Printer Alignment Test Page.
Print this alignment sheet, then check the crosshairs, grid, numbered rules and 45° line — anything bent, doubled or skewed means the head or feed needs aligning.
How to read the results
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| The centre crosshair lines don’t meet cleanly | Bidirectional alignment is off — run your printer’s head-alignment routine. |
| The best-matched vertical pair isn’t the centre (0) | Note the number that lines up and enter it in your printer’s alignment tool. |
| The 45° diagonal looks stepped or jagged | Paper is feeding unevenly — check the rollers, guides and how the sheet is loaded. |
| Grid squares look skewed or the circles are ovals | Horizontal and vertical scaling differ — check driver scaling and feed calibration. |
Frequently asked questions
What is a printer alignment page?
It is a test sheet of crosshairs, grids and numbered rules that shows whether your printhead lays ink exactly where it should. Misalignment appears as doubled lines, blurred edges or a crooked grid. Printing it is the quickest way to confirm a suspected alignment problem.
How do I align my printhead?
Most printers have a head-alignment routine in the maintenance menu or driver; run it, and if it prints a pattern, enter the numbers of the best-aligned samples. Re-print this page afterwards to confirm the crosshairs and rules now line up. Alignment positions the head — it does not unclog it.
Why do vertical lines look doubled or blurry?
Doubled or fuzzy vertical lines usually mean bidirectional printing is misaligned — the head lays ink slightly differently on its left-to-right and right-to-left passes. Run the alignment routine and pick the sample where the lines merge into one. It is common after moving a printer or changing cartridges.
What does a jagged 45° line mean?
A stepped or wavy diagonal points to a paper-feed problem rather than the head itself. Dirty or worn rollers, a misloaded sheet or a skewed paper guide make the paper advance unevenly. Clean the rollers and reload the paper squarely, then reprint.
Does paper size or type matter?
Use plain white paper at the size you actually print on, and set the driver to match — a mismatch can add its own skew or scaling. Standard quality is fine; you do not need photo paper. Make sure “fit to page” or scaling is off so the grid prints at true size.
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