FT Plans Printer Tips

Flite Test has been an integral part in my re-introduction to the RC world about a year ago.  I flew RC planes in the typical glow fashion about 8-10 years ago then transitioned out of the hobby.  However, with the advancement in electric flite has re-opened that opportunity to once more fly and share in the growing hobby.  Hopefully, this is a chance to give back to the Community where I gained little tips and tricks in the "Articles" section. 

Flite Test has a growing number of dollar tree foam board plans for download for free AND the Community is sharing more plans everyday.  AWESOME!!!
The Challenge:
Assemble the sheets, sheets, and sheets of plans together in an accurate fashion with lots and lots of tape. 
OR Kinkos, FedEx or local printing shop run.

The Answer (Hopefully for more than just me):
Using a little preparation, about the same amount of time as you normally would (if not faster) and create an accurate plane by taping two or more sheets of 8.5x11in together BEFORE they hit the printer.  Applications would include long parts suchs as wings, fuselage, or whatever you need that will require a length greater than 11in.  Intrigued yet???

There are two methods the SIMPLE or ADVANCED that utilize everyday software and special software respectively but both can be achieved with the same end goal.  Regardless of your choice FULL SIZE plans are the key.

My preparation and equipment list:
-Desired FT or Community plans (Full Size NOT Tiled)
-8.5x11in sheets of paper
-Transparent tape (NOT packagin tape as it is too thick)
-Printer (I'm using and Inkjet Canon MX320...fairly old)
-ADVANCED Adobe Photoshop CS6 (or your equivalent photo editing software)
-SIMPLE Adobe Reader XI

READ AND ASSESS BEFORE YOU PROCEED
This process is fairly simple BUT you need to identify the maximum length YOUR printer will print.

For example: the Canon MX320 will only print a maximum of 8.5in width (standard width) X 26.61in (longer would've been great).  So, 26.61in is greater than 22in = 2 sheets of paper length wise so I'm all set.  The easiest way to check your settings (PC users...not a Mac user).

-Start Menu
-Devices and Printers
-Click on your printer to display printing preferences
-Click on Printer Paper Size
-Look for Custom or something similar and click on it
-You should get a box that generates an area for Custom width and length with parameters.  The Canon MX320 looks like the following.  As you can see I have the length limitation of 26.61in so I chose to limit to 22inches which again, is 2 sheets of regular letter paper.

DID YOUR PRINTER PASS...YES...GREAT!!!

NOTE:  If you are pretty tech savay SIMPLE and ADVANCED is up to you.  If can use basic computer programs I recommend the SIMPLE procedure since it utilizes Adobe XI (pretty common program).  Same end goal.

The following will be true for either SIMPLE or ADVANCED process.  Let's get started with the Steps for paper sizing.

Step 1
Prepare to tape two sheets of regular 8.5x11 together end to end.  They will look like this on the back.  I numbered for purely visual purposes.

As you can see the tape extends about the distance of the marked portion.  I've found that one good piece in the middle and two smaller pieces of tape on the end will do the trick.  Be as accurate as you can going end-to-end.
Now lets flip it over to the 'printed' side.  I've labeled the 'seam' and individual sheets.  Your 8.5in X 22in paper is now ready to feed into the printer but we'll set this aside for now. 

This is how it will look ready to print your plans...BUT again, let's set it aside.

---------------------------------------------------------------------SIMPLE------------------------------------------------------------

Okay great, you went the route using Adobe XI.  Here's what we're going to work with.  FULL SIZE plans for the Mini Guinea found here:

http://stonekap.net/ftplans/FT-Mini%20guinea-plans.pdf

Open them up in Adobe XI and it will look like this.  In this technique we can select what we want (i.e. individual parts OR select the entire plans with minimal border.  Either way, after you select the specific area the remaining steps are identical.

Let's select the fuselage OR the entire plans.  To do this click EDIT, click on "TAKE A SNAPSHOT."  This will allow you to select the part you wish.  Again, whatever you choose the steps remain the same.

Now with as little white border as possible, select the fuselage OR the entire plans.  The dialog box is just letting you know you took a snapshot.
FUSELAGE selection

ENTIRE PLAN selection

Now you have this selected (fuselage or plans), go to FILE...PRINT. 

