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Large format printer referral???

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sky_ranger161

Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 91

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:32 am Post subject: Large format printer referral???

Hi guys,

   

  I've got a some jpeg files that contain full-size layouts for all of the rear wing ribs on an XL. My plan is to print these out and use some spray adhesive to tack them to the wood I'll use as form blocks (as a lot of builders have done). Here's the problem - printing those boys out!

   

  Does anyone know a place where I might be able to email my files and have them print out large format paper printouts? I live in a really remote place on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and if I can just have the images printed out and shipped to me, it'll save me several hours drive time and expense.

   

  Even if there's a good printer in your town that is familiar with the job, I'd appreciate a phone number or website address. Thanks guys. Keep drillin'.

   

  Debo Cox

  Nags Head, NC

  XL/Corvair

  Working on  wing spar #2

   

  Do not archive



   We have the perfect Group for you. Check out the [url=http://pa.yahoo.com/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=41144/*http://groups.yahoo.com/local/newemail.html]handy changes to Yahoo! Groups.[/url]  [quote][b]

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:01 am Post subject: Large format printer referral???

The CAD program I use (AutoSketch) will print an  arbitrarily large drawing across many 8.5 by 11 inch pieces of paper with  alignment targets at each corner. Then I line them up, tape them together and  use that. This worked fine for my luggage shelf bulkhead. You might try this  with one of the free 2D CAD programs available for download. Also with a CAD  file many shops can also plot it on a large-format plotter.

  

 You may have trouble getting a jpeg printed with the  correct dimensions. Unlike a CAD file there is not much in the way of accurate  dimensions in a jpeg - usually just some default dots-per-inch figure like 72  DPI.

  

 -- Craig

  

   [quote][b]

PipercubDream(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:06 am Post subject: Large format printer referral???

I've used Kinkos in the past to print out large scale plans before, you can email files and they'll send you the prints. Just type kinkos and it will take you right to their web site.

 

 Ben  [quote][b]

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:22 am Post subject: Large format printer referral???

BTW: there are XL rib templates at www.ch601.org/builder%20resources.htm in  dwg, pdf and dxf formats. A print shop with a plotter should be able to easily  turn out accurate plots from these

  

 -- Craig.

[quote] [b]

rwehba(at)cebridge.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:27 pm Post subject: Large format printer referral???

I know one here in abilene texas, if you need there  number let me know.

 [quote]   ---

TxDave

Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 168
Location: Temple, TX

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: Large format printer referral???

Hey Debo,



I took those same jpeg files you mentioned to a local print shop and they produced PERFECTLY ACCURATE  full sized prints (verified with plans). If you can't find a source let me know and I'll get you some copies made and you can reimburse me.



do not archive



Dave Clay

Temple, TX

http://www.daves601xl.com

TxDave

Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 168
Location: Temple, TX

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 3:02 pm Post subject: Re: Large format printer referral???

Just a little FYI about jpegs and printing. The 72 dpi Craig reffered to has to do with resolution (clarity) not size. Jpeg size is measured in pixels. Think of it this way...if you save a photo from your digital camera as 800X600 pixels (not dots) and take it to any photo printer and ask for it to be printed full size, it will always print the same size. If you send it as an email attachment it will always display as 800X600 pixels. If you save that same photo at different resolutions (72 dpi, 300 dpi. or whatever), the clarity, not the size, goes up as the dpi goes up. Consider your home inkjet printer. Most have various print quality setting you can select, such as 300dpi, 1200dpi, etc. These settings have nothing to do with size. This can get confusing. Just remember...dpi = clarity...pixels = dimensions. So, you see, jpegs have very accurate dimensions right down to the pixel level. I'm not trying to be "Mr. Know-it all". I run a part time professional wedding photography bussiness with my son. We have extensive experience in dealing with commercial print shops.



Back to working on my fuel tanks.



Dave Clay

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 5:36 pm Post subject: Large format printer referral???

Actually I was referring to the limitations of delivering engineering

drawings as jpegs. Attached is a jpeg of a circle. The jpeg is 640 by 400

pixels. What size should the circle be when it is printed? Unless some

assumption is made about pixels per inch it is impossible to say.



For the jpegs that come out of my cameras (as opposed to being drawn like

the rib templates were) the EXIF information in the files say:



	X resolution: 72

	Y resolution: 72

	Resolution: inch



Is that resolution information useful? No - but it is in the jpeg.



-- Craig

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webmaster(at)upac.ca
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:24 pm Post subject: Large format printer referral???

One thing to keep in mind with graphic file formats: JPEG, BMP, TIFF and the like are raster formats not a resolution independent format like PostScript or PDF. When one draws a circle (at) 72DPI or any other DPI in a raster format any alteration to the physical size (blowing it up or down) results in a direct pixel interpolation. This means the pixel sizes are increased or decreased in order to give you the size you want. The observable effect of this is a case of the "jaggies".



