Which should I choose, PDF A4 or PDF plotter?

A4 if you print at home or at a copy shop: you get separate numbered pages that you tape together into the full-size pattern. Plotter if you have access to a plotting service or a roll printer: you get the whole pattern on one continuous sheet, with nothing to tape. Plotter saves time; A4 saves the cost of plotting.

How do I print a PDF pattern without distorting the scale?

Print at 100% and turn off any "fit to page" or "scale to printable area" option, which is what shrinks the pattern without warning. Before cutting, measure the test square on the first page with a ruler: if it measures what it says, the scale is right and so is the rest of the pattern.

Printing help for your sewing patterns: scale, pages, and plotter

A badly printed pattern comes out at the wrong scale and the garment will not fit, even when the file is perfect. Nearly every problem can be avoided with two checks: print at 100% and measure the test square on the first page. This page explains how to print and assemble each format.

The rule that solves 90% of problems

Print at 100%. Any option that says "fit to page" or "scale to printable area" shrinks the pattern without warning, and the printout looks perfect even though it measures 4% less than it should.

The thirty-second check

The first page has a test square with its size written on it. Measure it with a ruler. If it measures what it says, the whole pattern is right. If it measures less, reprint: cutting larger to compensate does not work.

Do this before printing all the pages: testing a single page saves paper and ink if your printer changes the margins.

Tiling and taping the A4 pages

Tile the pages in the order of their printed numbers, overlap them until the join marks line up exactly, and only then tape them. Assemble full rows first and join the rows to each other afterward: taping by eye adds millimeters at every join.

Sending the file to a plotter

The plotter PDF comes with the whole pattern on one continuous sheet, with nothing to tape, at a true width of 90, 120, or 150 cm. Tell the print shop: at 100%, no fitting, at the roll width that matches the file. The width does not change the price; if you are unsure which to choose, ask before you pay.

What software you need

PDF (A4 and plotter): open with any PDF reader, including the one on your phone or in your browser.
Audaces (.ads) and Optitex (.pds): need the matching program, because they are editable textile CAD formats.
DXF: usually compatible with CAD software. CDR: worked on in CorelDRAW. PLT: used for plotting.

What each piece includes

Patterns come with seam allowances already included in the piece, plus joining notches, the grainline, and the number of pieces to cut. All sizes are in the same file.

If something does not match

Do not cut the fabric until you have checked the scale and the main pieces. If something does not match, save a screenshot, the pattern name, and the format you used, and note the printer, the program, and the paper size: with that, your inquiry over WhatsApp or Telegram at +54 9 11 3331 3372 gets resolved faster.

Questions

Which should I choose, PDF A4 or PDF plotter?: A4 if you print at home or at a copy shop: you get separate numbered pages that you tape together into the full-size pattern. Plotter if you have access to a plotting service or a roll printer: you get the whole pattern on one continuous sheet, with nothing to tape. Plotter saves time; A4 saves the cost of plotting.
How do I print a PDF pattern without distorting the scale?: Print at 100% and turn off any "fit to page" or "scale to printable area" option, which is what shrinks the pattern without warning. Before cutting, measure the test square on the first page with a ruler: if it measures what it says, the scale is right and so is the rest of the pattern.
Do the patterns include seam allowances?: Yes, they come with seam allowances already included in the piece, plus joining notches, the grainline, and the number of pieces to cut.

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