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Scribus => Layout Issues => Topic started by: mwatkins on December 06, 2016, 03:38:01 PM

Title: margin anomaly
Post by: mwatkins on December 06, 2016, 03:38:01 PM
(also posted in PDF generation forum, I'm not sure which is most appropriate)
(ale: i've removed the other post: the section is not so important)

I created a document in Scribus and exported it as a PDF which *definitely* has equal outer margins on its left- and right-hand pages (I've triple checked this). However,  having ordered a couple of printed draft copies from Lulu.com on separate occasions (I've generally been happy with them in the past), they both feature a margin-related anomaly - I'm assuming this isn't a printing error, as the problem is exactly the same in both copies.

The problem is this: on alternating spreads, the margin is either too-small-on-the-left-hand-page-and-too-big-on-the-right-hand-page, or the other way around. So it's like the entire content of each spread has been shifted about 5 or 6mm to the left or right, in alternation.

Does anyone have any idea what caused this, or what I can do to fix it? Is it something to do with PDF settings, or something at the Lulu end?

Thanks!
MW
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Title: Re: margin anomaly
Post by: utnik on December 06, 2016, 05:09:37 PM
hi mwatkins

it's a bit hard to check out the issue in the dark...
could you provide .sla and .pdf testfiles?

utnik
Title: Re: margin anomaly
Post by: mwatkins on December 10, 2016, 12:54:03 PM
Thanks utnik,

I tried attaching the .sla and the .pdf that went to Lulu, but the file size is too big for this forum, so I've put them here for you:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ncnunx7mesllfet/scribus_forum_files.zip?dl=0
There's nothing anomalous visible in either, the problem was in the Lulu printout...but perhaps you can see where that problem originates. That would be greatly appreciated!

I don't know if you're familiar with Lulu, but before printing a test copy, they allow you to download/preview their "print ready PDF" that's auto-generated from the one you upload to them. That also doesn't show any anomaly with margins.
Title: Re: margin anomaly
Post by: utnik on December 11, 2016, 03:41:52 PM
hi matthew

there are a couple of strange things in your .sla file:
for your project i would recommend to setup a new file:
all this may be half a day's work for a scribus beginner – but you'll learn a lot and your document will improve as well...

utnik
Title: Re: margin anomaly
Post by: mwatkins on December 12, 2016, 01:11:51 PM
Amazing, thanks utnik! I really appreciate you taking the time to look at this and offer such detailed advice.
Yeah, I should probably have spent more time learning Scribus basics before diving in and creating this project (I migrated from InDesign, which I'd got used to after years of trial and error).