PRACTICAL GUIDE · 9 NOVEMBER 2026
Prepare a label PDF without printing it too small
If a label fills only part of an A4 or Letter sheet, printing the whole sheet on a thermal printer may shrink its text and barcode. First identify which area of the document is the actual label.
1. Cropping is different from fitting
Cropping removes outside space. Fitting scales content to another paper size. If a label already has the right dimensions inside a PDF, start with a crop without scaling. Keep the complete address, identifiers, and clear safety space around the barcode.
2. Match the paper in your printer
| Format | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm |
| 100 × 150 mm | 100 × 150 mm |
| 4 × 6 inches | 101.6 × 152.4 mm |
| A6 | 105 × 148 mm |
These sizes are similar, not identical. Check your label roll and manufacturer instructions. Pliego fitting options leave a 2 mm margin and scale content to fit; they do not preserve the original scale.
3. Check every page
Labels within one PDF may have different orientations and positions. Review each with Previous and Next. Copying the crop to every page only makes sense when they share a proportional layout. This version produces one output page for each input page: process each area separately if a page contains two labels.
4. Test before the batch
- Download the PDF and open it in your usual reader.
- Select matching paper size and orientation.
- Check the print dialog preview and avoid unintentional second scaling.
- Print one label and check for missing information.
- Scan the barcode with your reader. If it fails, check the original quality, dimensions and printer settings.
Further reading
Shopify: printing shipping labels and documents
Etsy: downloading and printing a shipping label