Enlarging paper plans.

[Clarence Martin]

Ok, here is the problem , and the question....


Got the plans to make a blanket chest out of a magazine. Plans say 1 SQUARE = 1 INCH.

When I measured the Squares, they are exactly 3/16 " square.

Is there a way to enlarge paper plans so that they are full size ?

One half of the front skirt is 22 squares long x 6 1/4 squares wide

Can these plans be enlarged if I can find a large paper printer?

[Dave Richards]

Yes. you can enlarge them to full size with a large printer. You might take them to your local office supply place and let them copy them full size.

Very likely the intent was for you to layout a full size grid on a piece of pattern stock and then draw in the curves free hand.

If you have an electronic copy of the plan, I could make a drawing and a PDF file of the apron that can be printed at full size on large paper. You'd just have to send the plan file to me.

[Wayne Lomman]

Go to a copier shop and get them enlarged. You don't need them scanned, just simple optical enlargement. You can even cut them up into A4 and enlarge piece by piece if necessary. Cheers

[Joe Pelonio]

If they are just line art, you can scan to Corel or other graphics software, clean up, resize, then use a vinyl plotter with pen instead of blade to print it out full size. It takes time, and skill, but worth it if you do it a lot. Otherwise, use Dave's suggestion, and take it in to be enlarged on a large format printer.

[Randy Heinemann]

Won't there be some distortion when enlarging the plans via copier?

[Dave Richards]

Won't there be some distortion when enlarging the plans via copier?

Could be. Depends on the copier. I frequently get "full size" copies of plans to work from. They are usually not exactly 1:1. Usually they are off different amounts in both directions. When i send a full size pattern as a PDF to my local office supply store, the dimensions come out right on in both directions.

Probably better to go through the PDF to printer step I suggested.

[Steve Peterson]

Won't there be some distortion when enlarging the plans via copier?

A good copy place should be able to enlarge them. It is nice that they have grid lines. Measure the final copy and adjust until it is the right size in both directions.

Steve

[Mark McClurg]

3/16" = 0.1875"
1/0.1875 = 5.33
You need to enlarge the current plan drawings by 533% so that the 3/16" squares will be enlarged to be 1" square.

[Alan Kalker]

I've used Bigprint software for the past several years. Sometimes I use it to scale up a small drawing I've made, sometimes it helps to get size from photos. It is easy to use and inexpensive. If there are inaccuracies in printing to scale in your printer, you can accomodate for that. I love it.
https://woodgears.ca/bigprint/

[John K Jordan]

I've used Bigprint software for the past several years....

I just saw this thread and I assume the job is already done. But for others with this need there is always the time honored method that only needs a large piece of paper, a ruler, and a pencil. If the original plan doesn't have a grid you have to draw one over it first. Draw a 1" grid on the paper. For each square, draw any lines in the corresponding square on the original, estimating the points where the lines touch the edge of the square. It usually doesn't have to be perfect. This will give a usable drawing at the desired scale. I've done this many times over the years.

Another old fashioned method is to use an opaque projector. These used to be common in classrooms. Set the projector on the original and project the image onto a large piece of paper positioned to make the scale right. Trace the lines on the large paper.

JKJ

[Lee Schierer]

A Pantograph (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantograph) makes accurate enlargements or reductions of line drawings.