N Gauge Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rob H on August 03, 2011, 07:49:50 AM

Title: Scale printing
Post by: Rob H on August 03, 2011, 07:49:50 AM
I'm trying to print some road signs and posters but I don't think my HP printer has scale printing in the software, any ideas ?

Rob
Title: Re: Scale printing
Post by: Jonathan Clapp on August 03, 2011, 08:04:34 AM
what file format are the signs?
if its a jpg and you are using Windows, MSPaint has a scaling feature in the IMAGE menu called stretch/skew.
enter 50% in each box to reduce by half and so on. trail and error til its just right. then save as a new file.

if its a PDF you can capture an image off the screen with Alt + the PrtScn key, then go into Paint and PASTE.
then you can select the area you want, COPY it, open a new image and PASTE  in that, then stretch/skew.
Title: Re: Scale printing
Post by: barkfast on August 03, 2011, 10:09:42 AM
If you are adventous you could try using a free image editing package called GIMP (see http://www.gimp.org/). Essentially its a open source equivalent to Adobe Photoshop. Bear in mind that it does have a rather steep learning curve.

It will allow you to preciously measure and resize images to the mm.

I've used it for a number of design elements on my layout from control panel to scenery and building designs.

I would probably recommend that you print from either Word or MSPaint. (I have found printing from GIMP to be far from intuitive)



Title: Re: Scale printing
Post by: scotsoft on August 03, 2011, 10:24:37 AM
If you images are jpg files you can insert them into Word and scale them in there very easily.
I can do a "How to" guide if you need one  ;)
Just let me know

John
Title: Re: Scale printing
Post by: m1racleman on August 03, 2011, 10:29:46 AM
I import my pictures to SKETCHUP and the use the "measure" to set an arbirary size.
Then you can print out to any % of that size, bigger or smaller !!
Title: Re: Scale printing
Post by: Rob H on August 03, 2011, 10:42:20 AM
Hi John, a how to in word would be great,

Thanks Mike, you always come to my aid when I need it, you may remember you very kindly drew up track plans for me, Biilys layout, well i've just finished laying track and fitting point motors etc, so once again thanks very much !

Rob
Title: Re: Scale printing
Post by: m1racleman on August 03, 2011, 10:46:18 AM
Quote from: robmag on August 03, 2011, 10:42:20 AM
Hi John, a how to in word would be great,

Thanks Mike, you always come to my aid when I need it, you may remember you very kindly drew up track plans for me, Biilys layout, well i've just finished laying track and fitting point motors etc, so once again thanks very much !

Rob
I always try to keep in mind that old adage
Those who can, DO,  Those who can't, TEACH !!  ;D ;D  :thumbsup:

I CAN'T   ! ! ! :thumbsdown:
Title: Re: Scale printing
Post by: scotsoft on August 03, 2011, 10:48:50 AM
Quote from: robmag on August 03, 2011, 10:42:20 AM
Hi John, a how to in word would be great,

Thanks Mike, you always come to my aid when I need it, you may remember you very kindly drew up track plans for me, Biilys layout, well i've just finished laying track and fitting point motors etc, so once again thanks very much !

Rob


I shall start doing it now