> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.essal.cloud/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Print Settings Reference

{/* category: Printing & Exporting Badges */}

The **Config** tab in the Print Center controls how badges are laid out on the printed page. This article explains every setting and how it affects the output.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/helpcenter/D7BNciBjPYi-5sHM/access/screenshots/print-config.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=D7BNciBjPYi-5sHM&q=85&s=441909e13d9526b8c5968c4cdc4d6b07" alt="Print config tab showing paper settings, badge layout sliders, and visual helpers" width="1440" height="900" data-path="access/screenshots/print-config.png" />

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## Accessing Print Settings

1. Go to **Print Center** in the sidebar
2. Click the **Config** tab (third tab, after Individual and Bulk)

Changes take effect immediately — the live page preview on the right updates in real-time as you adjust each setting.

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## Paper Settings

### Paper Size

| Option     | Dimensions                            |
| ---------- | ------------------------------------- |
| **A4**     | 210 × 297 mm (standard international) |
| **Letter** | 216 × 279 mm (standard US)            |

Choose the paper size that matches what you're printing on. This affects how many badges fit per page.

### Orientation

| Option        | Description                                    |
| ------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Portrait**  | Tall page (default) — fits more rows of badges |
| **Landscape** | Wide page — fits more columns of badges        |

For CR80-size badge cards (landscape orientation), **Landscape** page orientation typically gives the most efficient layout.

### Page Margin

Controls the blank border around the entire page before badges begin.

* Range: **0–30 mm**, in 1 mm steps
* Default: **10 mm**
* Reduce this if you want badges closer to the edge (useful when cutting cards manually)
* Increase it if your printer requires a larger non-printable margin

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## Badge Layout

### Badge Scale

Controls the size of each badge relative to its natural print size.

* Range: **50%–120%**, in 5% steps
* Default: **100%**
* At 100%, a standard CR80 badge prints at its full physical card size (85.6 × 54 mm)
* Reduce to fit more badges per page; increase to fill the page with fewer, larger badges
* The live preview shows the resulting columns × rows count and badges per page

> **Tip**: If a badge at 100% scale doesn't fit correctly with your card stock, reduce to 90% or 95% to add a small safety margin.

### Grid Gap

Controls the spacing between adjacent badges on the page.

* Range: **0–20 mm**, in 1 mm steps
* Default: **5 mm**
* Larger gaps make it easier to cut cards by hand
* Set to 0 mm if using a card cutter with precise registration

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## Visual Helpers

These settings add guide lines to the printed output to assist with cutting.

### Crop Marks

* Default: **On**
* Adds small L-shaped corner marks at each corner of every badge
* These marks extend outside the badge border so they remain visible after printing even if the badge fills to the edge
* Use crop marks when cutting with scissors or a manual guillotine cutter

### Cut Lines

* Default: **Off**
* Adds a dashed border around the full perimeter of each badge
* More prominent than crop marks — easier to see for hand-cutting
* Can be used alongside crop marks or instead of them

> **For professional cutting**: Crop marks only (no cut lines) are the standard for print shop work. Cut lines are better for in-office cutting where the guide line needs to be visible.

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## Live Preview

The right side of the Config tab shows a scaled-down preview of the print page with your current settings applied. It displays:

* The badge grid layout (number of columns and rows)
* Sample badge renderings in the grid
* The number of badges per page
* How all settings interact together

The preview is purely visual — it does not use real employee data. Badges show placeholder content.

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## Settings Summary Table

| Setting     | Range                | Default  | Effect                                 |
| ----------- | -------------------- | -------- | -------------------------------------- |
| Paper Size  | A4 or Letter         | A4       | Page dimensions                        |
| Orientation | Portrait / Landscape | Portrait | Page rotation                          |
| Page Margin | 0–30 mm              | 10 mm    | Border around page                     |
| Badge Scale | 50–120%              | 100%     | Badge size relative to card dimensions |
| Grid Gap    | 0–20 mm              | 5 mm     | Space between badges                   |
| Crop Marks  | On / Off             | On       | Corner cutting guides                  |
| Cut Lines   | On / Off             | Off      | Full dashed border cutting guide       |