SketchUp Print Preview Dialog Box (Microsoft Windows)
Question
SketchUp Print Preview Dialog Box Options.
Answer
The Print Preview and Print dialog boxes contain the same series of options. The only difference is that the Print Preview dialog box outputs your model to the screen instead of to a printer. Items configured in one of these dialog boxes automatically appear in the other dialog box. Select
File > Print Preview or File > Print to invoke the Print Preview and Print dialog boxes.
The Print Preview and Print dialog boxes contain several printing options to consider when printing a SketchUp model.
Printer
The Printer section of the Print dialog box is used to select a specific printer and printer settings. Select the printer to use from the ‘Name’ drop-down list. Click on the ‘Properties’ button to configure the printer for printing (the properties dialog box is different for each printer-type).
Tabbed page print range
The Tabbed print range section of the Print dialog box is used to choose between printing the model in the current draw area, or printing all models on all scenes in the file.
Copies
The Copies section of the Print dialog box is used to select the number of copies to print. Click the ‘collate’ button if you want each copy to be collate (instead of printing several page ones, then several page twos, and so on).
Print size
The Print size section of the Print dialog box is used to adjust the physical size of your output.
Fit to page
The Fit to page option is used to size the model to fit on a single sheet of paper. This option must be disabled in to specify a different size or scale.
Page size
The Page size fields are used to enter a custom page size for your output.
Scale
The Scale fields are used to scale your model for printing. The first measurement, labeled In the Model, is the measurement of the exported geometry. The second measurement, labeled In SketchUp, is the actual measurement of the object in real scale. For example, for a scale of 1/4″ = 1′, simply enter 1 inch In the Printout equals 4 feet In SketchUp.
Note: It is not possible to print a perspective image to scale. Ensure perspective is disabled and you are using one of the Standard Views in the Camera > Standard submenu, to enable the scale option.
Note: Even though paraline projection is used to get an output that is to scale, not all angles will be measurable to a scale. This issue is the result of SketchUp using foreshortening, or a technique of shortening lines to create a 3D effect on a 2D medium such as paper.
Use model extents
The Use model extents option is used to print only the model as viewed using the Zoom Extents tool. This option might discard any surrounding empty background.
Tiled sheet print range
If the current scale is larger than the paper size of your printer or plotter, the entire model can be printed by printing on several pieces of paper. These pieces of paper can then be taped together to create the final scaled model. For example, tiling lets you print proofs of a large model, such as a B size (11″ x 17″), on a printer that uses a smaller paper size, such as an A size (8.5″ x 11″). Tiling also lets you print banners that are made up of multiple pages.
Tiling is available when you use the Scale fields to scale a model to be larger than the current paper size available in your printer.
You can also print selected page tiles within the set by entering a page number range in the Pages from fields. Page tiles are numbered top to bottom beginning at the top left of the drawing page.
You can display a preview of tile Pages using Print Preview in the File menu.
Printing large tiled output can be taxing on your computers resources.
Print quality
You can expedite the printing of print jobs and rough drafts by selecting the appropriate print quality.
Draft
The Draft setting is used to produces quick images (usually output has jagged lines).
Standard
The Standard setting is used to produce output with a the optimum balance of speed and quality.
High definition
The High Definition setting is used to produce high-quality output.
Ultrahigh definition
The Ultrahigh definition setting is used to produce the highest-quality output. This setting can slow down your system, but is best for measured drawings or ultra-fine prints.
Large format
The Large format setting produces images that are optimized for large format output or that are meant to be viewed from several feet away. Resolution and line weights are set accordingly. This setting is useful for plotters and tiled sheets.
2D section slice only
The 2D section slice only option is used to output only the section slice outlines in your model (if present).
Use High Accuracy HLR
The Use High Accuracy HLR option is used to send the model information to the printer as vector information.