Download the PDF that matches your paper, choose portrait orientation, and check the preview. Start with Fit so the whole drawing stays inside the printable area.
A4 or US Letter PDF · Portrait · One page per sheet · Single-sided · Fit to printable area. Print one sheet first, then adjust if needed.
1. Choose the right PDF
Every Coloring Fan design has two separate PDF files: A4 (210 × 297 mm) and US Letter (8.5 × 11 inches). Pick the size already in your printer. Both contain the same complete drawing, with a margin around it.
Open the downloaded PDF before printing. A gallery thumbnail is made for a screen and is not the best file to print. Your browser may save the file in Downloads rather than open a new tab; either behavior is normal.
2. Check your print settings
Match the printer’s paper setting to the PDF, choose portrait, and set one page per sheet. Look at all four edges in the preview. If any part is missing, select Fit or the equivalent option in your print dialog.
Adobe distinguishes Fit, which scales a document to the printable area, from Actual size, which applies no scaling and can crop content outside that area. Actual size is fine when your preview shows the complete page. Software names and printer margins vary. Adobe’s page-size guidance explains the options.
Use single-sided printing, especially when trying markers. Start with normal quality; a draft setting can make fine outlines harder to see. Our PDFs have been checked digitally for page size and complete artwork, but your printer and supplies still deserve a test sheet.
3. Pick paper for your supplies
| What you have | A practical starting point |
|---|---|
| Colored pencils | Ordinary printer paper works for getting started. Try light layers before pressing harder. |
| Crayons | Plain printer paper and a firm, smooth surface underneath make a simple setup. |
| Water-based markers | Test a small patch first. Repeated wet strokes may roughen thin paper. Protect the table. |
| Alcohol markers | Use compatible smooth, uncoated paper or marker paper, plus a protective sheet. Check your printer’s paper limits. |
Heavier paper is not a guarantee against bleed-through, and not every printer accepts cardstock. Crayola recommends suitable smooth, uncoated paper and a protective sheet for alcohol markers. See Crayola’s paper guidance. Test your actual printed outline and marker together before coloring the main drawing.
4. Fix a tricky print
An edge of the drawing is missing
Check the paper size in both the PDF and printer settings. Select Fit, then inspect every edge in the preview. Avoid borderless or “fill page” modes that enlarge the artwork.
The drawing prints much too small
Make sure you opened the full PDF, not the gallery image. Check that pages per sheet is set to one and that an old custom scale has not been left on.
The website menu appears on paper
Download the A4 or Letter file from the artwork page and print that file. It contains the drawing without the website’s navigation.
The outlines look faint
Try normal print quality instead of draft. If lines are still missing, follow your printer manufacturer’s maintenance instructions. Our finer drawings also benefit from a close look at the preview.
Marker ink reaches the surface underneath
Add a protective sheet and test a small swatch. Change the backing sheet when it becomes saturated. Paper and ink combinations behave differently.
Ready for a test print? Sleepy windowsill cat has broad shapes and bold outlines. Once it is printed, try our three-color exercise.
Method: original creative exercises and editorial guidance. Technical advice is checked against the linked primary sources. No claim of testing every printer or art material.