At a glance
- Check both faces’ scale before alignment.
- A marked corner helps establish turning orientation.
- A constant offset and variable slippage need different corrections.
Rule out different scale
Measure a front and back card printed on plain paper. If dimensions differ, check document size, driver size and fitting options. An offset moves an image; it does not fix an enlarged back.
Keep the same PDF reader, path and margins for both faces. Borderless mode can add enlargement: use settings whose 100% result you have measured.
Identify turning orientation
Mark a corner and arrow on a plain sheet before the first pass. Record which face and edge are printed, then repeat the turn. This separates a 180-degree rotation, reversed columns and a simple shift.
Use asymmetric test marks rather than a perfectly symmetrical back. The calibration sheets offered in the existing double-sided guide help record the error; do not cut before measuring it.
Measure a constant or variable shift
Compare several marks at the top and bottom of the sheet. If the same horizontal and vertical shift repeats, a measured position correction may help. Change one axis at a time and rerun the same control sheet.
If the error varies across the sheet or between passes, check guides, flatness, drying and feeding conditions. A fixed correction cannot remove rotation or random slippage. Bleed and a back less sensitive to borders can tolerate a small shift without correcting it.
Questions about this guide
Should I shift every card by eye?
Start by measuring the error at several marks. Correct a repeatable translation using the intended settings, then rerun the same control sheet.
Does bleed align both faces?
No. It makes a small cutting-area shift less visible. It corrects neither scale, rotation nor sheet slippage.
Sources
Manufacturer limits apply to the media and feed paths stated in each document. A documentary match is not a physical test of our cardstock.
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