Expert: Amy - 5/26/2009

Question
Hi Amy!

When I make a new file or open an existing one, the artboard comes up to letter size (landscape), but the page tiling area that shows in the dotted inner area aligns itself in the upper right corner with the dotted area being 9.3 x 7.4 - no margins on the right and top, and a big one on the left and bottom.

I have tried various settings in Document setup and Page setup, have tried using all my printers in the page setup with no changed results. I mostly print to Adobe Acrobat PDF.

I have tried deleting the AIPrefs file only to find that there is no change. I have made sure there are no strange settings for my page set ups and everything is set to its defaults. I am absolutely stumped. I have even tried re-installing and that had no effect. Any advice?

Thanks so much!
Sydney

What controls the page tiling lines, and how do I make the margins the same on all sides?

Answer
Hi Sydney,

Adobe Illustrator normally uses the default page size defined by the PPD file for the default or selected printer. Is AdobePDF your default printer? If so, check the paper size that's chosen in that printer's preferences. Open your printer settings via your Control Panel and set your paper specifications there.

To override that default setting you could try this:

1 - Make new document, letter sized, choose portrait or landscape depending on what you want.
2 - Select File > Print
3 - Select AdobePDF from your printer list.
4 - Select "Letter" in the Media Size drop down instead of Driver Defined.
5 - Select the Orientation that you want.
6 - Click Done.

The page size of the PDF is exactly letter-sized (the entire area is printable) so there will be no margins and the page tiling lines should disappear (they are the same as the artboard now).

If the Page Tiling lines are still out of whack, you may need to manually center the page by doing this:

Click and hold down the Hand Tool in the Tool Window, you will see the Page tool that's located 'behind' it. Select it. The Page Tool will now display in the Tool Window where the Hand Tool was. Double click it to reset the Page Tiling. You can also use that tool to click on the page and set the page's printable area.

It takes a little getting used to.

Let me know if this works for you
Amy