Any way I can get it to recognize the larger size.
If you select 8.5 x 11 size paper in the driver, Qimage will report (above the upper right side preview panel) the printable area that your printer allows under normal conditions.
For example, my Epson R 1800 says that the printable area is 8.26 inches by 10.776.
What is the actual reading above the preview panel ? Make sure you selected 8.5 x 11 in the driver.
Fred