Export Persona exporting wrong image dimensions

[deedubb]

So when i use the export persona in affinity designer, i create my slice around the image and then when i export it so i can print the image, the image is incorrectly sized/dimensioned (not sure if that's a real word, but oh well).  And so there's no confusion, I'm not talking about the file size, just the image size when printing.

All the settins are set at the original settings 1x, etc.

Let me know if you need more info or something that I didn't list here.

Thanks

[R C-R]

To begin with, please tell us the details of how you created the slice, how much of the document's size does the image cover, & what exactly you mean by "image" (like if it is a single layer pixel object, a combination of vector, text, & bitmap layers).

It would also help to know what print settings you are using. For that, screenshots of the Print dialog with Range & Scale, Fit Type, etc. visible. Note that different printers will show different options so it would be helpful to know what printer you are using.

[deedubb]

Okley dokley, so i begin by switching from the deisgner tab/side to the export persona, from there it defaults to the slice tool, then i start by making a box/selection around the image that is from a pdf.  The selection/slice measures 828x2595 (that's what the slice/box says in the main window).  Unfotunately, i can't switch the measurements for the document to inches like i can in the main designer area, but i believe the main image is approximately 5inches by 8 inches, roughly.  And when i mean image, it is an image inside of a pdf.  Not sure if its a single pixel layer object or if it has bitmap layers.  However, when i look in the designer main area, it is in several layers with text on separate layers and some layers with curves and 2 images.  Sorry, not familiar with all the terminology just a hobbyist.  But it looks like it may be a combination of stuff and things. I'll attach an image.

The 2nd image shows the general print settings when i open up the png image through whatever the default windows image view is.  But if you look at the image within the print window, it shows it taking the entire page (8.5x11) when the image should only be roughly 8.5 inches long, but it shows it as 11 inches long.  I haven't tried printing it (which maybe i should just try it and see how it looks) just cuz i don't want to waste ink.  The only reason i even noticed is if i do a work around by using a layer mask (not sure if that's the right term, i use a rectangle as the same size as the image and take the page and drop it inside the rectangle so only the part of the image i want to print is visible and then i save it as a png.  And when i view the png using this method it looks fine.

And lastly, i'm using an epson wf-7820 printer, but i haven't actually printed it yet so not sure that's really relevant at this moment.

[R C-R]

It would help if you posted an image of the Export Persona with the slice you created visible & the Slices tab visible so we could see that. Your document has lots of layers (as shown in the Layers panel in your first screenshot). I assume you used the Layer tab to create the slice from the selected Image layer. Is that correct?

I'm not familiar with your printer or how Windows versions of the Affinity apps handle the various print settings but perhaps there may be something about the "Shrink to Fit" or "Full page" Photo size settings that are causing what you see.

[deedubb]

I'm not sure what you're referring to by the "Layer" tab to create the slice from means, but i just select the Export Persona and then it defaults to the slice tool and I just create a box around the portion of the image i want to export.  Do I need to actually select/highlight the specific layer before using the slice tool? 

I included an image of the slice tab and the image with the slice box around the specific part of the image.

As far as the printer goes, it really isn't relevant at this time since I haven't printed the actual image.

[Brian_J]

@deedubb I’d suggest first confirming the dimensions of the exported PNG file to see if it is 828x2595 px. You can right-click the file in Windows File Explorer and select Properties, or simply open the PNG file in AD to view the dimensions. If the dimensions are correct, the issue should be with the print settings.

Regarding your print settings, the Fit setting is set to ‘Shrink to fit’ — I’d think you would want something along the lines of ‘Actual size.’ I’m not sure what the Photo Size setting is and if that’s relevant to your issue. If you try changing some of the print settings, does that correct the issue?

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, deedubb said:

I'm not sure what you're referring to by the "Layer" tab to create the slice from means...

There is a Layers studio panel in the Export Persona. You can see its tab in your last screenshot. It is just to the left of the tab for the Slices panel.

One of its features is the "Create Slice" button. So for example, you can select the Image layer (the same one shown selected in the Layers panel shown in your screenshot of the Designer persona), click that button & it will automatically create a slice that is exactly the size of that Image layer.

Also, that earlier screenshot shows you are using points ("pt") as the document units. You can change that to inches by right-clicking on the origin of the ruler (where it says "pt") & choosing Inches from the pop up menu. This will tell you the size in inches of a slice made using the above method via the Designer persona's Transform panel even though it won't show as inches in the Slice panel or Export Persona's Transform panel.

[deedubb]

10 hours ago, R C-R said:

There is a Layers studio panel in the Export Persona. You can see its tab in your last screenshot. It is just to the left of the tab for the Slices panel.

One of its features is the "Create Slice" button. So for example, you can select the Image layer (the same one shown selected in the Layers panel shown in your screenshot of the Designer persona), click that button & it will automatically create a slice that is exactly the size of that Image layer.

Also, that earlier screenshot shows you are using points ("pt") as the document units. You can change that to inches by right-clicking on the origin of the ruler (where it says "pt") & choosing Inches from the pop up menu. This will tell you the size in inches of a slice made using the above method via the Designer persona's Transform panel even though it won't show as inches in the Slice panel or Export Persona's Transform panel.

Awesome, thank you for those tips that hleped.  However, after i change the rulers to inches the transform tab doesn't convert to inches it remains in pixels.

I did find the "layers" tab in export persona (it was right next to the "slices" tab, facepalm), thank you for that.

