PDF Users - how do you print?

[jdrakeh]

When I do print PDFs, I take them down to a local pritn shop and have them print the covers in color, single-sided, on glossy paper stock and the interior pages in black and white (usually), double-sided. I have them finish off a book with a plastic spiral binding and myler cover protectors.

This whole process typically costs me $10 to $20 less than buying a printed book (and as a bonus spiral bound stuff will lay flat). I've found that anything 280 pages or less in length is cheaper for me to obtain this way. Anything larger than 280 pages (or that requires full color printing), and the value disappears.

 

[Kesh]

Generally don't print anything but character sheets. On occasion I'll print a short document single sided and either a) not bind it or b) use a few staples to bind. On more rare occasions I'll print a full document double-sided and use a binding machine to properly bind it. Usually that's short game systems for a one-shot I'm going to toss out for friends, like There Is No Spoon.

I've only used printing services for things that need to go onto cardstock, as they tend to shy away from printing copyrighted material.

 

[dmccoy1693]

I've been a regular PDF customer for over 3 years now. I have 3 different methods. In order of preference:

1) If the book is between 32-180 pages and friendly with Staples printing software*, then I take it to Staples, have them print it out front and back sided on the page and have it spiral bound, clear plastic cover and vinal back cover. I LOVE SPIRAL BINDING. And this method is very cost effective.

2) If its shorter then 32, larger then Staples max spiral binding page count, or not Staples printer friendly but is home printer ok (no wierd paper backgrounds that take up tons on ink/toner), then I'll print out individual pages as needed.

3) Those that don't fit in the above end up just staying PDFs and generally get used the least.

*Perfect examples of a PDF that is not friendly with Staples software is Necromancer Games' Book of Eldritch Sorcery and Paizo's Pathfinder Chronicles Gazetter. The last page of both are not 8-1/2" x 11". Staples shrinks the page down to 8-1/2" x 11" and shrinks down every page to match. In Necromancer's case, the last page was landscape. Staples software rotated it to be portrit. It also rotated every other page in the document. I was unable to find any way around this and still never printed out the whole of the book. I was less concerned about printing out Paizo's books since I subscribe and get the PDF and the printed book.

 

[mcrow]

I rarely print PDFs but when I do print them it's only selected pages. Pages like stat blocks or tables that I would use at the table.

 

[Plane Sailing]

If I print them I use "booklet" printing, so that I get 4 pages per sheet of A4 (double sided).

Convenient for printing and for storage.

Cheers

 

[Psion]

2 sides.

I use pressboard binders. Like these. I have some pretty nice 3-ring binders, but they are too bulky and tend to mangle the pages when transported.

 

[Nifft]

I try to not print.

If I run out of space on the one monitor, I plug in another. I'd rather buy two more screens than print stuff out.

Cheers, -- N

 

[HellHound]

I print double-sided and put them in a report binder (not hole-punched).

 

[Scribble]

I usually only copy/past into my DM notes and then print that. Almot never print out full PDFs.

I have been printing a number of the dragon articles to read on the train, usually one sided, and stapled. I don't use them in this fashion at my table though.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I normally print my PDF's one sided. I don't know why really. I probably should be more environmentally friendly and print double sided. In fact, I think I'll do that from now on.

Most of my PDF's don't get printed completely. I might print out certain pages as I need them (Tome of Horrors is the perfect example of this, just print out the monsters you need). Otherwise I will just read them off the screen.

Adventures are different. I normally print them out completely. I don't have a laptop so running them off the screen isn't an option for me. I have printed some other books out completely besides adventures but it has been mostly adventures.

When I print them out I use plastic spiral comb binding to bind them together. I normally put a plastic cover on the front and back as well.

Olaf the Stout