A large format paper handling assembly has an axially stationary platen which is rotatably mounted on pivotally mounted support arms. The platen is supported on spaced frame supported front guide rollers and rear feed rollers. The off axis rear feed rollers are adapted to be manually and/or automatically line indexed to frictionally feed paper between the rear feed rollers and the platen. Hold down rollers are mounted on a bail extending between spaced paper feed release levers which are pivotally mounted on the frame about the axis of the front guide rollers and are movable away from the platen against the bias of springs. The springs acting through the hold down rollers maintain the platen in frictional engagement with its supporting front guide rollers and rear feed rollers. The pivotal movement of the paper feed release lever withdraws the hold down rollers and also acts to pivot the platen support arms to move the platen away from the front guide rollers and the rear feed rollers. A paper roll of large format paper is peripherally supported on frame mounted rollers and is trained between the platen and the feed rollers and the platen and guide rollers.