How to Print Coloring Pages

Every page on DoodleGrove comes as a PDF, in two sizes: US Letter and A4. This guide shows how to print coloring pages at home, from a computer, a phone or a tablet, and how to get a clean print on the first try. It also covers printing a stack of pages for a coloring book or a class, and what to do if you have no printer.

How to print a coloring page, step by step

Open a collection and find the page you want.
Press Download under the picture, then choose the PDF for US Letter or A4. Pick the size of the paper in your printer (see below).
Open the PDF. Your browser can open it, or use any PDF reader.
Choose Print (Ctrl+P on Windows, Cmd+P on a Mac).
Set the scale to Actual size or 100%, then print. The settings below explain why.

Letter or A4?

Use the size of the paper already in your printer.

US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) is standard in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Philippines.
A4 (210 × 297 mm) is standard almost everywhere else.

Not sure? Look at the paper pack or the printer tray. A4 is slightly taller and narrower than Letter. If you print a Letter file on A4 paper, or the other way round, the printer may shrink the page or cut off the edge.

Why PDF?

A PDF opens at the exact paper size, so it prints at the right scale. The lines are drawn as shapes rather than pixels, so they stay sharp at any size, and the files are small. Coloring on a tablet? Most drawing and note-taking apps can open a PDF page directly.

Print settings

Open the PDF and choose Print.
Set the scale to Actual size or 100%. Turn off “Fit to page” or “Scale to fit”. Every page already includes a margin that home printers can handle.
Check that the paper size in the print window matches the paper in the tray.
Leave Pages per sheet at 1. Two pages on one sheet makes every space half as big, which is hard for small hands.
Choose Black and white or Grayscale to save color ink. The pages are black line art, so nothing is lost.
Normal print quality is enough. Draft mode can make thin lines look faint.
Print one-sided. Markers and paint can show through to a picture printed on the back.

Printing from a phone or tablet

Tap the PDF download, open the file, then use the share button and choose Print. On an Android phone, open the PDF and look for Print in the menu. The printer usually needs to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Make sure the paper size in the print options matches the paper in your printer.

Prefer to color on the screen? Every page has a Color online button next to Download. Color it in your browser, then download your version as a PDF and print it the same way.

Printing several pages at once

Each coloring page is its own PDF, so a set is a few downloads in a row:

Download every page you want in the same paper size.
Open the first one, print it with the settings above, then open the next. Most printers queue the jobs, so you can send them one after another.
Need the same page several times, for siblings or a party? Type the number in the Copies box instead of printing it again and again.

Mixing levels helps when children of different ages share a stack: every page is labelled Easy, Medium or Detailed on its collection page.

Make your own coloring book

A homemade coloring book takes about ten minutes and keeps a theme together.

Choose 10 to 20 pages. More than that gets thick and hard to fold back.
Print one-sided, so colors on one page never spoil the next.
Make a cover. Use one of the pages, or a sheet of colored card, and let your child write the title.
Bind it. Two or three staples along the left edge, a hole punch and a ring binder, a folder with clips, or a large binder clip. A binder or folder lets you add new pages later.

Printing for a classroom

Print one page at 100%, then copy it on the school copier at 100%. Check that the copier uses the same paper size as the file.
For markers or paint, copy onto heavier paper if the copier accepts it.
You can print as many copies as your class needs. The pages are free for personal, family and classroom use; the licensing page has the details.

No printer at home?

A public library usually has a printer for visitors. Save the PDF to your phone or a USB stick, or email it to yourself.
A copy or print shop can print from a USB stick or an email. Ask for black and white, actual size, on Letter or A4 to match the file.
A school or office printer works the same way as a home printer. Use the settings above.
Color on screen instead. The online coloring tool needs nothing but a browser.

Which paper

Regular copy paper works well with crayons and colored pencils.
Heavier paper or cardstock is better for markers, which can soak through thin paper. Around 65 lb cover (about 176 gsm) is a good start. Check your printer’s manual for the heaviest paper it accepts. If the printer has a manual or rear feed slot, use it for card.
Alcohol markers soak through almost any paper. Use heavy, smooth paper and keep a scrap sheet underneath.
Watercolor or other paint makes thin paper wrinkle. Use the heaviest paper your printer takes, and keep the paint light.

If something looks wrong

What you see	What to change
The drawing is cut off at the edge	The file and the paper are different sizes. Download the file that matches your paper.
A wide white border around a small drawing	“Fit to page” is on. Set the scale to 100%.
The printer reports a paper size mismatch	The paper size in the print window is not the size in the tray. Change one so they match.
Faint, gray or broken lines	Switch from draft to normal quality, turn off any ink or toner saving mode, or check the ink or toner level.
Markers soaked through to the table	Print on heavier paper and put a scrap sheet underneath.
Two pictures came out on one sheet	Set Pages per sheet back to 1.

Questions about printing

Is it free to print the pages?

Yes. There is no sign-up and no email. Print as many copies as you need for yourself, your family or your students.

Can I print on cardstock?

Yes, if your printer accepts it. Check the heaviest paper listed in its manual, and feed one sheet at a time if it jams.

Why is there a white margin around the picture?

Most home printers cannot print right to the edge of the paper, so every page keeps its lines inside a safe margin. Borderless printing would cut part of the drawing off.

Can I print a page I colored online?

Yes. In the online coloring tool, choose US Letter or A4 and download a PDF with your colors, then print it at 100% like any other page.