Troubleshooting Printing Issues

This guide covers solutions for the most common printing problems you may encounter when using AccuArk's printing tools. Each section describes a specific issue, explains why it happens, and provides step-by-step instructions to resolve it.

Printer Not Found or Not Listed

If your printer does not appear in the print dialog when you press Ctrl+P, the issue is between your computer and the printer rather than an AccuArk problem. AccuArk uses the standard Windows print dialog, so any printer that works with Windows will work with AccuArk.

To resolve this:

1. Verify the printer is powered on — Check that the printer is turned on, has paper loaded, and shows a ready status on its display panel.
2. Check the connection — For USB printers, verify the cable is securely connected at both ends. For network printers, confirm your computer is connected to the same network as the printer.
3. Check Windows printer settings — Open Windows Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners (Windows 10) or Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners (Windows 11) and confirm the printer appears in the list. If it does not appear in Windows, AccuArk cannot see it either.
4. Reinstall the printer driver — If the printer appears in Windows but prints incorrectly, download and install the latest driver from the printer manufacturer's website.
5. Restart AccuArk — If the printer was added to Windows while AccuArk was already running, the print dialog may not pick it up until AccuArk is restarted.

If the printer appears in the Windows print dialog but you cannot print, try printing a test page from Windows Settings > Printers & Scanners > [Your Printer] > Print a test page. If the Windows test page also fails, the issue is with the printer setup, not AccuArk.

Blank Pages Printing

Blank pages coming out of the printer usually result from one of three causes: empty data fields, incorrect positioning, or a printer driver issue.

Empty data fields: The most common cause. If all text fields in the printing tool are empty, there is no content to render on the page. The print job sends a page with nothing on it. Verify that you have entered text in the required fields (product name, recipient name, barcode value, etc.) before printing.

Incorrect positioning: If the X and Y coordinate values place the content outside the printable area of the page, the content is technically there but positioned beyond what the printer can reach. For example, if the page is 8.5 inches wide and you set an X position of 10 inches, the content falls off the right edge. Check that all positioning values place content within the page dimensions. If you are unsure, reset to a preset layout and try again.

Printer driver issue: Some printer drivers apply their own margins or transformations that can push content off the page. Try printing to Microsoft Print to PDF instead. If the PDF shows the content correctly, the issue is with your physical printer's driver settings, not with AccuArk.

Content Is Cut Off or Misaligned

Alignment issues are the most common problem when using printing tools with specialized paper stock. Content may appear shifted, rotated, or partially cut off at the edges.

Always test on plain paper first. Before using expensive stock (checks, pre-cut labels, envelopes, card stock), print a test page on standard plain paper. Hold the plain paper test print against the actual stock (over a light source if needed) to see how well the content aligns with the pre-printed areas or die-cut boundaries.

Adjust in small increments. When alignment is off, adjust the X and Y positioning values in small increments of 0.05 to 0.1 inches. Making large adjustments can overshoot the correct position. Change one axis at a time so you can isolate horizontal offset from vertical offset.

Account for printer margins. Most printers have a non-printable area around the edges of the page, typically 0.25 inches on all sides. Some printers have asymmetric margins (for example, 0.17 inches on the left but 0.33 inches on the right). If content is clipped at the edge, move it inward. Check your printer's specifications for its exact non-printable margins.

Printer feed variance. Even the same printer model may feed paper slightly differently based on the paper weight, humidity, and wear on the feed rollers. If alignment shifts over time, recalibrate by doing a fresh test print and adjusting the template.

Scale or Size Problems

If the printed output appears too large, too small, or distorted compared to the preview, the issue is almost always in the printer driver scaling settings rather than in AccuArk.

Verify page dimensions. Ensure the page width and height in AccuArk's layout settings match the actual paper size you are using. If AccuArk thinks the page is 8.5x11 inches but you are printing on 4x6 inch stock, the output will be scaled incorrectly.

Check printer driver scaling. Open the print dialog (Ctrl+P), then click Properties or Preferences for your printer. Look for settings labeled:

• Fit to Page
• Scale to Fit
• Shrink to Fit
• Zoom or Scale percentage

Set the scale to 100% or Actual Size. Disable any Fit to Page option. These settings override AccuArk's output and can shrink or enlarge the content unpredictably.

Preview as the reference. The AccuArk preview panel shows the output at the correct scale. If the preview looks right but the physical print does not, the problem is between the print dialog and the printer, not in AccuArk. Adjusting the printer driver settings will resolve it.

Paper Stock Does Not Match Preset

If labels, tags, or checks do not align with the pre-cut areas or perforations on your paper stock, the preset dimensions may not exactly match your specific stock.

Measure your actual stock. Use a ruler to measure the exact dimensions of one label, tag, or check on your stock. Measure the width, height, top margin from the paper edge to the first item, left margin, and the gap between items. These measurements should be as precise as possible, ideally to the nearest 0.05 inches.

Enter custom dimensions. After measuring, select Custom in the paper stock dropdown and enter your measured values. Even stock labeled as compatible with a standard size (such as Avery 5160 compatible labels from a third-party brand) may have slight manufacturing variations that cause misalignment when using the standard preset.

