BricsCAD Preview Is Correct but Printed Output Is Wrong
If BricsCAD Preview is correct but the final print is wrong, the most useful next step is to create a PDF baseline and determine whether the difference begins in file output, the operating-system driver or the physical device.
Beginner takeaway: A correct Preview means you should stop changing model geometry until the downstream output path has been tested.
What you need to understand first
Preview is not the entire printing system. A system driver, viewer, paper source, printable area or physical plotter can still alter the result.
- BricsCAD Preview shows the CAD-side plot configuration before final device output.
- PDF can serve as an intermediate reference file.
- On macOS/Linux, PDF is already the documented path to physical printing.
Related guides: Plot Preview Is Correct but Printed Output Is Wrong, AutoCAD PDF Is Correct but Physical Print Is Wrong, and How to Print BricsCAD Drawings to PDF.
Step-by-step workflow
Step 1 — Record the symptom
Where: Preview and hardcopy
Do this: Note scale, clipping, color, orientation or missing content.
Check: You know exactly what differs.
Step 2 — Create PDF
Where: Print As PDF
Do this: Use the same Layout and Page Setup logic.
Check: A device-independent comparison exists.
Step 3 — Verify PDF
Where: PDF viewer
Do this: Check page size, content and measurement.
Check: You know whether BricsCAD file output is correct.
Step 4 — Print PDF at 100%
Where: Operating-system print dialog
Do this: Use intended paper and disable unwanted scaling.
Check: Physical path is tested independently.
Step 5 — Fix the first bad stage
Where: Driver/device or BricsCAD setup
Do this: Change only the layer where the result first becomes wrong.
Check: Retest confirms the cause.
What usually goes wrong
| What you see | Likely layer | First check |
|---|---|---|
| PDF also wrong | BricsCAD Page Setup/output | Return to CAD setup. |
| PDF right, hardcopy scaled | Viewer/driver | Use Actual Size/100%. |
| PDF right, border clipped | Hardware printable area | Check physical margins. |
| Only one workstation wrong | Driver/queue | Compare environment. |
Practical example
Preview shows a complete ARCH D border. The direct plot cuts the bottom edge, but the BricsCAD PDF contains the whole border. Print that PDF at 100%; if the paper still clips, the physical device’s printable area is the issue—not the viewport.
What not to do
- Do not move the title block after a correct PDF proves the CAD sheet.
- Do not change CTB when the only difference is physical paper scaling.
- Do not troubleshoot several layers at once.
Good office standard
Use Preview → PDF → physical paper as the default three-stage diagnostic for every output mismatch.
Quick verification before you move on
- Use one representative drawing or sheet, not a production batch.
- Verify page size, orientation and a known dimension.
- Compare Preview/PDF with the physical output when a printer is involved.
- Save the setting or set only after the result is repeatable.
Official references
Frequently asked questions
Does a correct Preview prove the printer is correct?
No. The driver, media and device act after Preview.
Why create a PDF?
It gives you a stable checkpoint between the CAD application and physical printer.
What if the PDF is also wrong?
Return to BricsCAD Page Setup, plot styles, scale and content before troubleshooting hardware.
Explore more in BricsCAD Printing & Plotting Guide.