Now you'll see something like this.  
You'll notice several things that are't good for us:
1) The page is setup for 8.5 X 11in
2) Adobe XI is scaled it to 60%
3) The FIT is checked under the PAGE SIZING & HANDLING
4) Just above the FIT, SIZE is selected

Let's fix it.
1) Click Properties
2) Look for the Printer Paper Size option and click Custom

3) Adjust the Height to 22 inches (2 sheets of regular letter paper) and leave the Width at 8.5 inches.
4) Click OK

Now we're back to our initial print options page.  What we've fixed:

-The page is setup for 8.5 X 11in  Now setup for 8.5 X 22inches
-Adobe XI is scaled it to 60%
-The FIT is checked under the PAGE SIZING & HANDLING
-Just above the FIT, SIZE is selected

Now let's fix the next two in the list. Click CUSTOM SCALE and make sure its at 100% (FIT is now unselected and our scale is 100%)
Look to the right where the preview is located.  You see it has overlapped into a non printable area.  Our last step will rectify that.

Select the POSTER setting and bam.  The printer is going to print TWO 8.5 X 22inch sheets and you just have to make a single long cut on one of them....match it up and you're good to go for the foam board transfer.  Make sure you select CUT MARKS below TILE SCALE as an added  bonus.

Select CUT MARKS below TILE SCALE

The final uncut pieces.  Notice the CUT MARKS.  

-------------------------FINAL PRODCUT ready for foam board transfer.  ------------------------------------
As you can see we have a little sliver of parts we can't really use and that's the downside of this technique if you only want specific parts.  To customize each sheet proceed to the ADVANCED technique OR simply select the Entire Plans as discussed during the FUSELAGE or Entire Plans dilema.

 NOTE: I cut the lower sheet and the next picture shows the final product.

If you selected the entire plans you'll need to make FIVE 8.5 X 22 inch sheets and prior to printing.  Again, steps are identical just more preparation is needed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------ADVANCED-------------------------------------------------------

STEP 2- COMPUTER SETUP
Let's switch gears to the Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Computer settings prior to printing. 
In this particular case, I'm using the FULL SIZE Mini Guinea found here...Again, I emphasize FULL SIZE:

http://stonekap.net/ftplans/FT-Mini%20guinea-plans.pdf

Open your plans in CS6.  NOTE: Whatever software you use I like to turn the 'Ruler' settings on so I know what I can potentially use and what I can't depending on the size of the part you wish to print.  Since this is a mini it should be fairly swift.  Here's what it'll look like.  I'm going to focus on the fuselage to the far left. 

Using the select box, select the fuselage with as little border as possible. (remember, 8.5 X 22in is the MAX...in my case at least)
-Open a new page and paste.
-Now we're dealing with a 3.5x18inch component (well within our limits)

 Next go to File, Print

Right from the get go, Adobe CS6 isn't setup to recognize the 8.5x22inch sheet I'm going to run through it and cuts the image off at 8.5X11in as seen below.  Normal circumstances you're stuck printing and taping the two sheets together AFTER you print but now the Trick comes to play.

Click Print Settings and just like before in the "READ AND ASSESS BEFORE YOU PROCEED" section you are presented with the option to "custom" paper size.  Click the Paper Size and a drop down menu will include "custom."  Click it.

Again, you have the maximum your particular printer will print.  In this case a length of 22inches is plenty and conveniently 2 sheets of normal letter paper.  Click OK.

Viola, you now have the potential to print the entire fuselage on an 8.5 X 22 inch sheet (since you taped it together) and the printer will not recognize the border at the joining of the 2 sheets.  The printer literally think you have a single sheet of paper 22inches long.  Out smart technology in this case.  +1 for the Human.

So, now you can load your custom sheet into your printer, click PRINT and you now have the following 'single' 22inch paper with your seamless and very accurate fuselage ready for the foam board transfer.  This process has been proven to be great when printing those long sections.  The downside is I only wish my printer would print 33 inch or longer BUT I'm quite happy with this little discovery.  I haven't experienced any paper jams up to this point but I take my time (not much is needed) while merging to the two sheets with tape.

The following videos will demonstrate the above in real time.  I had to hold my phone so I apologize for the minor wobbles.

Print from Adobe Reader XI (Select Parts)

Print from Adobe Reader XI (Full Plans)

Print from Adobe CS6

Printing a 8.5 X 22 inch sheet with the Mini Guinea fuselage

CONCLUSION
If you have the print settings to print on at least 22inches you're going to save time and be a little more accurate for the next plane your building.  Less cutting, taping, and 'trying to get that line to match up just right,' and more building.  I sometimes use CS6 or Adobe Reader XI depending on my end goals.  ENJOY and I sincerely hope this will aid people in their endevours and projects.  Print away!

A shoutout to EVP for the following article.  It sparked me to write this article and used in conjunction I believe it would be a phenominal pairing.
http://flitetest.com/articles/how-to-modify-scale-and-reformat-ft-plans