PostScript on the other hand is THE industry standard page definition language used in the graphics industry. When one uses a graphics application such as Adobe Illustrator which is a VECTOR art application, the resulting Postscript code which is interpreted at the printer results in a resolution independent output. In plain English it means if you tell the Postscript printer to print a circle of say 5" it will figure out where to put the pixels to get the best output instead of the computer drawing a dot at this size and then resizing the physical pixels if you make the circle bigger at a later time. The result is always smooth lines and graphics regardless of what size you originally drew it. PDF is the modern replacement for PostScript that is making inroads in the printing industry.



So, if you want the best results for drawings and your intention is to blow them up to actual size then you need to use a graphics programs that is capable of vector drawing like Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw (real pros don't use it). Whether you chose postscript or PDF as the graphics format does not matter, but they're where you want to be.



I used Illustrator to do all my "2D CAD" stuff like my panel and other parts I had to fabricate where I needed them printed at 100% on  8.5" X 11" paper with registration marks. This way I could tape them together to get an accurate layout as intended. For other stuff I fire up SolidWorks and generate PDF files from that (like my new prop extension).



Sorry about the long post but I thought I'd add my $.02 worth since I'm an I.T. engineer that specializes in the graphic arts industry with over 20 years of experience and the clarification might help some of you understand there's more to life than JPEG and GIF files...



 Trev Page

C-IDUS 601HD R912

 



On Nov 7, 2006, at 6:02 PM, TxDave wrote:

[quote]--> Zenith-List message posted by: "TxDave" <dclaytx2(at)hotmail.com (dclaytx2(at)hotmail.com)>

Just a little FYI about jpegs and printing. The 72 dpi Craig reffered to has to do with resolution (clarity) not size. Jpeg size is measured in pixels. Think of it this way...if you save a photo from your digital camera as 800X600 pixels (not dots) and take it to any photo printer and ask for it to be printed full size, it will always print the same size. If you send it as an email attachment it will always display as 800X600 pixels. If you save that same photo at different resolutions (72 dpi, 300 dpi. or whatever), the clarity, not the size, goes up as the dpi goes up. Consider your home inkjet printer. Most have various print quality setting you can select, such as 300dpi, 1200dpi, etc. These settings have nothing to do with size. This can get confusing. Just remember...dpi = clarity...pixels = dimensions. So, you see, jpegs have very accurate dimensions right down to the pixel level. I'm not trying to be "Mr. Know-it all". I run a part time professional wedding photograp!

 hy bussiness with my son. We have extensive experience in dealing with commercial print shops.

Back to working on my fuel tanks.

Dave Clay

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http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=72918#72918





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TxDave

Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 168
Location: Temple, TX

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:28 pm Post subject: Re: Large format printer referral???

Yes, I agree completely with Craig that jpegs are not the most ideal format for engineering drawings. I initially plotted my rib templates in AutoCad 2005. Unfortunately, there were no printing shops in my home town that could print from the .dwg files. They could, however, print from jpegs. Honestly, they came out fine. Attached is a photo of my right wing skeleton with ribs made with jpeg templates.  Looks OK to me and my EAA Tech counselor. Well, we've thoroughly beat this horse to death. I think I'll go out to the garage and actually do some work on my airplane.



do not archive



Dave Clay

Temple, TX

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sky_ranger161

Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 91

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:47 am Post subject: Large format printer referral???

Thanks for the help guys. I've got a couple of options now to get these printed out. Good stuff.

   

   

  Debo Cox

  Nags Head, NC

  XL/Corvair

   

  do not archive



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Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:52 am Post subject: Large format printer referral???

Check with the folks who make  the decals for customizing cars they have huge ink jet printers.  Another  place to try is just about any engineering company.  They use plotters to  draw blueprints.  I guess the days of the ammonia blueprint machines are  gone! 

  

  

 

Noel [quote]   

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Kitfox III-A
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Ron Lendon

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 685
Location: Clinton Twp., MI

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: Large format printer referral???

Debo,



I just tabulated the time it took me to make all the forms for the entire plane.  In 51 hours, I layed out, cut, ground, radiused and poly sealed all the forms.  Just thought you might want to know.  It is pretty easy.

_________________
Ron Lendon
WW Corvair with Roy's Garage 5th bearing
CH 601 XLB
N601LT - Flying
http://www.mykitlog.com/rlendon
Corvair Engine Prints:
https://sites.google.com/site/corvairenginedata/

sky_ranger161

Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 91

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 4:00 am Post subject: Large format printer referral???

Hey Ron!

   

  Thanks for the info. I've plotted out everything else, I was just thinking that I'd give the CAD layout option a chance. As it turns out, an architect here in NC is going to plot and send me a set of the rib templates. Actually I'm still working on my left spar, but thinking ahead to making those rear ribs. I've already made my nose rib blocks and cut out the blanks - just not formed them.

   

  Hope your build id going well. I haven't checked your kitlog site in a week or so, but I imagine your spars are done. Very cool.

   

  Thanks again for the info.

   

  Debo



Ron Lendon <rlendon(at)comcast.net> wrote:

  [quote]--> Zenith-List message posted by: "Ron Lendon" 



Debo,



I just tabulated the time it   Sponsored Link



 [quote][b]

danielo
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:05 am Post subject: Re: Large format printer referral???

Glad I found this thread, I'm looking at doing the same thing so will check out the suggestions.

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