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Level 1

8 points

Why won't preview print the actual size of the photo?

Why can't I print directly from Photoshop instead of having to print through preview? I believe I've checked the proper settings in preview preference but it keeps scaling my photos.

IMAC, Mac OS X (10.6.4), 3.06 GHz Intel

Posted on Oct 5, 2010 10:14 AM

32 replies

Feb 26, 2015 1:05 PM in response to Rusty K

Yes, pressing the tab button works, as i discovered independently by asking a nearby teenager. He explained to me that pressing the "Tab" button forces the numbers that you type into the scale box to "take," by advancing to the next field in the dialog box. Evidently there are other programs that he uses that also require this technique. It still looks like a bug to me, but at least we can now do what we want.

StuartEC

Level 1

8 points

Jul 11, 2016 11:01 AM in response to Rusty K

This a very annoying feature of preview. Having carefully sized my artwork in Adobe Illustrator and saved as a pdf, Preview then shrinks the thing! Why does it not print the right size as specified in the pdf??

macjack

Level 10

111,216 points

Oct 6, 2010 2:25 AM in response to Rusty K

Rusty K wrote:
I'd still like to know how to delete Preview prefs.

/Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/ com.apple.Preview.plist

-mj

Jun 28, 2013 9:40 AM in response to Rusty K

There is a very simple solution to this.....press TAB after entering the scale, hey presto you get a preview.

See below KB

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3043

jayvee2

Level 1

25 points

Oct 5, 2010 11:03 AM in response to Rusty K

Hi, Rusty--
Can you please elaborate? Exactly what happens when you try to print from Photoshop? Thanks.

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 5, 2010 11:42 AM in response to jayvee2

Well I'm not sure how to better explain but the photo is scaled for some reason. These are CD graphics and size is critical. They are not to the dimensions that I set them as.

macjack

Level 10

111,216 points

Oct 5, 2010 12:03 PM in response to Rusty K

I can print out of Adobe Photoshop CS3, not sure why you can't...
The trick with Preview is to tab out of the Scale field after you enter the new value.
This tip from John Blanchard.

-mj

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 5, 2010 12:07 PM in response to jayvee2

No whether or not I'm in photoshop makes no difference...the preview diag box opens so there I am. Can I unselect Preview as the default printing sofware?

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 5, 2010 12:08 PM in response to macjack

Please explain "tab out"

jayvee2

Level 1

25 points

Oct 5, 2010 12:10 PM in response to Rusty K

After entering the value, hit the "tab" button. That locks in the value. (Sorry. Rusty, for jumping in on that one!)

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 5, 2010 12:31 PM in response to jayvee2

Sorry for being so dumb...but "enter the value" I'm not sure what this means. No need to apologize for trying to help...I'm thankful.

macjack

Level 10

111,216 points

Oct 5, 2010 3:57 PM in response to Rusty K

Yes, look under Preview > Preferences > Images and PDFs...
I still don't get why PS would do that... have you tried deleting your PS preferences?

-mj

Petzl20

Level 1

5 points

Feb 11, 2012 12:31 PM in response to WGPNY

WGPNY --

You are a golden god. Thanks for the help. Solution works perfectly. I thought I was going crazy and kept thinking it was me that was doing something wrong.

Level 2

454 points

Jun 18, 2012 1:02 PM in response to Jim_witte

Leave out the $ sign. Won't work as shown.

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 5, 2014 5:41 PM in response to Oldskoolflash

This worked great but I'd still like the final solution so that I don't have to remember.

Why won't preview print the actual size of the photo?