tri-fold brochure won't print right

[randallj]

I'm using InDesign to lay out a tri-fold brochure on an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper...I've lined everything up perfectly in InDesign and checked and re-checked the print dialogue box settings, but the brochure is printing differently than it looks on the screen....On-screen, the 3 panels are all equal width, but on paper, the 3 panels suddenly become different widths, and subsequently the brochure will not fold right...

If it helps, I'm using a Canon i850 inkjet printer....And I'm printing edge-to-edge on the paper....Also, I've tried centering the printing area as well as aligning it with the upper-left corner, and neither setting prints right....

I've used InDesign to print business cards on the SAME printer, and had no problem...everything lined up perfectly on the paper....so why do my brochure's panel widths change so dramatically when they are printed? Has anyone else ever had a similar problem? Or any ideas what the source of the problem could be?

Thanks for any help.

[kovachjon]

I don't know if this will help or not, but try to export a PDF directly out of InDesign. Then print that out of Adobe Reader.
It's kind of a work-around.... but I don't know off the top of my head what is making your problem happen.
Sorry!

:confused:

[randallj]

OK, I'll try the export PDF thing...just curious: Is there a particular setting or group of settings that I should use in the export PDF dialogue box (in InDesign)?

thanks for your help.

[kovachjon]

Well, it really depends on what your preference is. The "Print" presets are generally good. I used those to start with, and I had to change a couple things for my particular needs (such as crop marks and bleed, color management, rendering intents, etc...).... Then you can save your own Preset, one that works, and always use that.
Let me know if it works!
Good luck.
Jon

[defjoe]

are you fitting to print?

it might be the ink jet cause sometimes they have built in margins, etc.

[randallj]

Well, it really depends on what your preference is. The "Print" presets are generally good. I used those to start with, and I had to change a couple things for my particular needs (such as crop marks and bleed, color management, rendering intents, etc...).... Then you can save your own Preset, one that works, and always use that.
Let me know if it works!
Good luck.
Jon

I'll try this tonight and see if it works...thanks

[randallj]

are you fitting to print?

it might be the ink jet cause sometimes they have built in margins, etc.


I'm printing edge-to-edge on the paper, so there are no margins on the paper, period....the printer has a setting to print edge-to-edge, with no margins...Is that what you mean by "fitting to print"?

[defjoe]

nope... if yuo fit to print it will put margins on.

me thinks that yuor printer is just shifting alot. it's not an exact science when it comes to inkjet

[randallj]

me thinks that yuor printer is just shifting alot. it's not an exact science when it comes to inkjet

do you know of anyway to minimize the "shifting"? This brochure is for my company, so I'm trying to keep costs down by printing this myself (as opposed to taking it to a commercial printer).....thanks

[Mickey]

Try printing it without the edge to edge printing option once and make sure you don't have any fit to paper boxes checked, then fold it and see if the folds are correct. You will have margins on the edges but if it folds right then you will know that the edge to edge printing is causing the shift.

[rickself]

I'm using InDesign to lay out a tri-fold brochure on an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper...I've lined everything up perfectly in InDesign and checked and re-checked the print dialogue box settings, but the brochure is printing differently than it looks on the screen....On-screen, the 3 panels are all equal width, but on paper, the 3 panels suddenly become different widths, and subsequently the brochure will not fold right...

Make sure that when you lay out your guides (do it manually), the front panel and the rear panel have to be the same size and the panel that folds in is smaller. In inches, this would have the following equation: Front and back panels: 3 11/16", Fold in panel: 3 5/8". This will always give you a good fit and your printers' prepress department would love you for it!

Good Luck!
Rick