Once i created the slice, and export/save it, it still saves it as a very large image.  I have to use the shrink to fit option in the print settings just to get it to print on 1 page, otherwise the image doesn't fit on 1 page of 8.5x11 size paper.  Would it have something to do with the dpi?  The dpi is set at 300, cuz i thought when printing you should have the highest dpi.

Thanks for all the help, i appreciate it.

[Brian_J]

53 minutes ago, deedubb said:

Once i created the slice, and export/save it, it still saves it as a very large image.  I have to use the shrink to fit option in the print settings just to get it to print on 1 page, otherwise the image doesn't fit on 1 page of 8.5x11 size paper.  Would it have something to do with the dpi?  The dpi is set at 300, cuz i thought when printing you should have the highest dpi.

The DPI of your AD file does not have any effect on the resolution (physical dimensions) of the exported PNG file.

I took a look at a 828 x 2595 px PNG file in the Windows Photos app, and I now understand what you're seeing (the file is much larger than 8.5 x 11 in). I'm not familiar with how pixel size is translated when printing from the Windows Photos app. I recommend not printing from the Windows Photos app.

To print at the desired size, you can do the following:

1. Create a new Affinity file with dimensions of 8.5 x 11 in and 300 DPI.
2. Place the slice1.png file (which is 828 x 2595 px) in the new Affinity file.
3. Export a PDF file. A good preset to use, since it will be printed, is likely PDF (for print).
4. Open the PDF file and print it from whichever PDF viewer you use.

[deedubb]

Ok, i'll give that a try,  thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Brian_J]

10 minutes ago, deedubb said:

Ok, i'll give that a try,  thanks for the suggestion.

Cool. Let us know if you run into any issues.

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, deedubb said:

However, after i change the rulers to inches the transform tab doesn't convert to inches it remains in pixels.

Is this happening in the Designer Persona (not the Export Persona)? As I mentioned above, this will not affect the Transform panel units used in the Export Persona -- annoyingly, they always show pixels -- but you can still see the size of slices created via the Export Persona's Layers tab in inches from the Designer Persona.

Please post a screenshot of the Designer Persona with the "Image" layer selected (the one shown in your first screenshot) with the Rulers visible & set to inches, & with the Transform panel also visible.

I ask for this because I cannot duplicate that behavior -- whenever I change the document units to inches (or feet or any of the other supported document units) in the Designer Persona that is what the Transform panel uses.

BTW, just like in the Designer Persona in the Export Persona's Transform panel you can enter values in any supported document units & they will be converted to the ones that panel shows. So for instance, you could select a slice & enter "2 in" or "2 inches" & it will be converted to however many pixels 2 inches is at your document's resolution.

[deedubb]

So i tried "Brian-J's" method, with a little bit of success.  However, the size is still off, instead of being too large, its now slightly smaller than the original.  Might just go back to using layer masks.

Thanks for the help.

[R C-R]

@deedubb, are you still having the problem seeing the size in inches of the selected layer in the Designer Persona's Transform panel after changing the document units to inches?

If so, there may be something else wrong with your AD app or its settings that we have not yet considered.

[R C-R]

39 minutes ago, deedubb said:

So i tried "Brian-J's" method, with a little bit of success.  However, the size is still off, instead of being too large, its now slightly smaller than the original. 

Can you post the "slice1.png file" Brian mentioned to a new reply?

BTW, 828 x 2595 px at 300DPI should be 2.76 X 8.65 inches if I got that calculation right so I am curious about what size you get.

[deedubb]

So the inches in transform is working now, not sure why it didn't initially.

The slice1.png file was 1 of the images displayed above.  I just reused it.

And you are correct, the px measurements you gave are 2.76x8.65, I just can't figure out why when i print it still comes out slightly different.  I've checked every setting in my printer settings and nothing is marked that shouldn't be.

[deedubb]

Sorry, i was wrong the pdf method that Jason mentioned it did work.  I was looking at the ruler wrong.

R C-R, affinity shows inches on the designer side not the persona side.  Sorry, i got confused again, i am able to change the document settings in designer side just not persona side.

[R C-R]

24 minutes ago, deedubb said:

Sorry, i was wrong the pdf method that Jason mentioned it did work. 

Jason?

[deedubb]

My bad, I meant Brian.

[Oufti]

4 hours ago, R C-R said:

BTW, 828 x 2595 px at 300DPI should be 2.76 X 8.65 inches if I got that calculation right so I am curious about what size you get.

That's perfectly correct. In fact, it's important not to ignore that Affinity is wrong when talking about dpi. They should say "pixels per inch" i.e. ppi (not dots per inch). Hence the calculation is obvious. 

8 hours ago, deedubb said:

I have to use the shrink to fit option in the print settings just to get it to print on 1 page, otherwise the image doesn't fit on 1 page of 8.5x11 size paper.  Would it have something to do with the dpi?  The dpi is set at 300, cuz i thought when printing you should have the highest dpi.

If you set this 828 x 2595 pixels document at 300 "dpi" (in fact, pixels per inch), when printed it will be 8.65 inches high (i.e. 2595 pixels ÷ 300 pixels per inch) — at least if you print at 100%, without any shrink or adaptation.  

Pixels (picture elements) are just abstract elements — only characterized by their location and color values, with no "size". Their physical size is given by the resolution you give them, e. g. 300 pixels or "dots" per inch (300 "dpi"). And if the app you use to print gives another resolution (for example 72 or 96 ppi), the size will be different (in this example, 36 or 27 in. high).