Diagnosis
The Canon PIXMA TR8620a is physically capable of printing legal-size documents (8.5" x 14"), but it cannot do so using the main front cassette. The front cassette is designed specifically for Letter or A4 sizes and lacks the physical depth to accommodate a 14-inch sheet without jamming or causing a "Paper Size Mismatch" error. This is why many users assume the printer is limited to standard sizes. To confirm your printer is ready, you must use the Rear Tray (the manual feed slot at the top back). The root cause of most "cannot print legal" issues is a disconnect between the physical paper loaded in the rear tray and the software settings in the Canon print driver. If the driver is set to "Letter" while legal paper is loaded, the printer will either stop mid-page or trigger an error code because the sensor detects the paper is longer than the expected page length.
How to Fix It
- Physical Loading: Open the rear paper support and slide the paper guides to the 8.5" width. Insert your legal-size (8.5" x 14") paper into the rear tray. Ensure the paper is pushed firmly against the guides but not forced, as over-tightening can cause the paper to buckle and jam.
- Printer Panel Setup: Once the paper is loaded, the printer's LCD screen will prompt you to register the paper information. Select "Change" and navigate to "Paper Size." Scroll through the list and select "Legal 8.5" x 14"". Confirm the "Media Type" (e.g., Plain Paper) and press OK.
- Computer Driver Configuration: Open the document you wish to print on your PC or Mac. Go to File > Print. Click on "Printer Properties" or "Preferences."
- Page Setup: In the "Quick Setup" or "Main" tab, locate the "Page Setup" section. Change the "Page Size" dropdown menu from "Letter" to "Legal." This is the critical step; if the software is not set to Legal, the printer will cut off the bottom 2 inches of your contract.
- Final Print: Ensure the "Paper Source" is set to "Rear Tray" instead of "Cassette." Click OK and then Print.
If That Didn't Work
- Clear the Paper Mismatch Error: If the printer displays a "Paper size mismatch" error, press the "Stop" button on the printer console to clear the current job. Power cycle the machine by unplugging the power cord for 30 seconds. This resets the internal paper sensors and allows you to re-register the legal size from scratch.
- Update the Canon Driver: If "Legal" does not appear in your software dropdown menu, you are likely using a generic Windows Class Driver. Download the full "TR series" driver package from Canon's support site. The generic drivers often limit paper size options to standard A4/Letter.
- Check for "Fit to Page" Settings: If the contracts are printing but the text is shrunk or shifted, look at the "Scaling" options in your print dialog. Ensure "Scale to Fit" is unchecked and "Actual Size" (100%) is selected, otherwise, the printer may try to squeeze a legal document onto a letter-sized layout.
- Inspect the Rear Tray Guides: If the paper is skewing (printing diagonally), check for small debris or dust in the rear tray guides. Use a can of compressed air to clear the feed rollers to ensure the legal sheet is pulled in perfectly straight.
Heads Up
- Avoid Mixing Trays: Do not load legal paper in the rear tray while keeping letter paper in the front cassette unless you explicitly specify the "Rear Tray" as the source in your print settings, or the printer may pull from the wrong source.
- Ink Consumption: Legal documents have more surface area; if you are printing heavy contracts with a lot of bold text, monitor your PGI-280 black ink levels to avoid mid-document streaks.
- Paper Weight: Use standard 20lb or 24lb bond paper for legal documents. Extremely heavy cardstock in the rear tray can occasionally cause "Paper Feed" errors when printing the longer 14-inch length.
- Dry Time: If using high-quality inkjet paper for contracts, allow the bottom of the legal sheet to dry for a few seconds before stacking, as the larger surface area can lead to smudging on the trailing edge.