Reproducible exercise
Exercise: measure actual print scaling with a 100 mm ruler
Open the calibration PDF directly in a PDF reader, not in the cropping tool. Its 100 mm line distinguishes screen zoom from the size actually printed on paper.
Fictional teaching files. No customer data, valid postage or carrier certification. Do not use them for a shipment. Downloads do not send any of your documents.
- Select A4, one page per sheet and 100% or Actual size. Disable booklet, poster and multiple-pages-per-sheet modes.
- Print the calibration page on plain paper. Measure between the 0 and 100 marks with a ruler, not between the paper edges.
- A 95 mm result represents an effective 95% scale. Check the PDF reader and print driver before changing the document to compensate.
- Open the A4 reference: four items are already on its first page and one on its second. Keep one PDF page per physical sheet.
| Symptom | What to check | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| The line is shorter than 100 mm | The reader or driver is shrinking the page | Compare Actual size and Fit, then print another test |
| Several page thumbnails appear | Multiple pages per sheet is enabled | Choose one page per sheet; the labels are already composed |
| An outer edge is clipped | Wrong paper format or a non-printable margin | Check A4; use Fit only when needed, then measure again |
Record the reader, printer, scaling setting and measured length. The ruler checks geometry, not ink quality or carrier acceptance. The reference is a separately generated illustration, not a certified Label2A4 export.
Exercise added : . Physical printing and carrier scanning are not validated by these examples.
1. Understand the exported PDF
The generated file contains 210 × 297 mm pages divided into four positions. Each label has already been rotated and fitted into its position. The browser or PDF reader therefore receives a final document, not four pages that still need arranging.
A common mistake is selecting four pages per sheet in the print dialog. The driver then places four complete A4 pages on one physical sheet, shrinking every label a second time. Keep one PDF page per physical sheet.
2. Use a reliable baseline
Choose A4 paper, portrait orientation and one page per sheet. Start with Actual size, 100% scale or the equivalent label. Disable booklet, poster, brochure and multiple-page modes.
Inspect the system preview. You should see one A4 page containing four areas. If the outer border is clipped, the printer may impose a non-printable margin. Switch to Fit to printable area and validate a test sheet.
- Paper: A4 (210 × 297 mm)
- Orientation: portrait
- Pages per sheet: 1
- Initial scale: 100% / Actual size
- Two-sided printing: off for sheets that will be cut
3. Actual size versus Fit
Actual size respects the PDF dimensions and is the best starting point for preserving bar width and text size. Fit changes the page to match the printable area reported by the driver. With A4 PDF on A4 paper this often means a small extra reduction.
That reduction is not automatically unsafe, but it should be checked. Use Fit only if an edge is genuinely lost or the driver refuses 100%. Do not combine Fit with a second custom percentage.
4. Quality, colour and paper
Black-and-white output is adequate for most carrier labels; contrast matters more than colour. Select normal or high quality because economy mode can produce broken bars. Let inkjet output dry before applying tape or inserting it into a pouch.
White office paper is suitable when home printing is permitted. A4 adhesive stock is convenient but must match the printer technology. Curled or glossy media can feed poorly or create reflections.
5. Browser or dedicated PDF reader
Browser print dialogs vary across Chrome, Edge, Firefox and operating-system drivers. Download the file and open it in a PDF reader when the print preview differs from the exported preview. This separates generation issues from printer settings.
For diagnosis, print the same first page from two applications with matching settings. If only one result is clipped, the PDF is sound and that application's setup is responsible. If both match, inspect the driver, paper setting, ink nozzles or toner.
6. A repeatable batch routine
Check the page count and label order, then print only page one. Compare margins, inspect one code and match names to parcels. Release the remaining pages only after this approval.
Repeat the test after changing printer, paper, carrier or crop profile. Drivers remember settings per device and may revert to Letter paper or draft quality after an update.