How We Test Print Quality
PrintSizer's print lab exists to check whether common print advice matches what actually comes back from a printer. This page documents how the tests are made so you can judge the evidence for yourself.
What we control
- Same artwork: every sheet uses the same test chart and the same layout.
- Same provider and paper: all sheets in a batch use one print shop and one paper type.
- Same batch: printing only one variable at a time avoids differences caused by different production runs.
- 100% scale: files are printed at their intended physical size with no automatic scaling or cropping.
The test chart
The chart contains five sections: a 5-20 pt text ladder, line pairs from 0.4-4 pt pitch, a 21-step grayscale wedge, 12 colour patches and a section with a smooth gradient, fine circular detail and a photo-like scene. These sections cover the details most often lost when resolution is too low.
How the prints are photographed
In the October 2026 batch, each sheet was placed flat on a light fabric background and photographed from above with a phone at a 3072 x 4096 capture size. A steel ruler was placed at the bottom for scale. The photos were taken at 30 cm only.
The photos are cropped and resized for the web, then assembled into comparison panels. We do not apply sharpening, skin smoothing or selective retouching to the printed areas. Any label or crop is disclosed in the caption.
What the batch used
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Print service | Taobao seller (same shop for the batch) |
| Paper | RC luster (velvet) photo paper; GSM not listed |
| Ink | Canon pigment ink, listed as water-resistant and fade-resistant |
| Prints | A4 at 300, 150 and 72 DPI; A3 at 150 DPI; 30 x 40 cm at 200 DPI |
| Cost | RMB 24.5 for all five prints |
| Scale | 100%; A3 and 30 x 40 cm matched the designed dimensions |
Limitations we report openly
- The batch used one printer, one paper and one ink set; results may differ elsewhere.
- Only 30 cm close-up photographs exist, so we do not publish 1 m or 3 m viewing conclusions.
- Paper weight was not listed by the seller and is recorded as unknown.
- Photos capture lighting and surface texture; they are not flatbed scans.
- Screen rendering varies between devices, so the images are evidence of relative differences, not a calibrated colour reference.
Publishing these limits is part of the method. A close-up test can show how small text and fine lines survive, but it cannot tell you how a poster looks across a room. Treating a 30 cm result as a viewing-distance result would make the evidence seem stronger than it is, which is the opposite of what a useful print test should do.
Corrections and updates
If a result looks wrong, or if a print service provides an updated specification, contact us with the page and the details. We will correct the page and add a visible update date rather than silently changing the result.