How to Print Journal Pages at 100% Actual Size

Pepys calculates each PNG's pixel dimensions from your selected paper size at 300 PPI. Use the same paper in your printer and print at 100% / actual size to preserve those physical dimensions.

Four checks for true-size printing

  1. 1

    Export with the intended physical preset

    Export the page or sticker sheet using the same physical paper preset you plan to load into the printer.

  2. 2

    Choose 100% or Actual size

    Set print scale to 100% or Actual size; Fit to page, Shrink, and Fill change the physical dimensions.

  3. 3

    Use bordered printing for accurate edges

    Disable borderless mode when exact dimensions matter because printer overscan enlarges content beyond the paper edge.

  4. 4

    Finish the correct output type

    Keep full pages intact, trim planner or scrapbook pages as needed, and cut sticker-sheet pieces along their guides.

Print at actual size

  1. Open the exported PNG in your printer app or system photo viewer.
  2. Use the image at its original pixel size. Never use 'Fit to page' or 'Shrink to fit'.
  3. Choose bordered printing (with margins). Borderless mode can silently scale the image.
  4. Choose the same paper size in your printer settings as the paper size you selected in Pepys.

How Pepys calculates the image size

  1. Pepys PNGs are rendered from the selected paper size at 300 PPI.
  2. Pixel dimensions are calculated as paper length in inches × 300 PPI.
  3. If a printer app shows a size or scaling option, keep it at original size / 100%.
  4. If printed dimensions are off, the printer app is still scaling the image.

About borderless printing

Borderless mode usually enlarges the page slightly (overscan) so ink reaches the paper edge. That changes the physical dimensions. Use bordered printing when exact size matters.

Sticker-sheet exports

  1. Split export produces a base-page PNG and sticker-sheet PNGs sized for the paper you selected.
  2. Sticker sheets keep sticker sizes unchanged and only arrange them on the selected paper.
  3. Stickers keep a 3mm safe margin from the paper edge and 3mm spacing between each other.
  4. Print the sticker sheet on sticker paper, then cut along the gray dashed lines.
  5. Cut lines follow the white die-cut border of each sticker — scissors or a craft knife both work.
A true-size journal insert being trimmed along its cut line

Tips

  1. Print the base page on your journal paper first, then stick the cut stickers on top.
  2. Text placed above stickers in the editor will be covered by the physical sticker — Pepys warns you before export.
  3. Low-resolution photos print blurry; the editor shows an effective-DPI warning below 150 DPI.

What changes by output type

Complete journal pages

Print the full page on the paper selected during export, and trim only if your binding requires it.

Planner inserts

Match the exact insert and paper presets, print at 100% / actual size, then trim and punch.

Scrapbook pages

Preserve the complete photo-and-text composition at the chosen page size; do not let Fill crop the outer layout.

Sticker-sheet imposition

The sheet rearranges pieces without resizing them. Print on the selected sticker paper and cut along the generated guides.

Printed journal, planner, scrapbook, and photo sticker outputs together

Return to a measured creation task

Printable Journal Pages