Anyrail

[Conrail_d]

How do you print 1:1 size in anyrail ? Have my bench work finished out a would like to start laying some track

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Zoom out to 1:1 (the scale is shown at the bottom right corner).
Go to print preview.
Should show the plan as 1:1.
Hit print.

You might have to go to Print Setup and set the page direction to conserve paper, depending on the width of your design.
I like 3" square grid, though 6" is fine too.

And don't forget to turn off the 2-sided printing option 

[DKS]

Even easier, download Version 5. The Print dialog box contains an array of printer settings, including the ratio of the final print. Just pick 1:1 and load up a lot of paper...

[Dave Schneider]

Thanks David. I didn't know that.

What I do is a bit more complex (no surprises there for those who know me). I save the plan as a big jpg, import it into Adobe Illustrator (set up the paper full size for the section of interest), save as a pdf, email to FedEx/Kinkos and have them print it on a plotter ($0.75 a square foot). This is worth it to me for complex portions of a plan where pasting together a bunch of individual sheets might be problematic.

Now that you know how to print, lets see the plan!

Best wishes, Dave

[conrail98]

What I do is a bit more complex (no surprises there for those who know me). I save the plan as a big jpg, import it into Adobe Illustrator (set up the paper full size for the section of interest), save as a pdf, email to FedEx/Kinkos and have them print it on a plotter ($0.75 a square foot). This is worth it to me for complex portions of a plan where pasting together a bunch of individual sheets might be problematic.

That requires it's own, step-by-step thread,

Phil

[peteski]

Thanks David. I didn't know that.

What I do is a bit more complex (no surprises there for those who know me). I save the plan as a big jpg, import it into Adobe Illustrator (set up the paper full size for the section of interest), save as a pdf, email to FedEx/Kinkos and have them print it on a plotter ($0.75 a square foot). This is worth it to me for complex portions of a plan where pasting together a bunch of individual sheets might be problematic.

Now that you know how to print, lets see the plan!

Best wishes, Dave

JPGs?!  <insert scratching-my-head smily here>
I assume that any track planning software (just like CAD/CAM programs) uses a vector format not raster (aka bitmap) format.  AI is also a vector-based publishing program.  Why can't you export the plans in some sort of vector format which AI can read?  PDFs can also handle vectors. Vector-format files are also fraction of the size of bitmap files.  Then if Kinko's machine is a true plotter then it will truly plot the vector-based graphics for you.

[Ian MacMillan]

That requires it's own, step-by-step thread,

Phil

+1

[Dave Schneider]

Okay guys,

1) Save it as a jpeg.
2) Covert to pdf.
3) Print it on a plotter.

Advantage. You don't have to cut and tape multiple pages together. If you want to do that, see DKS's instructions.
Got it? 

Best wishes, Dave

[MVW]

Okay guys,

1) Save it as a jpeg.
2) Covert to pdf.
3) Print it on a plotter.

Advantage. You don't have to cut and tape multiple pages together. If you want to do that, see DKS's instructions.
Got it? 

Best wishes, Dave

But ... but ... where's the beer come in?

Jim

[Dave Schneider]

Why can't you export the plans in some sort of vector format which AI can read? 

Well, mainly because Anyrail doesn't do that.
If it did,  I would. I understand the raster/vector thing.
It doesn't, so I don't.
The way I do it produces acceptable results for the application of transferring the plan to the bench work.

Best wishes, Dave

[DKS]

JPGs?!  <insert scratching-my-head smily here>
I assume that any track planning software (just like CAD/CAM programs) uses a vector format not raster (aka bitmap) format.  AI is also a vector-based publishing program.  Why can't you export the plans in some sort of vector format which AI can read?  PDFs can also handle vectors. Vector-format files are also fraction of the size of bitmap files.  Then if Kinko's machine is a true plotter then it will truly plot the vector-based graphics for you.

Vector exports may come in the future. For now, all of the export options are various flavors of bitmaps.

<insert smiley singing "You can't always get what you want" here>