Three common mistakes
Most disappointing prints aren't the printer's fault. Our pages are drawn for print, but the printer settings have to match. These three cause most problems:
- Paper that's too thin. Markers bleed through and ruin the page underneath.
- "Fit to page" left on. It shrinks the design, changes its proportions and can cut off the border.
- Draft quality. Lines come out faint, so small areas are hard to color.
Choosing paper
Pick paper to match what you'll color with. Heavier paper handles wetter media.
| Paper | Weight | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard copy paper | 75 gsm | Crayons, gel pens, light pencil work, kids' practice pages. Cheapest option. |
| 80 lb drawing paper | 130 gsm | Colored pencils (Prismacolor, Polychromos and similar). The light tooth holds pigment, so layers and blends stay smooth. |
| 110 lb cardstock | 199 gsm | Alcohol markers and brush pens (Copic, Ohuhu and similar). Thick enough that ink won't bleed through. |
Printer settings
These four settings decide most of your print quality. Change them in the print dialog before you press Print.
| Setting | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Print quality | Best | Gives crisp, dark lines. |
| Color mode | Grayscale | Saves colored ink and prints darker lines. |
| Scale | 100% | Keeps the page at its original size. Turn off "Fit to page". |
| Paper size | Letter or A4 | Match the paper in your tray. |
Tip: save these settings as a "Coloring pages" preset in your print dialog. Next time it's one click.
Step by step
- Do a test print. Print one page on plain paper in draft mode and check alignment, margins and size. (About a minute.)
- Load your good paper. Feed it one sheet at a time and adjust the tray guides so it doesn't go in crooked.
- Apply the settings. Use the table above, or load your saved preset.
- Let it dry. Give the ink 5–10 minutes before coloring so the lines don't smudge.
- Store it flat. Keep printed pages in a folder or binder, away from heat and damp, until you're ready to color.
Troubleshooting
Ink bleeds through the paper
- Switch to heavier paper (80 lb or more).
- Lower the ink density in your printer settings.
- Put a piece of cardboard behind the page while you color.
Lines are too faint
- Set print quality to Best or High.
- Check your ink or toner level.
- Run your printer's head-cleaning routine if it has one.
The design is cut off
- Turn off "Fit to page".
- Set scale to exactly 100%.
- Make sure the paper size in the dialog matches the paper in the tray.
Paper jams
- Fan the stack before loading it.
- Don't overfill the tray.
- Use the manual feed slot for cardstock.
Still having trouble? The help center covers more questions, or contact us.
Ready to print?
Pick a page, then read up on layering and blending before you start.