How to print a target at true size

A printed target is only useful for measuring if it comes out the size it was drawn. Our free targets are drawn to exact millimetres. A 10 mm grid square should measure 10 mm, and a 25 mm disc should measure 25 mm. If your printer quietly shrinks the page, every group you measure on it will look smaller than it really is.

Why printers shrink pages

Most printers can't print right to the edge of the paper. To stop anything being cut off, many print dialogues default to a setting called "Fit to page", "Fit", "Shrink oversized pages" or "Scale to fit paper". This scales the whole page down, usually by a few per cent. You won't notice it by eye, but it's enough to spoil a measurement.

The fix is simple: tell the printer to print at 100%, also called "Actual size".

The settings to look for

The names vary between programs and printers, so look for these words.

Windows (printing a PDF from a PDF reader)

• In the print window, find "Page Sizing & Handling" or "Scale".
• Choose Actual size (or set scale to 100%).
• Avoid "Fit", "Shrink oversized pages" and "Fit to printable area".

macOS (Preview or another PDF app)

• Open the print dialogue and click "Show Details" if the options are hidden.
• Set Scale to 100%.
• Untick "Scale to fit" if you see it.

Phone or tablet

• Phone print options are often limited and may scale the page without saying so. If you can, send the PDF to a computer, or check for a "Scale" or "Actual size" option in your printer's own app.
• Always check the scale bar afterwards (below).

Paper size Set the paper size to A4. If the printer thinks it has US Letter paper loaded, it may scale the page to suit.

Check the 50 mm scale bar

Every Ullr Precision target has a 50 mm scale-check bar near the bottom of the sheet. After printing:

1. Lay a steel rule along the bar.
2. It should measure 50 mm, end to end.
3. If it measures 48 or 49 mm, the page was scaled down. Go back to the print settings and look for "Fit" or "Scale" again.

A plastic school ruler is fine for a quick check. Use a steel rule or caliper if you want to be sure.

If the bar is still wrong at 100%, try printing from a different PDF program. Some printer drivers also have their own "fit" option in their advanced settings.

Paper choice

• Plain 80 gsm office paper is fine for most practice and is cheap to replace.
• Heavier paper or thin card (around 120 to 160 gsm) tears less, so holes stay cleaner and easier to measure. Check what weight your printer accepts first.
• A matt surface is easier to read under bright light than glossy paper.

Ink-saver and brand versions

Each design comes in two versions:

• Ink-saver: black lines on white. Uses the least ink and gives the sharpest contrast for seeing holes.
• Brand: our sage and cream colours. Nicer to pin up, but uses more ink.

Both are drawn at the same size, so measurements are the same on either.

Cutting to 14 cm and 17 cm holders

Some designs come in 14 cm and 17 cm card versions for common target holders. These print on A4 with corner cut marks.

1. Check the scale bar first. There's no point cutting a sheet that's printed at the wrong size.
2. Line a steel rule up between two cut marks and cut with a craft knife on a cutting mat, or use a paper trimmer.
3. The cut card should measure exactly 140 × 140 mm or 170 × 170 mm.

Quick checklist

• Paper size: A4.
• Scale: 100% / Actual size.
• "Fit to page": off.
• 50 mm bar measures 50 mm.
• Cut on the marks if you need a holder size.

Always use a safe backstop. Pellets can bounce back from hard surfaces.

Ullr Precision · Measured, not claimed.

Sources

• Apple Support, 'Print documents from your Mac' (Scale and paper handling options)
• ISO 216 defines A4 as 210 × 297 mm

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