Why is my photo printing at the wrong size?

By CraftCrop · Updated 4 November 2026

If a shape does not measure the size you entered, the printer dialog is usually the first place to check. Try these steps with one test sheet before printing a full order.

1. Turn off automatic scaling

Choose Actual size or 100%. Turn off Fit, Shrink oversized pages, Borderless expansion, or other automatic scaling options. The exact names depend on the printer and app.

2. Match the paper size and orientation

A 4 × 6 inch file needs 4 × 6 inch photo paper. An A4 sheet needs A4 paper. Check portrait or landscape and confirm the printer tray uses the same paper size.

3. Check printer margins

Many printers cannot print to the paper edge. CraftCrop shows a dotted safe area to help keep shapes away from the edges, but each printer has its own printable region. If the printer driver expands borderless prints, disable that option for an accurate test.

4. Measure the outline

Measure from the outside of the black cut line. A small ruler is more reliable than judging the image on screen. If the whole sheet is uniformly too small or large, review scaling. If only one shape differs, check its dimensions in the editor.

5. Keep resolution in perspective

Incorrect physical size and soft image quality are different problems. Printing at 100% addresses size. A higher-resolution original addresses detail. A 300 DPI export cannot add detail to a low-resolution source photo.