Printing accuracy

The tools on this site generate files at true 1 : 1 scale. The accuracy of the printed output, however, depends on factors outside the site’s control. This page describes what can go wrong and how to keep the print true to size.

Where size errors come from

• Browser scaling. Most browsers default to “Fit to page” or “Shrink to fit” in the print dialog. This silently scales every line by a small percentage so the entire page fits the printable area. A ruler printed this way will be wrong by exactly that percentage.
• Printer margins. Most home printers reserve a non-printable strip of 3–5 mm around the edge. Some drivers compensate for this by scaling the document down rather than allowing content to be clipped.
• PDF reader scaling. If you save an SVG as PDF and print from a PDF reader, the reader’s own scaling setting overrides anything the file itself specifies. Check that it is set to “Actual size” or “100%”.
• Paper handling. Even at 100% scaling, paper that curls, slips on the rollers or absorbs ink unevenly can cause sub-millimetre distortions, especially near the edges of the sheet.

How to print at true scale

1. Open the downloaded SVG in your browser or vector editor.
2. In the print dialog, set Scale to “100%” or “Actual size”.
3. Set Margins to “None” or “Minimum”.
4. Disable any “Fit to printable area” or similar option.
5. Print one test page on plain paper.
6. Verify with a real ruler. Hold a known reference (a credit card, a calibrated ruler) against the printed output and check that the dimensions line up before committing to a full run.

When to trust a printed ruler

A well-calibrated home printer produces rulers and templates accurate to within a fraction of a millimetre — fine for everyday measurement, hobby work and short print runs. For high-precision applications such as engineering, machining or scientific measurement, always use a manufactured reference rather than a printed one.

No guarantee

PrintReadyKit provides templates and tools in good faith but cannot guarantee that any specific printed output is dimensionally exact. If a precise size is critical, verify it against a trusted physical reference before using the print.