Respondents can print surveys on different printers. PaperSurvey is designed to handle variations in print quality and formatting, so surveys printed across a range of devices will generally work well. However, some printers may cause issues that affect recognition accuracy, so it helps to be aware of the common pitfalls.
Common Printer-Related Issues
While most modern printers work well with PaperSurvey, you should be aware of these potential problems.
Content Cutoff
Economy or older printers sometimes crop the bottom portion of pages, especially when:
- Default margins are set too large
- Paper size detection is incorrect
- Print scaling is set to "Fit to page" instead of "Actual size"
Print Quality Variations
Different printers produce varying results in:
- Line thickness and clarity
- Contrast between text and background
- QR code sharpness
- Overall page alignment
Ensuring Consistent Results Across Printers
To maximize compatibility when respondents use various printers, follow these guidelines.
Design Considerations
- Add safety margins: By default, corner marks are located 1.5cm from page edges. You may change margins in survey settings.
- Use standard fonts: Stick to common fonts that render consistently.
Recommended Print Settings
Include these instructions with your survey distribution.
For respondents:
- Select "Actual size" or "100%" scaling (not "Fit to page")
- Use standard A4 paper settings
- Choose "Normal" or "High" quality (not "Draft")
- Disable any "Toner saver" or "Eco mode" options
Preventing Cutoff Issues
Adjust Margins in Survey Settings
The most effective way to prevent content cutoff is to adjust margins directly in PaperSurvey:
- Open your survey in the form builder
- Navigate to Survey Settings
- Find the Margin Settings section
- Adjust the following as needed:
- Top margin: Increase if headers or footers are cut off
- Left/Right margin: Adjust for hole punching or binding
- Preview your changes before finalizing
These margin adjustments ensure your content stays within the printable area regardless of printer variations. Properly configured margins will always resolve cutoff issues.