Fine-tune margins and gaps. The most common discrepancy is in the margins (the distance from the paper edge to the first label or tag). Adjust the top margin and left margin values in 0.05 inch increments. Print a test page after each adjustment until the alignment is perfect.

Save as a custom template. Once you have dialed in the exact measurements for your stock, save the configuration as a named template (for example, “Our Shelf Labels - Generic 5160”). This avoids repeating the calibration process every time you print.

Font Rendering Issues

If text on the printed output appears garbled, uses the wrong typeface, or has unexpected spacing, the issue is related to font availability or substitution.

Font not installed. The font dropdown in AccuArk's printing tools lists all fonts installed on the current computer. If a template was created on a computer that has a specific font (such as Calibri, Gotham, or a custom brand font) and you open that template on a computer where the font is not installed, Windows substitutes a default font (usually Microsoft Sans Serif or Arial). The substituted font may have different character widths and line spacing, which can cause text to overflow its intended area or leave excess white space.

Resolution: Install the missing font on the computer, or edit the template to select a font that is available. Common fonts that are available on virtually all Windows computers include Arial, Times New Roman, Courier New, Verdana, Tahoma, and Segoe UI.

Font size mismatch. If text appears at the wrong size, verify the font size settings in the template have not been accidentally changed. Load the original template and compare the font size values.

Envelope Feed Problems

Envelopes require special handling because they are thicker than standard paper, have flaps that can catch on the feed mechanism, and come in various sizes that may not match default printer trays.

Check the feed orientation. Every printer model has a specific way envelopes should be inserted. Some printers expect the flap on top, others expect it on the bottom. Some require the flap on the left side, others on the right. Check your printer's manual or the envelope icon printed near the paper tray for guidance.

Use the manual feed slot. If your printer has a manual feed or bypass tray, use it for envelopes. The manual feed slot typically has a straighter paper path with fewer rollers, reducing the chance of jams and wrinkling.

Enable envelope mode. Some printer drivers have a dedicated envelope mode or media type setting. Open the printer properties from the print dialog and look for a Media Type or Paper Type option. Setting this to “Envelope” adjusts the roller pressure and fuser temperature for thicker stock.

Wrinkling and jamming. If envelopes wrinkle during printing, try these fixes:

• Use a lighter weight envelope (20 lb stock instead of 24 lb)
• Remove the envelope flap moisture strip cover if present (the adhesive strip can stick to the fuser)
• Use the printer's straight-through paper path (rear output tray) if available, which avoids bending the envelope around the internal paper path
• Feed one envelope at a time rather than stacking multiple envelopes

Check Stock Alignment

Check printing demands the highest precision of any printing tool because even a small offset can place the payee name in the wrong field, shift the amount into the memo line, or misalign the MICR line with the bank's scanner.

Start with a plain paper test. Print on plain paper first and hold it up against your check stock (use a window or light box for best results). This shows you exactly where each element falls relative to the pre-printed fields on the check.

Adjust one zone at a time. The Check Printer provides separate positioning controls for each zone (payee, date, amount, memo, MICR line). When calibrating, adjust only one zone at a time, print a test, verify the alignment, and then move to the next zone. Adjusting multiple zones simultaneously makes it difficult to isolate which change improved or worsened the alignment.

Save a template per stock brand. Different check stock manufacturers have slightly different field positions even for the same standard check layout. When you switch between check stock brands (for example, from Deluxe to VersaCheck), create a new template rather than modifying your existing one. This preserves the calibration for each brand so you can switch back without recalibrating.

MICR line precision. The MICR line at the bottom of the check has the tightest alignment tolerance. Banks use magnetic readers that expect the MICR characters to be within a specific band (typically 0.25 inches from the bottom edge of the check). If the MICR line is even slightly too high or too low, the check may fail to process. Pay special attention to the MICR Y position during calibration.

Using PDF as a Workaround

If you cannot resolve a hardware printing issue or simply want a digital copy of the output, printing to PDF is an effective workaround that works with every AccuArk printing tool.

How to print to PDF:

1. Press Ctrl+P in any AccuArk printing tool to open the print dialog.
2. In the printer selection dropdown, choose Microsoft Print to PDF. This printer is built into Windows 10 and Windows 11 and requires no additional software.
3. Click Print.
4. A Save dialog appears. Choose a location and filename for the PDF file.
5. The output is saved as a PDF that exactly matches what would have been sent to a physical printer.

When to use PDF printing:

• Diagnosing printer issues — If the PDF output looks correct but the physical print does not, the problem is in the printer driver or hardware, not in AccuArk.
• Emailing a preview — Save as PDF and email the file to a colleague for review before committing to a physical print run.
• Archiving — Keep a PDF record of printed checks, paystubs, or labels for your files.
• Printing from another application — Open the PDF in Adobe Reader, Foxit Reader, or another PDF viewer that may offer additional scaling, rotation, or positioning controls that help resolve stubborn alignment issues.
• Remote printing — If the printer is on a different computer, save the PDF and transfer it to the computer with the printer attached.

PDF output preserves all formatting, fonts, and positioning exactly as shown in AccuArk's preview panel, making it a reliable reference for verifying your layout.