Printing Suggestions For Images

A complete printing guide would offer printing for all brands and models of printers, along with instructions for the many software programs utilized; this is not a practical consideration here, so in the creation of these images, it is assumed the end-user to have a good general knowledge of the printer and program to be utilized for the printing of these images. Therefore, these images are offered without technical support; the individual is entirely responsible for his own accuracy and attention to scale.

If one is anticipating making a guitar, then this indicates the maker has the confidence to tackle one problem at a time, apply his/her logic and resources to the each individual task to be done, as they come to it. Most any printer is up to the task of printing an adjusted image size, one will have to experiment with each image to get it to scale. A ruler is copied onto each image to allow one to determine when they have a printed image close enough with which to make patterns. Most any copy machine could be used to make any final adjustments, up or down, by using the percentage function. Make an extra copy to glue onto the pattern material, if desired. Alternatively, tracing paper is useful.

In testing, these images printed a TO-SCALE (well within 1 mm) using a HP PSC 750. Clicking on an image, and using MS Photo Editor (packaged with MS Office) to view the image, the following additional adjustments were necessary to get correct scale: Select from the menu: FILE, then PRINT...this will bring up the print adjustment screen. In the size box, it has to read "100%" in both the Width and Height boxes. If it is not already so, you WILL have to un-check the ALLOW DISTORTION and FIT TO PAGE options to keep the scale correct, in other words, to keep the program to resizing automatically to fit your page setup. For the Legal sized images, you will have to additionally go into properties and select Legal Size for the paper size, and insert legal sized paper into your printer. I suggest printing in draft or FAST mode, much faster, and less ink is required.

Most image viewing/printing programs have most of the different functions mentioned above, possibly under similar terminology. The key to making your own to-scale patterns is patience! Make notes for your settings as you go, to remember the settings for the next image, and don't forget to adjust to the correct size paper when needed, my most frequent mistake!.

Neil has put much work in producing these plans, and at his own expense, making them available to anyone who wishes them, requiring nothing in return except maybe copy and postage expenses…sometimes not even this.

Having drawn the plans, paid for professional copying of prints, and made a trip into the city to send them out to folks who have requested them, it is sad to say that a few have neglected even to thank him for his trouble.

If you find these images useful, drop him an email and thank him for his desire to make available free patterns for this wonderful historic instrument. It may even encourage him to make a few more historic instrument plans available, free to all, in the future.

Roy Barger