Newbie Blues - precut paper

Hey everyone.

So, I have my Ricoh printer set up, profile set up on my Mac (Sawgrass guy helped me), but now I'm trying to print onto pre-cut paper.

I imagined this would be easiest....!

I am using SubliClassic mug paper (216mm x 92mm)

My design is of two images next to each other - with a gap in between so they each sit on either side of the mug)

It's the right dimension but the wrong rotation, since the mug paper prints lengthways. Easy, right?

On Photoshop, I changed the canvas size to the same size as the mug paper.

I rotated the design on photoshop, and it LOOKED like it had rotated.

But when I go to the print section, I can see in the print preview bit, that I'm looking a blank sheet of paper.

Have pity on a newbie!!

I wish someone would please list out the steps they take to print on pre-cut paper.

Amazingly no one on Youtube has ever used precut paper - can't find any videos about sizing your photoshop images for it.

I got my starter kit (ricoh printer, mug press, etc) from BMS but they didn't respond to my email of Wednesday, so I don't want to send a new one - plus, it's not their job to help me with Photoshop.

Would be grateful if anyone had any tips.

Hi. Firstly in Photoshop create a blank new image to the size of your paper. Save that as your master template. Place your images in position and when you are happy with them, flatten the layers, rotate to vertical and save as a jpeg. Select your printer from the print menu and click properties. Next to the size menu is a plus sign. Click that and input your paper size. That should do you.
You probably know most of that but no harm in going over it in case you missed a step.
Hope that helps.

Ian - thank you so much. How helpful and kind.

That's where I found myself- but frustratingly, each time I put my image onto my Master Template image (which is the size of my pre-cut paper), it seems to change the size of the template.

I go into canvas size and try and change it back, but then I check a minute later - and sure enough the canvas size has gone up again. I am using a high resolution image, and it seems that the canvas adjusts to fit it.

Or should I be focused on the image size and not the canvas size?!

Many thanks in advance.

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On Photoshop, I changed the canvas size to the same size as the mug paper.

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You need to set the page size in the New document dialogue when you first started your template. Enter the size and dpi you will be working at.

There is some tiny thing I am doing wrong because I'm doing exactly as you say.

I open Photoshop.

I click New - and I specify the size and name of my template.

I then open an image.

The image does not sit separately but immediately goes onto the template - changing it's size and dimensions.

I never get two layers, which I thought I would.

This is so odd.

So, now I'm understanding what happens - though I don't know how to fix it.

I create a new template that is the paper size I want.

Then I add the image.

However, what happens is that the template size document is on a separate screen - I end up toggling between the image which is massive and the correct template size - they are not together.

I don't understand why?

Apologies for asking but I'm not getting anything done and am starting to tear my hair out. I've tried this no less than 30 times now.

Ok. Load your template. Load the image. COPY the image and PASTE it into the template, it will appear on a new layer. Resize your image to anything you like, it will not affect the original size of the canvas.

There are other ways of doing this but I wanted to provide you with the simplest, most understandable way.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but if you are using something as powerful as Photoshop you really need to take the time out to learn the basics. There are loads of excellent tutorials on the net. It will pay you back in spades in the future.

Oh thank goodness - it works! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I have no idea why someone people consider intelligent, cannot understand a simple well- loved programme like Photoshop. I installed it yesterday and have been tearing my hair out ever since.

You have saved me a lot more heartache. Thank you very much.

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Originally Posted by Sedgewick

Oh thank goodness - it works! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I have no idea why someone people consider intelligent, cannot understand a simple well- loved programme like Photoshop. I installed it yesterday and have been tearing my hair out ever since.

You have saved me a lot more heartache. Thank you very much.

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No probs. Just, as I say, take a little time to understand the basics and you will be fine. Photoshop is probably overkill if just needed to knock out a few mug designs, but the fact that it allows use of ICC profiles for printing makes it an obvious choice.

Actually, you don't need to have the image in PS. If you have an image, say, on Google Images, simply right-click and COPY the image then go to PS and PASTE. It will be inserted on a new layer above the currently highlighted one.

Brilliant - thank you so much.

I am on the Photoshop 7 day free trial. Not sure whether I will purchase as I hate the fact that they have a subscription model so you're paying them indefinitely. I may go with Photoshop Elements - like version 10 or 12.

Have you ever tried Gimp? I hear it's free, so am intrigued.

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Originally Posted by Sedgewick

Brilliant - thank you so much.

I am on the Photoshop 7 day free trial. Not sure whether I will purchase as I hate the fact that they have a subscription model so you're paying them indefinitely. I may go with Photoshop Elements - like version 10 or 12.

Have you ever tried Gimp? I hear it's free, so am intrigued.

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GIMP is good for a free product, don't get me wrong - but sometimes it just doesn't have the functionality you need for doing intricate designs or putting effects on images. I would always prefer to use Photoshop, Illustrator or one of the main brands products when designing- but that's just my opinion on the whole subject.

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Originally Posted by Sedgewick

Brilliant - thank you so much.

I am on the Photoshop 7 day free trial. Not sure whether I will purchase as I hate the fact that they have a subscription model so you're paying them indefinitely. I may go with Photoshop Elements - like version 10 or 12.

Have you ever tried Gimp? I hear it's free, so am intrigued.

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I have Elements 11 - which is absolutely fine for what I need. I thought long and hard about Photoshop, but Im not that advanced that I need to, or indeed would use all of the functionality I would be paying for

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Originally Posted by TerryQ

I have Elements 11 - which is absolutely fine for what I need. I thought long and hard about Photoshop, but Im not that advanced that I need to, or indeed would use all of the functionality I would be paying for

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Photoshop is quite reasonably priced since the launch of Creative Cloud, so rather than being a lump sum, you can spend from £10 a month to get the latest version available.

I just hate being locked into eternal payment year after year - and of course payments will go up over the years! I'd rather buy something outright.

It's a great model for Adobe, a nice profit turner - but as customers a lot of us aren't keen on a subscription model. I'll likely plump for Elements like Terry has.

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Originally Posted by kbho

Photoshop is quite reasonably priced since the launch of Creative Cloud, so rather than being a lump sum, you can spend from £10 a month to get the latest version available.

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yeah, but,ike I say 0 would be a waste of money for me, as I wouldn't utilise the full potential of Photoshop. And £120 a year can go towards something else

The Adobe software was too complicated for me and I wasn't in a position to spend too much on software. I searched on eBay and managed to pick up a serif software bundle for £20. It included Pageplus 7, Photoplus,drawplus etc. I know it's an older version however it does everything I need it to do.