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user export pdf

nhmkdev edited this page Sep 2, 2017 · 2 revisions

General

This guide is intended to provide a basic introduction to exporting to PDF with CardMaker.

Setup

Page

By default CardMaker configures the page as follows: Width: 8.5 inches Height: 11 inches Horizontal Margin: 0.5 inches Vertical Margin: 0.25 inches

This assumes this is how you want your pages setup. It's likely not perfect for you or your printer! You need to adjust these values to fit your situation. You can configure these values in the menu: Tools > Settings... > PDF Export tab.

Options

Auto-Center Layouts On Page

CardMaker will attempt to center the layouts on the page. This can be especially useful when combined with the Export PDF Layout Page as Back option (found in the configuration of each layout export). If you have a really great printer (and some luck) you might be able to print a two-sided card...

Print Layouts On New Page

This just means that if you have multiple layouts exported to a PDF each layout will begin on a new page.

Exporting

CardMaker will try its best to squeeze everything into the space given one layout at a time. CardMaker is NOT an optimizer when it comes to reorganizing all your layouts into the fewest pages as possible. Changing the orientation of your PDF export may work better depending on the layout(s) you are exporting. I highly recommend you use a stitching tool with your pdf pages to re-order and reorganize them after exporting.

Printing Hacks

  • One issue you may run into is that your card size isn't quite right for filling the page. When prototyping a game and working with cards with sizes intended for The Game Crafter website I often crop the layout so I can fill the page with cards. Adjusting the layout size will not affect the elements if you directly edit the layout width and height (obviously you don't want to lose any critical elements!).