Original image size remains (more or less) the same in Epson Print Layout

[Doghouse]

Can anyone please take the time to take a look at this? Though it could be more of a software issue than a printer problem.
The original image in this case is exactly 20 x 28,7 cm, 360 PPI in size. I've used Epson Print Layout as a PS plugin on Mac (OS 15.1), with the ET 8550 for a long time, more or less, effortlessly. But now it’s impossible to keep the image size consistent when changing paper size in Print Layout 1.5.12. Also in the standalone version. Of course I don't tick “expansion” nor “scale to fit”, 'cause the image (and each sticker) needs to have the same measures as set in PS. In this case, I'm printing stickers on A4 plain paper-stickers.

The preview in Print Layout shows med that the 20 x 28,7 image will be enlarged if printing on A3-paper, but with lower print resolution. Is it just me, or has anyone experienced this using Epson Print Layout?

I wonder if the next step should be to reinstall Print Layout, altogether, hopefully getting rid of all the possible troubling preference files...

(A couple of screenshots, I’m afraid.)

 

[thebestcpu]

Hi @Doghouse
I don't use EPL too much yet EPL wants to resize to fit the paper (even without you selecting options to expand.

Here is how one can get around it if you really want ot use EPL as opposed to printing right from Photoshop.

1) Make the image in Photoshop the exact size you need, and that size has to fit on the targeted paper size minus the minimum margins of the printer you are using.
2) Then, in the Print panel, click Lock Aspect Ratio
3) Also in the Print panel, type in the size of either width or height of the exact size you set it to in Photoshop (paper size minus margins), and since lock aspect ratio is locked, the other dimension will change to match that aspect ratio.

Those above steps should keep the image the exact size as it was in PS and will not match that in EPL.

As a side note, in the images you have shown, without the Lock Aspect Ratio, some are cropped a bit.

I am pretty sure that's all you need to do to make it work, yet I am not the EPL expert (as I mostly print from PS) and only sharing what has worked for me.

Hope that helps
John Wheeler

 

[Doghouse]

Thank you so much for even bothering to answer! I'll try your suggestions (Even though I think I've tried them before)....

But still, I don't understand why the workflow suddenly changed in Print Layout after two years. I'll keep you updated. (Whether you like it or not. ....)

Regards from a grateful Dag

 

[Doghouse]

Wow... You're absolutely right, thebestcpu. I really thought I had tried this before. Appearently not.

Typing in the correct size in Print Layout works! (Minus the margins for the ET 8550, on plain paper, of course). I can live with your solution, Wheeler, but then again, and please forgive me, I've never had to deal with this matter before, in EPL. Print Layout always seemed to understand where I was going, size-wise...

I have been really satisfied with EPL, but now I wonder if it’s time to say goodbye. And maybe get back to some old school procedures with the classic print dialogue in PS, like when I was still printing out on my trusted Stylus Pro 4800.... Well... “trusted”, besides of all the pigment ink clogging...

Again, regards from a thankful Dag

 

[Doghouse]

OK.... Now I'm really sorry to bother you all. I've tried the suggestions from thebestcpu, and it works flawlessly on prints of the same size (A4) or larger (A3), but EPL will still resize the image when printing on smaller, e.g. on A5. Earlier EPL would crop the image, to make sure the original size was kept intact. But not now.

 

[thebestcpu]

Hi @Doghouse

As I mentioned before, I do not use EPL very often, yet my experience has always been that if you have the aspect ratio locked, it will force the full image in even if doing a reduction in size to fit in the available space.
EPL also adds more than the minimum margin as well.

So I don't know how you got the results you did before. We don't have an example to check yet, so maybe it had to do with the fact that you were using a preset.

Crops can occur under two cases that I know, such as the aspect ratio is unlocked (your images do show it unlocked), or the "fit" option is being used

For Letter and 4x6 sizes, your 28.7 x 20 cm image will not fit and will be reduced in size (and may not meet minimum margins). You can move the sliders as far to the right as you can, and then it will use minimum margins.

My understanding is that many printers have different margins depending on paper type and printing mode (such is the case for my P900), so EPL uses a margin that covers the worst-case large margin.

I can't answer why you had different results before, yet the results you are getting with the settings you are using is exactly what I would normally expect.

John Wheeler

 

[Doghouse]

Again; You're right, thebestcpu.

I have a lot of custom presets and have used them extensively since I got the ET 8550, and every one of them has the aspect ratio unlocked. So right now, I'm feeling a little stupid. Anyway, with your insight, you've made me stick with the EPL, now that I've learned something new. Thing is, I like the workflow with EPL a tiny bit better than what I was used to with my old Stylus Pro 4800, doing it the classic way.

So... I think this concludes the matter, with a final statement:

"If anyone out there experiences the same as me, do what John Wheeler says!"

Again, thank you so much, and I hope I won't take up more of your time in the future.
From a grateful Dag.