen paper size will be scaled down to ensure they fit entirely within the paper's printable area. This prevents parts of your document from being cut off at the edges.

Essentially, it ensures your document always scales proportionally to maximize the use of the available print space on the page.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply 'Fit to Printable Area'

Using this setting is straightforward and typically involves similar steps across various applications, from PDF readers to word processors.

  1. Open Your Document and Access Print Settings:

    • Start by opening the document you wish to print in its respective application (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Word, a web browser).
    • Navigate to the File menu, then select Print (or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+P for Windows or Command+P for Mac). This will open the print dialog box.
  2. Locate Page Sizing & Handling Options:

    • Within the print dialog box, look for a section related to "Page Sizing & Handling," "Page Scaling," "Scale," or similar options. The exact wording and location may vary slightly depending on your software and printer driver. For PDF documents, this is commonly found in the "Page Sizing & Handling" area.
  3. Select 'Fit to Printable Area':

    • From the available options, which often include choices like "Actual Size," "Custom Scale," or "Shrink Oversized Pages," select 'Fit' or 'Fit to Printable Area'. This is often presented as a radio button or a dropdown menu choice.
  4. Review Print Preview:

    • Before sending the document to the printer, always check the print preview window. This will show you exactly how your document will appear on the page with the 'Fit to Printable Area' setting applied, allowing you to make any final adjustments.
  5. Print Your Document:

    • Once you are satisfied with the preview, click the Print button.

Comparing 'Fit to Printable Area' vs. 'Shrink to Printable Area'

While both settings aim to prevent content from being cut off, they handle smaller pages differently:

Feature 'Fit to Printable Area' 'Shrink to Printable Area'
Small Pages Scaled up to fill the paper's printable area. Printed as they are, without scaling up.
Large Pages Scaled down to fit the paper's printable area. Resized down to fit the paper's printable area.
Primary Goal Ensure content always fills the paper completely. Prevent content from being cut off on larger pages.
Best Use Case When you want every page to maximize paper usage. When you want to preserve the original size of small pages, while ensuring large pages fit.

Tips for Optimal Printing

  • Check Paper Orientation: Ensure your document's orientation (portrait or landscape) matches your paper and printer settings.
  • Select Correct Paper Size: Always verify that the paper size selected in your print settings (e.g., Letter, A4) matches the physical paper loaded in your printer.
  • Consider Margins: The 'printable area' is defined by your printer's physical capabilities, which include non-printable margins. 'Fit to Printable Area' will scale content to fit within these margins.
  • Resolution: While scaling, particularly upscaling, can sometimes affect image clarity if the original resolution is low, 'Fit to Printable Area' generally maintains readability for most documents.

By utilizing the 'Fit to Printable Area' setting, you can ensure your documents are consistently printed efficiently, avoiding wasted paper or cropped content. For more detailed instructions on specific software, refer to your application's help documentation, such as Adobe Acrobat's print settings guide.