Please HELP with cutting and printing!

Theresa626

I'm only trying to make a first draft of my invite templates but i'm already close to screaming or crying over this.

The printer is ridiculous.  I have a graphic that goes right to the edge but it won't print to the edge and so it moves everything over a little bit and cuts off some words when  I try to print already cut paper.

So, then I tried a regular size sheet of paper. It gives me absolutely no options at all to set the margins. Or should I say... when I change them, it ignores my commands and does what it feels like.  It only prints in the dead center of the page and will not print with the insert starting at the edge.   It is impossible to measure and cut this way. I can cut vertically or horizontally but then I lose the crop marks and it doesn't tell me how far up or down it moved the bottom of the image towarsd the center so I don't know where to cut it the other way. 

I'm using regular printer paper and a heavy duty professional paper cutter from work.  The cutter is the kind that has a blade you slide rather than the kind that comes down.  I can't cut in straight lines. It keeps tearing the paper and even though I try really hard to line everything up, no matter what I do, it's not straight. In addition, if I try to print more than one to a page, the printer leaves only a .5 gap inbetween and the cutter cannot cut a .5 gap. it just bends and tears the paper so that doesn't work either. 

Nothing I've cut is straight or looks good in any way at all.  How the hell does anyone do this? 

lauren930

I've had this problem as well.  For the margins, I had to "lie" to my computer about the size of the paper.  The paper was 4.25 x 6.75 but would cut off the writing on the right side.  To fix this, I changed the paper size in Microsoft Word to 4.5 x 6.75.  The only downside to this was having to feed the paper one by one into the printer so it wouldn't grab the next sheet and print half the writing on one and half on the other.  I didn't have a graphic that went all the way to the edge of the paper, so I'm not sure how it would work out for that.

As far as cutting goes, I highly suggest taking your paper to an office supply store or print shop and having them cut it for you...AFTER it's printed.  I was quoted $20 for 600 pieces of paper, and honestly it will be worth every penny!  I know chain stores such as Kinkos and Office Max have cutting services as well.

Hope this helps!

squirrly

If you're printing on a full sheet of paper, you need to do the layout against a full sheet of paper.  What software are you using?

Also, check your printer settings - does it have a "borderless" option?  If you're not sure, what printer are you using and I'll try to find out online. 

For the cutting. . . sliding paper cutters do that.  It sucks.  I recommend either upgrading to a better cutter, or finding a scrapbooking store that will let you use theirs by the hour.  It's usually pretty cheap - $5 or so.

I bought this paper cutter on a black friday sale for about half price:
http://www.amazon.com/Swingline-ClassicCut-Guillotine-Paper-Trimmer/dp/B00006IATI/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1265121174&sr=8-11

It's quite handy.  I have a couple of the slider ones, but I actually only use that for scoring blades or other funny things like that.  Not really cutting paper.  If you do stick with that kind, make sure you apply very FIRM pressure straight down on the little blade gizmo.  You should probably stand up over it on a table so that you can keep it centered in the track. 

squirrly

I don't *think* that series does borderless.  I think it's .4 inches on the leading and trailing edge of the paper, and .25 on the sides.  Or, thereabouts.  I would try making the paper settings a couple of inches bigger than what you're using, and see if you can keep the graphic that needs to go to the edge on the side where the "phantom paper" is.  But, it might smudge/smear inside your printer.  So, just be careful. 

Theresa626

thanks, I'll try that. 

jules0505

In order to get the "bleed to edge" effect, you'll have to print on a larger paper and trim the edges. I've never heard of a "boarderless" printer. If you are printing on an office printer, it definitely doesn't bleed to edge. By default, it will always leave a 1/4 inch white margin. Any professional printer -  even Office Max, Staples or Kinkos can print and trim the edges for you. The process, even for professional printers, is always to print on a larger sheet and trim the edges.

I've had the same problem with my office paper cutter. It just needed a fresh blade. It sounds like you haven't ordered all of your paper. I would suggest ordering 8.5x11 and setting up two to a page. You're sure to save some money going this route as well.

Also, make sure that when you print, that you set the Print Properties to your half sheet of paper or whatever size you are using. The printer needs to know what size of paper you are feeding it. When you go to File..Print...look for the Properties button. I'm assuming you are printing from MS Word.

I'll watch this thread in case you have more questions. I'm going through this same process myself and have a ton of experience with these projects. Just shout if you have any more questions.

squirrly

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_please-cutting-printing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:04fd56fa-d66d-460b-914b-9a791e4cbaa4Post:ba3ff2d5-1aa8-4019-a954-407f8664d5de">Re: Please HELP with cutting and printing!</a>:
[QUOTE]In order to get the "bleed to edge" effect, you'll have to print on a larger paper and trim the edges.<strong> I've never heard of a "boarderless" printer. If you are printing on an office printer, it definitely doesn't bleed to edge. By default, it will always leave a 1/4 inch white margin.</strong> Any professional printer -  even Office Max, Staples or Kinkos can print and trim the edges for you. The process, even for professional printers, is always to print on a larger sheet and trim the edges. I've had the same problem with my office paper cutter. It just needed a fresh blade. It sounds like you haven't ordered all of your paper. I would suggest ordering 8.5x11 and setting up two to a page. You're sure to save some money going this route as well. Also, make sure that when you print, that you set the Print Properties to your half sheet of paper or whatever size you are using. The printer needs to know what size of paper you are feeding it. When you go to File..Print...look for the Properties button. I'm assuming you are printing from MS Word. I'll watch this thread in case you have more questions. I'm going through this same process myself and have a ton of experience with these projects. Just shout if you have any more questions.
Posted by jules0505[/QUOTE]

Just because you've never heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.  Pretty sure I'm looking at a printer right now that does this.  It's a feature on many of the newer HP printers designed for small offices or fancy schmancy home printers.