Guide · Updated 20 October 2026
How to print your paint by numbers at A3, A4, US Letter or 11 x 17
OutlineArt saves your pattern as a three-page PDF in A3, A4, US Letter or US Tabloid (11 x 17 in). Here's how to print it so the outline comes out at the right size, on paper that can take paint.
Choose the paper size first
Pick your paper size in the maker before you make the pattern. The frame takes on the shape of that page, so the print fills it without stretching or leaving empty bands.
| Paper | Size | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| A3 | 297 x 420 mm | The default, with roomy areas. Print shops everywhere have it, and so do A3 printers. |
| US Tabloid | 11 x 17 in | The closest US size to A3. You'll find it at print shops and on some home printers. |
| A4 | 210 x 297 mm | Any home printer. It's half the area of A3, so use fewer colours. |
| US Letter | 8.5 x 11 in | The standard paper in the US and Canada. It's half the area of US Tabloid. |
On A4 or US Letter every area is smaller. Use fewer colours and Relaxed detail to keep them big enough to paint.
What's in the PDF
Page 1 is the numbered outline, the one you actually paint on. Page 2 is the colour key, with a swatch and a mixing recipe for every number. Page 3 is a full-colour preview of the finished painting for you to work from.
Printer settings
Print page 1 at "Actual size" or 100%. Avoid "Fit to page" and "Shrink oversized pages", or it won't come out at the size you chose.
The outline runs right to the edge of the page, and most home printers can't print the last few millimetres. So at actual size you lose a thin strip around the edge. Usually that doesn't matter. If you'd rather keep every bit, use "Fit to page" after all, which shrinks the sheet slightly.
The outline and numbers are grey, so page 1 can print in black ink only. Print the colour key in colour on the best quality setting, so the swatches come out accurate. You only need page 1 once for each painting. The key and preview can stay on a tablet or laptop if you like.
Which paper to use
Print the outline on thick matte paper or card, 200gsm (about 110 lb cover) or heavier. Thin paper buckles and wrinkles when it gets wet, and acrylic doesn't hold well on glossy paper. Check the heaviest paper your printer can take. Many printers feed card through a rear or manual tray. The colour key and preview are fine on ordinary paper.
At a print shop
Email the PDF to the shop or take it in. Ask for page 1 at actual size on matte card of 200gsm (110 lb) or heavier, and pages 2 and 3 in colour on standard paper.
The outline is about 210 dpi at A3 and 300 dpi at A4, which keeps the lines and numbers crisp. A shop can also enlarge an A3 sheet to A2. The numbers scale up with it, and the lines get a little softer.
Common problems
Is the print smaller than the page, with a white border? Your printer is scaling it to fit. Set it to "Actual size" or 100%.
Need a different paper size? Choose it in the maker and make the pattern again. Your photo is still loaded in the browser, so it only takes a few seconds.
If the numbers are too small to read, use fewer colours or Relaxed detail, or print on a bigger page. And if the paper curls while you paint, switch to heavier card, tape the edges to the table and keep your brush fairly dry.
Ready to paint? The guide to mixing acrylic paint explains the recipes on your colour key.