What Actual size promises
Adobe describes Acrobat's Actual size setting as Prints without scaling.
Read Adobe's page-sizing reference. In the same reference, Adobe explains that pages or selections which do not fit are cropped.
For an exact-size template, select Actual size or 100%, then print and measure a known 100 mm line in both directions before printing the rest. Keeping the scale does not make artwork fit outside the printable area; use suitable larger stock or tiling when both scale and edge content must be preserved.
For an exact size, start with 100%
Choose Actual size or 100% in your PDF print dialogue. Check that the document page size matches the paper loaded in the printer. This is a useful starting point for sewing patterns, templates, labels and anything with dimensions that must stay consistent.
A 100 mm line in the file should measure 100 mm on the print. Print a page with a known measurement and check it with a ruler before printing the rest. Printer and application settings can still affect the result.
What Fit does
Fit adjusts the page to the printer’s available print area. It can reduce a page even when the document and loaded sheet have the same nominal size, because many printers cannot print right to the edge.
That is useful for keeping ordinary documents on the page. It can be unsuitable for a template that must retain its exact scale. A smaller printed test square often means a fit or shrink option is active.
Margins, clipping and borderless printing
At actual size, content outside the printable area can be clipped. Switching to Fit may reveal it by shrinking the page. If you need both exact scale and content near the edge, use a larger sheet, suitable tiling settings, or a printer that supports the required borderless format.
Some borderless print modes enlarge the image slightly to avoid white edges. Check the printer’s own documentation and measure a test print rather than assuming borderless means exact size.
When to use Custom Scale
Use a custom percentage when deliberately changing formats. For example, A4 artwork fits on nominal A3 at approximately 141.4% before accounting for margins. The print scale calculator shows the geometric fit and its assumptions.
- Confirm the PDF’s page size.
- Select the actual loaded paper and correct orientation.
- Choose Actual size, Fit or Custom Scale for your purpose.
- Check the preview for clipping and unexpected blank space.
- Print one page and measure any critical dimensions.