Printing double-sided cards: prepare your test

Double-sided alignment is measured before cutting

Prepare the fronts and backs of your cards before cutting. A calibration sheet lets you check the file, scale and flip direction together. Double-sided alignment depends on your printer, tray, driver and paper: use the test to record your own result.

Prepare a calibration sheet

1. Download the file for your medium format: A4 calibration or US Letter calibration.
2. In your PDF reader, check the selected format and choose actual size or an explicit 100% scale when your file requires it.
3. Print one side, reload the sheet according to your printer diagram, then print the other side.
4. Measure the guides before cutting and record the reload direction, tray and scale used.

Adjust one setting at a time

If the guides do not line up, keep the sheet as a record and change only one setting for the next test: orientation, flip, tray or scale. This makes it possible to identify the setting that changed the result. Once the guides are satisfactory, use the same flow for your card file.