Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 2/22/2009

Question
Hi,

I'm having trouble printing a simple 3.5x5 card. Is there a way to make the page edge (the outermost dotted line) centered within the artboard? When I print, it gives me a bigger left hand margin than right. Is this more of a printer margin problem than Illustrator? Thanks.

Answer
Hi Elizabeth,

This is more of a printing issue than an Illustrator issue. When you go to print, your printer will always offset the print to accommodate the margins needs for your printer's grips. To remedy this, set up your document as a letter size page with the card design centered in the middle. Then using the crop tool (or in earlier versions the rectangle tool and crop command under object) create a crop mark for the page.

Then make sure you choose the proper page size from the print window and do not choose "fit in window" or "centered".

Thanks

Kevin