How to Fix Images Printing Larger Than Their Size in Word for Mac
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where specifically sized images in a document are printed slightly larger than their intended physical dimensions.
- Product
- Word 2019 for Mac
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Printing a document containing images that have been precisely resized (e.g., 5 by 7 inches) for accurate physical output.
- Observed behavior
- The images appear correctly sized on the screen but print out slightly larger than the exact dimensions specified in the document's settings.
Before altering your print settings, verify the exact dimensions of your image in the Picture Format tab and ensure your Mac has the latest driver software installed for your printer model.
Disable Borderless Printing and Reset Print Scaling
Disabling borderless printing and ensuring print scaling is manually set to exactly 100% prevents the printer driver from automatically enlarging the document content.
Borderless printing settings often apply a slight zoom or 'overspray' effect to ensure ink reaches the very edge of the physical paper. This overrides the precise dimensions set in Word for Mac, causing images to print slightly larger than expected.
Click 'File' in the top menu bar and select 'Print', or press Cmd + P on your keyboard.
If the print dialog is simplified, click the 'Show Details' button at the bottom to reveal advanced printing options.
Click the 'Paper Size' dropdown menu. Ensure you have selected a standard paper size (like US Letter or A4) and NOT a version labeled 'Borderless'.
Navigate to the 'Paper Handling' or 'Scale to Fit' section from the central dropdown menu. Uncheck the 'Scale to fit paper size' option, or manually type '100%' in the scale field.
Click 'Print' and measure the printed image with a ruler to confirm it exactly matches the dimensions set in your document.
Export Document as PDF Before Printing
Saving your Word document as a PDF locks the layout and image dimensions, which can bypass the native spooling and scaling quirks of Word for Mac.
Print Documents with Exact Image Dimensions Using WPS Office
WPS Office for Mac provides highly accurate print preview and output capabilities, ensuring your carefully sized images and layouts print exactly as they appear on screen without unexpected printer scaling.
- 1. Install WPS Office for Mac: Download and install the free WPS Office suite from the official website on your Mac.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file containing the resized images.
- 3. Verify Image Size: Click on the image and check the Picture Tools to confirm the dimensions remain perfectly intact.
- 4. Print at 100% Scale: Go to Menu > Print, select your printer, ensure scaling is set to 100%, and print the file with precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does borderless printing change my exact image size?
Borderless printing is designed to ensure no white margins are left on the paper. To achieve this, the printer driver slightly enlarges or zooms in on the entire page content (an effect called overspray), which increases the physical dimensions of your printed images.
How can I check the exact size of an image in Word for Mac?
Click on the image you want to measure. Navigate to the 'Picture Format' tab on the ribbon, and look at the 'Size' group on the far right. Here, you can view or manually set the exact height and width in inches or centimeters.
Does changing the page margins affect how my image prints?
Standard page margins do not alter the size of the image itself. However, if your image extends beyond the printer's printable area, some driver settings may automatically scale the entire page down to fit inside the margins, which will shrink your image.
