When printing, "fit to printable area" is the default scaling setting. However, most PDF documents have margins built-in and so do not need the extra margins added by this setting. "Fit to full page" should be the default.
Note: split from https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=406237
> most PDF documents have margins built-in You may be right, but is there a way of verifying or proving this? I think it depends quite heavily on what type of document one typically encounters. Also keep in mind that it's important for default options be as non-destructive as possible. When default "fit to printable area" and you use it on a document with built-in margins, the worst thing that happens is that the printed document's margins are too big. But if the default is "Fit to full page" and you don't remember to change it for a document without built-in margins, then the edges get cut off and the printout is ruined.
Okay, but I think sacrificing accuracy for the sake of a few people with unusual documents is not really reasonable. Someone who needs full-bleed printing will probably be going to a professional print shop anyway. Also, if you're a student, the extra margins could make it look like you're trying to make your paper longer.
Again I think it's important to avoid destructiveness in the default options. Rather than arguing over what a better default would be, perhaps we should explore alternatives that would bypass the issue entirely: - Make Okular smarter about choosing a default based on whether or not the document appears to already have built-in margins - Make the scaling combobox more visible and prominent so it's easier to notice and change - Make Okular remember the last scaling setting setting rather than always resetting to the default value - etc.
> Make Okular remember the last scaling setting setting rather than always resetting to the default value +1 for this approach. It also applies to a few other options in the print dialog, e.g., duplex printing.
(In reply to Oliver Sander from comment #5) > > Make Okular remember the last scaling setting setting rather than always resetting to the default value > > +1 for this approach. It also applies to a few other options in the print > dialog, e.g., duplex printing. If so, another question is whether to have that for the current session and document only. E.g. I don't like Evince's behaviour of preselecting all print options from the last printout, regardless of the document (so that e.g. if you decide to once print multiple pages per sheet, you'll have it next time as well if you open a completely different document). An alternative might be to add a setting for the default scaling option in Okular's settings.
Indeed, that's probably even better. (I have experienced that evince 'problem' as well.)
(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #4) > - Make the scaling combobox more visible and prominent so it's easier to > notice and change Additionally to that, could there be a graphic next to the combobox to explain the effect? I find “Fit to Printable Area” and “Fit to Full Page” ambiguous enough to do so.
(In reply to David Hurka from comment #8) > Additionally to that, could there be a graphic next to the combobox to > explain the effect? I find “Fit to Printable Area” and “Fit to Full Page” > ambiguous enough to do so. +100
i'm using okular 1.10, and it looks like not much has changed, so i would like to draw some attention on this issue again. my problem is that i often have to print letters for use with windowed envelopes. everytime i forget to adjust the default setting for each of these printing jobs, i end up with paper waste because okular downscaled the pages so that the address field doesn't fit the window. i wouldn't put too much effort into the debate over a best default, but instead just make these defaults *configurable*. personally, i don't have any use for the current default at all and must adjust settings all the time; maybe others have. please let them decide what they need per default.
I would like to underline m.eik michalke 2021-04-13 11:36:35 UTC 's comment. It is REALLY annoying not to be able to adjust the default settings, and sometimes I found it hard to get correct p[rint whatever. Also, why does the "do not scale" option always turn on the rasterization "option"? I use TeX to generate pdf pages and they always have correct margins already set, so okular print menu is not friendly. I use evince just to print, but prefer okular for edit/display purposes.
Can this be closed since https://invent.kde.org/graphics/okular/-/merge_requests/700 Has been merged and seems to provide the feature requested here?
Well, the default still isn't "Fit to full page", but now you can change the default yourself to be whatever you want it to be. Given that "Fit to full page" can be dangerous can cause content to be cut off when using a printer with large built-in margins, I think "Fit to printable area" is a sensible default. But if your printer doesn't have that problem, you can change it yourself to "Fit to full page". I'll change the title to reflect what actually ended up being changed and then mark this as resolved.