How to print pdf templates on your Mac

I know that some of our farming buddies have been having a little trouble printing templates off on their computers. I have a Mac, so I thought I would take some screenshots and walk you through a little tutorial on how to find the right setting to print these accurately.

It is NOT ESSENTIAL that you use the book templates at all. If you follow the rotary cutting instructions, or use the Marti Michell templates, you don’t need them.

 

Also, please take the time to print off one template and check the 1 inch scale measurement is correct before you print all 99!

This is the method that I use to work on my iMac, if you have a windows computer or you have printer/driver issues, please consult your help files as I am not able to provide further tech support.

Firstly, please save your files from your CD onto your hard drive. I have put mine in a folder on my desktop to make it easier to find.

 

Using Preview – Mac’s inbuilt pdf reader.

 

How to print your pdf templates using a MAC - Cassandra Madge

 

Initially when you choose to print this screen will appear. The button for “Scale to Fit” and “Print Entire Image” is selected by default.

How to print your pdf templates using a MAC - Cassandra Madge

 

Click on the button next to “Scale” and enter 100 in the percentage box where it currently says 93%. Then simply select “Print”. Make sure you check the 1″ scale mark after printing.

 

Using Adobe Reader.

 

If you choose to open and print your files through Adobe Reader, which is the free program provided for pdf files from Adobe, the following screen appears when you select Print.

 

How to print your pdf templates using a MAC - Cassandra Madge

 

The key area is “Page Sizing and Handling” and select the “Size” button.

Size options – Make sure the “Actual Size” button is selected, then select “Print”

 

Printing a mirror image using Preview.

For SOME blocks, if you are PAPER-PIECING, you may wish to print your templates mirrored. This would mostly apply if you were not putting your blocks on point, but laying them out square and if you were concerned with fussy cutting using directional fabrics. Practically all the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s sampler blocks are able to be paper-pieced WITHOUT needing to be mirrored.

After ensuring that you have followed the first steps above and selected Scale, entering 100% in the box, the next steps are below.

 

 

If you click on the rectangle menu labelled “Preview” the drop down menu highlighted above should appear. Select the item “Layout”

 

 

At the bottom of the “Layout” menu is the option to “Flip horizontally”. If you select this button, it will flip, or mirror your page when printing. This will allow you to paper piece your block EXACTLY as it appears in the book, on the horizontal axis. In the mini preview on the left hand side you can see that the page is now reversed.

 

I hope that these few steps will help someone who is finding this step a little challenging.

 Happy Crafting - Cassie.

Please be aware that there may be affiliate links in this content. Your support allows me to keep creating for you!

2 Responses

  1. Foundation Paper Piecing Tutorial – Part 1 | Cassandra Madge

    […] I gratefully acknowledge Nicole Young, of Lilly Ella Stitchery, for graciously allowing me to use her Butterfly Charm Block for this tutorial. Best of all, the pattern is FREE, so you can go and grab your own from Craftsy right now, download it and sew along with me. We will be stitching her butterfly called Pepper today. If you need help on printing your pdf out to actual size, my Mac tutorial is HERE. […]

  2. Foundation Paper Piecing Tutorial – Part 2 | Cassandra Madge

    […] Hi and welcome to part 2 of my Foundation Paper Piecing tutorial. If you missed part 1, you can find it HERE. Again I would like to gratefully acknowledge Nicole Young, of lillyella stitchery, for graciously allowing me to use her Butterfly Charm Block for this tutorial. Best of all, the pattern is FREE, so you can go and grab your own from Craftsy right now, download it and sew along with me. We will be stitching her butterfly called Pepper today. If you need help on printing your pdf out to actual size, my Mac tutorial is HERE. […]

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