"Printing Scenario Maps at Tabletop Size?" Topic

Let's say that I have a scenario map for a 4' x 6' tabletop, gridded into 1' squares. (The actual map fits on a normal sheet of paper.)

Let's also say that I have the map in electronic form (in this case a PDF, though I could also have scanned it in).

It would be convenient if I could print the map out at tabletop scale (i.e., where the 1' squares are actually one foot across). Of course, I'd have to print this out on multiple sheets and attach them to make the big map.

I could then cut out or trace templates to match the hills, gullies, and other features on that map.

Is there a way to do this? The usual printer utilities just don't seem to have a function for "scale this graphic up 1200% and print it on multiple pages…"

Why would you want to?

For instance, if I could print out the map at 1:1 scale, I could cut out the hills and use them as templates when creating the 3D hills.

Or, I could playtest a scenario using "paper terrain" until the 3D terrain was built/available.

How about the FL Print Shop? By the time you've used up ink and paper, it might be less hassle to have them do it.

You will need to port it into a program which allows poster/banner printing as an option. One such program, would be MS Publisher 200X. If you have an older version, check it to see what printing options it has. This may also be somewhat dependant upon your printer, as the two work hand-in-hand. Sorry I can't be more specific, Bill.

As an alternative, how about breaking up the map's features, into individual pieces/elements, and print them off, in "1:1" scale, and use this for your templates? That way you won't have to print the entire map, just the terrain features which you need a template for. Cheers!

There are shareware / freeware programs that will dothis for you. Convert your map to a suitable format and it splits it into however many 8.5 x 11 inch pages you need.

Coolest thing I've seen with this in mind:

link

But anyways, Some printers do indeed have the ability to blow up images. I know the HP we have at work can scale images up to 1000% of their original size and print on multiple pages.

Couldn't you just put the image into the image editing program of your choice and enlarge it, then print it? You're going to be pixilation unless you use vector graphics though, no matter what method you use…

I can do this for you. Contact me at info@imagineimage.org

Addition: I can print your map onto a roll of paper 12 feet long and 3 feet wide.

Couldn't you just put the image into the image editing program of your choice and enlarge it, then print it?

Just tried it with Paint Shop Pro – I can stretch the image to 4-feet wide in the print settings, but it will only print one page (the center of the image).

Just tried it with Paint Shop Pro – I can stretch the image to 4-feet wide in the print settings, but it will only print one page (the center of the image).

Hmmm… ok… i was able to do this in MSPaint (of all programs). Just enlarge the image (500% is the max though, so you're going to have to enlarge it in chunks, that requires more math than I can do though), then go to page setup, set your print margins to 0 and then to go print preview and your image should show on xx pages… Give it a shot, it may work!? :)

I did this using a ploter and a jpeg of the Kingmaker map.

oh, and you enlarge it in the image stretch/skew menu.

Bill, use the Rasterbator — you tell it how many pages your image should be, and it scales and segments your picture:

homokaasu.org/rasterbator

And now there's a standalone downloadable version:
arje.net/rasterbator

I just tried out something called Posteriza – free download at link

Allows user to import a jpg, then specify how many pages wide it should be when printed. (Stretches graphic accordingly.)

Unfortunately, to be at tabletop scale this image should be about 5.6 pages wide… If I go to 6 pages wide, the result is 3 inches too wide. Hmmm, maybe that's close enough…

And the good news is: By doing a little math and setting the margins appropriately, Posteriza can be used to print a scenario map to the right size.

Unfortunately, Posteriza distorts the image when it creates the poster print-out. My one-foot squares vary from 10 to 14 inches across! (I double-checked the original – that's not where the trouble is!)

I tried the online Rasterbator – the bad news is that the minimum width is about 5 feet. (I'm trying a 4-foot map…)

I know what I would do, I would do the original in CC2 and tell it to print 1:1 with the tiling set at 6 sheets by 5 sheets and a 5 % overlap. Then splice the sheets together. No problem.

How about Rastebating it (that sounds DH-able, doesn't it?) and then printing at 4/5 size?

Take it to Kinko's and make them do it for you?

Has anybody out there tried this at someplace like Kinkos?

I'm just wondering what they charge from something like that.

Good news: the standalone Rasterbator can be set for smaller sizes.

Bad news: The only way to control width of your output is to select number of pages, and orientation (portrait or landscape). That is, money with those settings until the width is closest to what you want.

Worse news: Rasterbator's width estimates seem to fall short. The poster which it told me would be 130 cm wide was actually 111 cm (going from too wide to too small).

However, it is more accurate than Posteriza.

Just tried Poster 7.9, which is shareware – link – free to try (10 posters), then $18 USD afterwards.

Does almost what I want it to do – I told it a 48" map, I got a 47" map but maybe I have a margin set wrong somewhere. The one-foot squares are accurate within an inch.

I did this at Kinko's. I scanned a map at 600 or 1200 dpi, then enlarged it. Kinko's has a printer that will print 3 foot wide paper. They charged about $6 USD for black and white.

The Poster program also has a "Kinko's" option – I assume it outputs something that you can take to Kinko's and have printed out.

Cpt Arexu: If you think that Rasterbating sounds like DH'able offence you might be delighted to know that homo is Finnish for homosexual and kaasu is gas, so you can imagine that where the gaygas has originated?

Funny URL name for sure…

Johnny

I can print any image to plotter paper in color 12 feet long and 3ft wide for $35. USD link

I'd second trying the tiling settings. This works extremely well in Corel Draw.

Forget all the specialized software. You can create your map in Photoshop, and print from there, or even PowerPoint. I produce 4' x 8' posters in PowerPoint for the PhDs where I work all the time.

The key is that you need to find a place that has a color plotter that can handle 48" and larger rolls. Try a blueprint maker.