How to print a tattoo stencil at exact size
Updated November 14, 2026
You measured the spot at 9 cm, but the stencil comes out at 7.6 cm. That usually happens for one of two reasons: the image had blank margins around the design, or the printer scaled the page. Here's how to get the size right the first time.
1. Set the size of the design, not the image
Most images have empty space around the design. If you scale the whole image to 9 cm, the design ends up smaller. In LineStencil you type the width in cm or inches, the margins are trimmed automatically, and the height is calculated for you, so the design itself prints at that width.
2. Print at 100%
- Click Print at exact size. A print-ready page opens (allow pop-ups if your browser asks).
- In the print dialog set Scale to 100% or Actual size. Turn off "Fit to page" and "Shrink to fit".
- Choose the paper size your printer is loaded with (Letter or A4 for most stencil paper).
3. Thermal stencil printers
- Printers that print from your computer (they show up in the normal print dialog after installing the driver) work the same way: pick the printer, scale 100%, the right paper size.
- Printers that only print from their own phone app: click Download PNG, open it in the printer's app, and set the size there. Check the result with a ruler, because apps often fit the image to the paper.
- Black prints best. Thermal printers read dark areas, so choose black before printing.
- Too heavy or faint? Use the lighter/darker slider first; if every print is too heavy, lower the printer's density setting.
4. Inkjet or laser with stencil paper
With a regular printer you can print the stencil and then run it through a thermal copier, or use inkjet stencil paper with stencil ink if your setup supports it. Either way, the 100% scale rule is the same.
5. Check before it touches skin
- Measure the printed design with a ruler. If it's off by the same percentage every time, the printer or dialog is still scaling.
- Hold the stencil against the body part. Curved areas (forearms, calves) wrap the design, so a flat measurement can feel bigger on skin.
cm ↔ inches
| cm | inches |
|---|---|
| 5 cm | about 2 in |
| 7.5 cm | about 3 in |
| 10 cm | about 4 in |
| 15 cm | about 6 in |
| 20 cm | about 8 in |
You can switch between cm and inches in the stencil maker, so you don't need to convert.