11 by 17 -inch Printers & PDF

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Author Message W. Dean Walker, AIA, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: wdwalkerspecs Post Number: 24 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 10:10 am:    I would like a recommendation on an inkjet pinter that will allow me to print 11x17 PDF files. Also a recommendation on a good PDF viewer. I have Fox-it but it keeps trying to refocus and is annoying. Adobe is OK, but limited. I know I've read postings about these issues over the years - but would like the latest information. Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 96 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 10:19 am:    Recommendation on printer, not me, sorry. Although, I can recommend a pdf software for not only viewing but full editing as well (can do same as adobe but less $$) for around $100 dollars (well when I bought it last year it was 100 bucks before taxes). The name is ScanSoft PDF Professional. http://www.nuance.com/products Bob Woodburn, RA CSI CCS CCCA LEED AP Senior Member Username: bwoodburn Post Number: 241 Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 11:03 am:    If all you need is a pdf viewer, is there a problem with the [free] Adobe Acrobat Reader? If you need to create or manipulate pdfs, you might try PDF995; it's available in a fully-functional free version (you just have to watch its sales pitch each time you use it, which goes away when you subscribe, for a very reasonable cost). Can't help you on the inkjet; we use an HP LaserJet 5200tn for both letter size and 11x17. Like its 8100 series predecessor, it works great. Only "problem" with the 5200tn: Its letter-size paper tray only takes about half a package of paper at a time, not a full package (not much of a problem...). Richard Howard, AIA CSI CCS LEED-AP Senior Member Username: rick_howard Post Number: 175 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 11:10 am:    Our corporate IT department has distributed PDF995 to our 50,000 desktops. It is a pretty versatile free program, but if you want to stop the adverts, you must pay a small fee, something less than $10. http://www.pdf995.com/ Bob Woodburn, RA CSI CCS CCCA LEED AP Senior Member Username: bwoodburn Post Number: 242 Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 11:11 am:    P. S. -- I use WordPerfect, and Adobe Acrobat (full professional version) chokes (and won't work) on "WordPerfect Characters" -- iconic and typographic symbols, like the shadowed checkboxes I use in my checklists. PDF995 takes those in stride. (I suspect Corel and Adobe couldn't come to terms on licensing fees.) I can live with PDF995's sales pitch, but If I didn't already have Adobe Acrobat, I'd probably buy PDF995... D. Marshall Fryer, CSI, Assoc. AIA Senior Member Username: dmfryer Post Number: 63 Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 11:19 am:    Before buying the 11x17 printer, check what size drawings you typically use. If they are 22x34 you are fine, but if you are using 24x36 drawings, then you may want a 12x18 printer for true half scale prints. We have had a reliable HP one in our office for many years, cost was about $500 iirc. Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: presbspec Post Number: 154 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 11:28 am:    I'm using a HP Deskjet 9800. I've had it for about 2 years so far and it seems to be a pretty good workhorse. I use it for the bulk of my printing in letter and tabloid (11 x 17) size. I use it for all of my drawing printing from PDF. My clients send me their drawings full size and I reduce them down to fit the margins for a full sheet or can highlight specific details to get a larger print (NTS) of a detail needed to understand what is going on. I also use it to print posters in small quanities for my choral group, so the quality is pretty good. Nathan Woods, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 248 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 11:28 am:    We use Bluebeam PDF software and it's amazingly powerfull. It's overkill for just a reader, but for document creation & annotation, few are better. Any HP 5000 series printers will be a long lasting workhorse. Bob Woodburn, RA CSI CCS CCCA LEED AP Senior Member Username: bwoodburn Post Number: 244 Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 11:29 am:    If you need a 12 x 18 printer (not a common size, as far as I know), you may want to consider 13" x 19" printers, a relatively common size for "photo" inkjet printers. You can probably find several models made by Epson, HP and Canon. High resolution photo printing would be a bonus... There are probably a lot of used ones availaible on the internet, as well; look for a current or recent lightly-used model, with separate cartidges for each color (at least for black). W. Dean Walker, AIA, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: wdwalkerspecs Post Number: 25 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 11:31 am:    Thanks to Bob and Richard. I will try the product. Being and independent spec consultant working our of my home office I like to hear about others and their experiences with software add-ons. The reason for the printer question is that architects will only send PDF files when they want proposals. I insist on drawings if they sign a contract. Marshall, I will keep that size in mind.