FDM Printers
Printing & Presentation Tips for Architecture Students in Lebanon
Prepare a coordinated presentation set with legible drawings, controlled files and finishing planned in advance.
Quick checklist before sending
- List all boards, plans and booklet files
- Test a representative detail at its actual size
- Check the final revision and finishing instructions
Correct dimensions, page order and the approved revision.
Source files, linked assets and instructions, with fonts only where available and permitted.
Printing the supplied design and editing the source files are different handoffs. Name the final revision clearly.
Design the set before exporting
List every deliverable: presentation boards, measured plans, a booklet, labels and model graphics. Record the final size and quantity for each. Use a consistent project title, sheet numbering and revision across the set. Decide what the viewer should understand first, then build a clear hierarchy of drawings and explanations.
Test at physical size
A plan that looks readable while zoomed in can become too faint or too small on the final board. Print a representative crop at its intended size and inspect labels, hatches, diagrams and photographic detail. Check that light grey content remains distinguishable from the paper.
Keep measured drawings measurable
Export plans that require a fixed scale onto their correct sheet size. State that the print must remain at actual size. If a presentation layout deliberately changes the scale of a drawing, update the scale label and graphic scale accordingly. Never leave a 1:100 label on geometry resized to fit a board.
Plan trimming, mounting and binding
Allow the margins required for the chosen finish. Text too close to a trimmed edge, punch line or bound spine can become awkward to read. A mounted board and a loose print are different handoffs. For a booklet, supply pages in reading order unless SHARK specifically asks for imposed printer spreads.
Inspect the exported PDF, not just the source
Check every page for missing images, overset or substituted text, unexpected boxes around effects and the correct orientation. The final PDF is the document that will be assessed for printing. Keep a separate editable master so a correction does not require rebuilding the presentation.
Make the order easy to follow
Send a short job sheet naming each file, finished dimensions, copies, paper preference, colour requirements and finishing. Specify the deadline and collection or delivery arrangement. Build in time for corrections and proofing instead of assuming every file can go directly to production.
Use a small printed test to assess readability and image quality. For important colours, ask for a sample on the intended material. A phone display is a useful communication tool, not a guaranteed print-colour reference.
What to send SHARK
Supply clearly named PDFs and the job sheet. Add editable packages only when changes are requested. When sending a revision, identify which earlier file it replaces and what changed.
Read engineering printing guidance and InDesign packaging instructions, or visit printing and copy services.
Technical references
Software interface wording may vary by version. Production settings must match the actual job.