# Check label print scaling and size problems

https://printbench.smartfact.ai/label-print-scaling/

A label that is slightly smaller, stretched or clipped can waste a lot of trial and error. Compare two measured references with a known PDF before changing the next setting.

For teams diagnosing labels that print at the wrong size through a PDF viewer and printer driver.

## Measure width and height separately

PrintBench records horizontal and vertical measurements independently. This helps distinguish similar scaling on both axes from a difference in one direction. Neither pattern alone diagnoses a driver, feed mechanism or printer fault.

## How to use PrintBench

1. **Remove the obvious scaling variables.** Select the correct stock size in the app, viewer and driver. Request actual size or 100%, disable fit or shrink, check orientation and print one copy.
2. **Measure tick centre to tick centre.** Use the two references on the physical sheet and enter the measurements. The app compares with each fixture's realised dot-grid dimensions, not an assumed perfectly round length.
3. **Change one thing and repeat.** Record appearance and settings in the current check. Start another check after a change so the old evidence remains separate. Export a reviewed report while the session is open.

## The nominal 50 mm mark is snapped to printer dots

At 203 DPI, a 400-dot reference is approximately 50.049 mm. At 300 DPI, 591 dots are 50.038 mm. PrintBench uses these realised lengths. A very tight tolerance cannot improve the precision of the ruler or your measurement.

## Questions

### Will PrintBench calibrate the printer for me?

No. It documents measured outcomes. Any media-feed calibration, cleaning or driver change follows your manufacturer's instructions and remains a separate action.

### What if only one direction is wrong?

First recheck the tick-centre measurement and orientation. Then review the driver and manufacturer media guidance. A single observation is not enough to identify the cause.

### Can it measure FactoryCards bin cards?

Not with its current fixtures. PrintBench supports 100 × 150 mm and 4 × 6 inch tests; FactoryCards produces 100 × 50 mm cards. Match a test's dimensions to the intended stock.

## Current scope

Prepare fixed Code 128 and QR test PDFs for 100 × 150 mm or 4 × 6 inch stock, generated at 203 or 300 DPI. Print through your normal PDF viewer and driver, record observations and measurements, compare keyboard scans and download reviewed local reports.

This is a software-tested alpha; physical printer, driver and scanner combinations are not yet qualified. PrintBench does not connect directly to printers, inspect queues, calibrate hardware, grade barcodes, design custom labels or discover printer DPI. Its fixtures cannot check the size of FactoryCards' 100 × 50 mm cards.

## Privacy

Measurements, notes and scan values stay in browser memory. No account, uploads or tracking scripts are required. Test PDFs and preview assets load from this site. Downloaded reports are redacted by default; review before sharing. Reloading loses the session. Hosting may log ordinary requests.

[Open PrintBench](https://printbench.smartfact.ai/)