File prep & specs
Everything you need to send a file that prints right the first time. Two minutes here saves a reprint later.
The one rule: your PDF's page size must equal the sheet size you order, exported at 1:1 with "fit to page" off. Everything else is detail.
Accepted files
| Item | Spec |
|---|---|
| Format | PDF only. One PDF per sheet size. Multi-page PDFs welcome (one plan set = one file). |
| Max file size | 50 MB per file via the uploader. Larger? Email a WeTransfer / Dropbox link to info@ecblueprints.com with your order number. |
| Not accepted for production | Native DWG, RVT, PLN, SKP, or image files. Export to PDF first. (PNG/JPG can be printed on request but quality on large format is limited.) |
| Resolution | Vector PDFs from CAD print sharpest. If your PDF is rasterized, export at 300 dpi minimum. |
| Color | For color jobs, export in sRGB (not CMYK / Adobe RGB). For B&W, color mode doesn't matter — we plot grayscale. |
| Fonts | Embed all fonts (or subset-embed). Unembedded fonts get substituted and title blocks shift. |
| Layers / transparency | Flatten on export. Transparency effects can render unpredictably across RIPs. |
| Orientation | Landscape or portrait both fine — we print the page as exported. Don't rotate pages inside the PDF after export. |
Sheet sizes we print
| Name | Size (in) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Letter | 8.5 × 11 | Spec books, submittals, cover letters |
| Ledger / ANSI B | 11 × 17 | Half-size sets, details, spec book pages |
| ARCH C | 18 × 24 | Residential permit sets, small site plans |
| ARCH D | 24 × 36 | Most common. Architectural plan sets, permit + bid sets |
| 30 × 42 (ENG) | 30 × 42 | Civil / engineering sheets, site plans at engineering scales |
| ARCH E | 36 × 48 | Full-size architectural, large commercial, presentation boards |
Common mix-up: ANSI D is 22 × 34 and ARCH D is 24 × 36. Both have a "D." If your export dialog defaults to ANSI D, your ARCH D order will print with a 1-inch margin of white and off-scale drawings. Pick ARCH D explicitly.
Export settings by software
AutoCAD / AutoCAD LT
- Plot (Ctrl+P) → Printer/plotter: DWG To PDF.pc3.
- Paper size: pick the exact sheet — ARCH D (24.00 × 36.00 Inches), not ANSI D.
- Plot area: Layout (or Window to your title block).
- Plot scale: uncheck "Fit to paper", set 1:1. Your viewports carry the drawing scale.
- Plot offset: 0, 0. Center the plot: off (unless your layout is already centered).
- Plot style: monochrome.ctb for B&W sets.
- PDF options → Vector quality 2400 dpi, Raster 400 dpi, "Include layer information" off, "Capture fonts" on.
- Publish multiple sheets: use Publish → "Multi-sheet file" → one PDF per set.
Revit
- File → Print (or Export → PDF in 2022+).
- Printer: Adobe PDF / Microsoft Print to PDF, or the built-in PDF exporter.
- Print range: Selected views/sheets → pick your sheets → combine into one file.
- Settings → Paper size: the exact sheet (ARCH D 24 × 36). Orientation: match the sheet.
- Zoom: 100% size (not "Fit to page"). Paper placement: Center or offset 0.
- Hidden line views: Vector processing. Raster quality: High.
- Appearance: Colors → Black lines for B&W sets.
ArchiCAD
- Open the Layout Book → select layouts → Publish (or File → Save As → PDF for a single layout).
- Publisher set format: PDF. Page size: Use layout size (do not scale).
- Options: "Convert to PDF" with vector output; embed fonts; flatten hatches if rendering issues.
- Merge into one PDF for a full set.
Bluebeam Revu (re-exporting or combining)
- File → Combine to merge sheets. Keep page sizes consistent within one file.
- Flatten markups you want printed (Document → Flatten). Unflattened markups may not print.
- Check Document → Properties → page size on a few pages. Bluebeam can silently carry an ANSI size from a scanned original.
- Don't use "Reduce File Size" with image downsampling below 300 dpi on rasterized sheets.
SketchUp LayOut / Vectorworks / Chief Architect / others
Same principles: page size = sheet size, scale 1:1, fonts embedded, layers flattened, PDF output. If you're unsure, email a sample sheet to info@ecblueprints.com and we'll check it — no charge.
Pre-upload checklist (30 seconds)
- Open the PDF → Document Properties → Page Size matches the sheet you're ordering
- Page count in the PDF = the sheet count you enter on the order
- Scale bar or a known dimension measures correctly on screen at 100% zoom
- Title block text renders (fonts embedded)
- For mixed sizes: separate PDF per size, uploaded as separate items
- Filename tells us what it is:
ProjectName_Permit-Set_ARCH-D.pdf
Finishing specs
| Option | What you get |
|---|---|
| Stapled | One staple, top-left, per set. Standard for permit and bid sets. |
| Accordion fold to 8.5 × 11 | Each sheet folded to letter size with the title block showing. Fits binders and tubes. Common for field sets and submissions. |
| 3-hole punch | Punched on the left edge (letter/ledger) for binders. |
| Coil bound | Plastic coil, clear front cover, black back. Letter/ledger spec books. |
| Rolled (default for large format) | Sets shipped flat-rolled in a sturdy tube unless you choose fold. |
What we do — and don't — check
We flag obvious problems before printing (page size doesn't match the sheet ordered, blank pages, sheet count mismatch) and email you. We do not edit files, fix scale, adjust title blocks, add stamps, or redact — we print what you send. That's what keeps turnaround at same-day.