In the IUB STCs, can I print to the plotters from Microsoft PowerPoint?
UITS does not recommend using Microsoft PowerPoint to print materials on the plotters in the Information Commons of the Herman B Wells Library.
PowerPoint is presentation software intended for use with projection screens. When you attempt to print a PowerPoint slide in a large format, various problems can occur. Many times the text boxes in the slides will be displaced, or when printed, the graphics will often be less than optimal. Even with extensive experimentation, a good outcome is not always possible when trying to print from PowerPoint to the plotters.
Due to the high cost of ink for the plotters, if errors aren't caught within the first six inches of a plot, print credit cannot be granted. As a result, students may incur substantial expenses as they attempt to correct errors and reprint.
UITS encourages instructors who want their students to utilize plotter printing for their assignments to suggest using Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator rather than PowerPoint. These software applications are much better suited to large scale printing.
Many Adobe software products are available free via IUware for IU students, faculty, and staff under the IU/Adobe License Agreement. For details, see What software is available through the Adobe agreement, and how can I get it?
Last modified on February 28, 2011.
