How to Set Copies, Page Scale, and Paper Type While Printing PDFs via Command Line

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How to Set Copies, Page Scale, and Paper Type While Printing PDFs via Command Line

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Struggling with command line PDF printing? Here's how I simplified copies, scaling, and paper settings using VeryPDF PDFPrint.

Every time I had to print hundreds of PDFs, it felt like a tech nightmare

I manage weekly document batcheshundreds of invoices and contracts. Manually opening each PDF just to print them in a specific paper size with two copies and scaled to fit? That used to eat up half my day.

How to Set Copies, Page Scale, and Paper Type While Printing PDFs via Command Line

Even worse, we needed specific trays and custom paper sizes for certain jobs.

And guess what? Most "user-friendly" PDF tools aren't built for batch command-line printing with detailed control. You either settle for basic settings or wrestle with clunky scripts.

Until I found VeryPDF PDFPrint Command Line.

Why I chose VeryPDF PDFPrint Command Line

I discovered it through a forum thread where someone casually mentioned it as their go-to for hands-free PDF printing.

I was skeptical at firsthow different could it really be?

Turns out, VeryPDF PDFPrint is built specifically for people like me:

  • IT admins running automated print jobs

  • Developers integrating PDF printing into custom workflows

  • Offices that need high-volume printing without touching a mouse

  • Print shops needing full control over scaling, tray selection, and paper types

The core features I actually use

Here's what makes it a game-changer. Not just in theorythis is how I use it every week.

1. Set multiple copies effortlessly

Before: I had to loop print commands to get 23 copies. Messy and unreliable.

Now:

I just add this to my script:
-copies 3 -setcopyto

That's it. It sends the correct instruction to the printer's driver, not the OS, so it's clean and fast.

2. Scale pages to fit without distortion

Some of our PDFs are formatted weirdlylegal size, custom marginsyou name it.

VeryPDF lets me scale both X and Y axes to fit printer paper:
-scalex -1 -scaley -1

That command ensures the content shrinks or expands to fit the paper proportionallyno weird stretching, no cut-off edges.

You can also go wild with it:

  • 0 = fit width/height individually

  • 100 = no scaling

  • -1 = scale with proportion

Perfect for documents coming from different sources.

3. Control paper type like a boss

Different trays, different papers. We use coloured sheets for contracts and standard A4 for memos.

With VeryPDF, I can:

  • Pull tray info using -listbins

  • Specify which tray or paper using -papersource or -chgbin

  • Even pull paper size directly from PDF with -paper pdf

Here's what I typically run:

arduino
pdfprint.exe -printer "HP LaserJet 500" -copies 2 -paper pdf -scalex -1 -scaley -1 -papersource "Tray 2" invoice.pdf

No dialogs, no user prompts. Fully automated.

The part that really stood out

What blew me away was how much time I saved.

We used to assign a team member 34 hours a week just for printing. Now?

It's a batch script that finishes in minutes.

And when I hit a snag with a damaged PDF? I used the -preproc switch to clean it up before printing.

Even legacy printers work great thanks to the raster mode that renders PDFs to images first. I used -raster2 with -raster2width -1 -raster2height -1 and it printed like a charm.

If you print lots of PDFs, you need this tool

It solved:

  • Multiple copies without looping

  • Perfect page scaling for mixed layouts

  • Specific paper tray + paper size per job

  • Full automationno GUI needed

I'd highly recommend this to anyone who deals with batch PDF printing. Especially if you're sick of half-working scripts or tools that only handle the basics.

Start your free trial now and boost your productivity.

Custom Development Services by VeryPDF

Need more than just printing?

VeryPDF offers custom development services for enterprises and dev teams.

They build tools across:

  • Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android

  • C/C++, Python, .NET, JavaScript, Windows APIs

  • Virtual Printer Drivers (PDF, EMF, image output)

  • Document monitoring and print job capturing (PDF, PCL, Postscript)

  • OCR, layout analysis, table recognition, barcode generation

  • PDF security, digital signatures, DRM protection

Their tech supports dozens of formats including PDF, PRN, TIFF, XPS, and Office files.

Got a unique need? Reach out at VeryPDF Support Center

FAQ

How do I set the number of PDF copies to print?

Use -copies <number> along with -setcopyto to send the copy count directly to the printer.

Can I scale pages to fit the printer paper size?

Yes. Use -scalex and -scaley. Setting both to -1 keeps the aspect ratio and fits the content perfectly.

How do I choose a specific printer tray or bin?

Run -listbins to view available trays, then use -papersource "<tray name>" or -chgbin <number>.

Does it work with damaged or older PDFs?

Absolutely. Use the -preproc option to preprocess PDFs before printing. It solves most issues instantly.

Can I run this tool on a server without GUI access?

Yes, it's fully command-line based. Ideal for headless servers and automated environments.

Tags or Keywords

  • print PDF command line

  • set PDF copies command line

  • scale PDF to fit printer

  • select printer tray PDF

  • batch print PDF without viewer

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