PrintPosterOnSeparateSheets

The best way to print a large poster is on a poster printer. For various reasons (cost, convenience, etc.) you may want to print out a poster on Letter/A4 size sheets.

= On Linux/Unix (Mac?) =

The *poster* program available on unix/linux based operating systems is really great for printing large posters on separate sheets. It provides alignment marks for assembling the poster and will properly scale your poster to fit the specified space (or you can scale and it will print out the right number of sheets).

1. Install necessary programs
Access/install a linux based operating system and install poster (and gv if you want to view the .ps files directly). In Ubuntu:

2. Output your poster in .ps format
If it is in .svg format (recommended), use inkscape (command line) to convert it:

If it is in pdf, use pdf2ps:

3. Convert it to multiple pages
This command converts to 2x2 grid, but you can use other sizes, of course:

The -p option to grid thinks about the specified layout in terms of portrait oriented paper. Your document is automatically oriented for best fit.

5. Print it
Can use the evince or acroread command to open and then print, but one can always print with lp:

6. Assemble the poster
This is taken directly from the poster man page (man poster):


 * 1) Arrange the sheets in the proper order on a large table or on the floor.
 * 2) Remove  from  all  sheets,  except from those in the leftmost column or bottom row, their left and bottom cutmargin.
 * 3) In left-to-right and bottom-to-top order, glue the right (and top) cutmargin and stick the right (and upper) neighbouring page on top of that.
 * 4) Turn  the glued-together poster face bottom, and put adhesive tape on the sheet edges (on the backside of the poster) for more strength.
 * 5) Remove the remaining cutmargin around the poster.

Cheap and beautiful!