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How can I change PDF orientation when printing on Mac Ventura?

I would like to create a PDF in landscape format on my Mac with Ventura (I would also like to be able to scale it down). When I select Print and I change the settings to Landscape, it only does this for my paper printer. When I select 'save as PDF' there is no way of changing it from portrait to landscape or scaling it down to fit the content onto the default sheet size. Can anyone help? Thanks


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 13.6

Posted on Aug 23, 2024 3:07 AM

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7 replies

Aug 23, 2024 7:43 AM in response to sound_patrol

In the macOS Print panel (and I am referring to Apple's Preview), you select the paper size, then the orientation to Landscape. This will automatically select Auto Rotate in the Preview section and your former Portrait PDF pages will be rotated 90° to the right in Landscape mode.


If you do not want that rotation, but to retain Portrait orientation in Landscape then deselect Auto Rotate and then decide if you will select scale and a percentage, or Scale to Fit and either Print Entire Image, or Fill Entire Paper.


Once you have these first two paragraphs figured out, then you visit the PDF > Save as PDF and the output PDF file will appear in Landscape mode according to your first two paragraph choices.

Aug 26, 2024 9:02 AM in response to Old Toad

My question is about when I am trying to Print to PDF from a different App, not what to do with a PDF which already exists. I have a bookkeeping APP and want to print a report. I select Page Setup > Landscape, then Print which takes me to the Mac Print Dialogue where I can select which pages to print, what orientation, scaling etc etc. Then I click the PDF dropdown > Save as PDF and it ignores all my settings and prints as Portrait, 100% scaling, Default paper size.

Aug 26, 2024 10:43 AM in response to sound_patrol

sound_patrol wrote:

When I change these parameters in Mac's Preview Print panel, it only changes them for the selected printer at the top of the Print panel. When I then visit PDF drop down menu > Save as PDF, it ignores the rotation and scaling selections I made and saves as a Portrait, A4 size, 100% scale PDF.

I didn't change anything for my default printer and my test worked as I described on Sonoma 14.6.1. These are not blanket changes for multiple printers nor is this a permanent setting. It will need to be done each time you visit the print panel and seek this form of output. There may be something about your current print driver that is interfering with your goal.

Aug 27, 2024 3:23 AM in response to Old Toad

I know how to manipulate PDF files in Preview thanks. I am trying to create a PDF from another App and set parameters for the PDF that is generated. It is a bookkeeping App, I set up the page as Landscape, then click Control +P which brings up the Print dialogue where I can select a printer or PDF > Save as PDF. Whatever I set in the print options, the PDF comes out the same: Portrait, 100% scaling, etc. The reason for wanting to do this before a PDF is created, is that some of the text is cut off in Portrait.

How can I change PDF orientation when printing on Mac Ventura?

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