If a maze prints with clipped edges or awkward scaling, the puzzle stops being fun. Most print issues come from two settings: scale and margins.
This checklist walks through the fastest fixes. For a pack that already includes both paper sizes, use the Easy Starters Pack. For single mazes, browse Maze Forge, open a maze, then use the Print button for a clean print layout.
quick links
- Print packs (A4 and Letter): Easy Starters Pack, Medium Mix Pack
- Browse and print a single maze: mazes hub
- File formats: PDF vs SVG
- Classroom workflow: teacher printing checklist
the 60-second print checklist
Run this first. It fixes most issues.
- Download the PDF version when available.
- Set scale to 100%.
- Turn off "fit to page" if it changes proportions.
- Set margins to None or Minimum (wording varies by printer).
- Disable headers and footers in the browser print dialog.
If you print from a phone, look for a setting called "scale," "fit," or "page sizing." Set it to 100% when possible.
why mazes get cropped
Most printers cannot print edge-to-edge on plain paper. They keep a small "no print" border.
Cropping happens when:
- the PDF or SVG is sized close to the edge
- the printer adds a larger border than expected
- the browser "helpfully" scales the page to fit
The fix is to control the scale and margins, then keep the maze centered on the page.
Letter vs A4: pick the right file first
If you are printing a pack, choose the pack PDF that matches your paper size:
- US Letter: common in US schools and home printers
- A4: common outside the US and in some offices
Packs include both versions. Start here:
If you print a file sized for A4 on Letter, the printer often shrinks it. If you print a Letter file on A4, you can get extra margin. Both can work, but it can change corridor width.
browser print settings (Chrome, Edge, Safari)
The labels change, but the goal stays the same: stop auto-scaling.
Chrome or Edge
- Open the PDF in the browser.
- Press Print.
- Set:
- Scale: 100%
- Margins: None or Minimum
- Options: disable headers and footers
Safari
- Open the PDF.
- Press Print.
- Look for:
- Scale: 100%
- Paper size: Letter or A4
If Safari hides the scale control, try downloading the PDF and opening it in Preview (macOS) or a PDF reader.
when lines look fuzzy
Fuzzy lines usually mean you printed a raster image or the browser downscaled the preview.
Use a vector format when you can:
- PDF for most printing
- SVG when you need to import into design tools or resize inside another document
This guide compares both formats and when to use each: PDF vs SVG.
a classroom-friendly workflow
If you print for a class, aim for repeatability. This routine keeps you out of printer troubleshooting during instruction:
- Download a pack and print one test page the day before.
- Keep one copy of the answer key for yourself.
- Print the student copies in one batch.
For a tighter workflow, use: teacher printing checklist: 30 copies in 5 minutes.
FAQ
my printer still crops the bottom edge. now what?
Try these in order:
- Increase margins (Minimum instead of None).
- Reduce scale to 98% or 97% if your printer has a large non-printable border.
- Switch to the pack PDF sized for your paper.
should I print in color?
Most mazes print well in black and white. If you want students to draw a path with color, print in grayscale and let them use colored pencils on top.
can I print two mazes on one page?
Yes. Use your printer dialog setting for "pages per sheet" (2-up). It works well for warm-ups and saves paper.
is the Maze Forge print page different from downloading a PDF?
The print page is set up for clean printing and is ad-free. PDFs are convenient when you want to store a file, email it, or print the same maze again later.
next step
- If you want a ready set with both Letter and A4 PDFs, start with the Easy Starters Pack.
- If you want to print one maze, open Maze Forge, pick a maze, and use the Print button.
- If you want crisp scaling inside another document, read PDF vs SVG.