Aligning Your Printer

Before you can print Scantron DesignExpert forms, you should align your printer. This enables you to move and resize the document image you are laser printing to account for different types of forms and printing tasks, and to compensate for laser printer and paper variations:

Aligning your printer helps ensure that the resulting Scantron DesignExpert form is scannable, functional, and attractive for the form user.

Please note the following:

Access this dialog by selecting File > Print, then clicking Printer Alignment.

There are several types of forms you can create with Scantron DesignExpert software and several types of laser printing that you can perform:

This scenario… …meets this objective… …in this tool

Print a proof of your form design to review or share with colleagues.

You are mostly concerned with getting the printing to fit on the page. Exact printer alignment to meet scanning requirements is probably not needed. The appearance of the form is most important.

 Scantron DesignExpert

Merge printing information from a database on forms that were printed by Scantron Print Services.

You are mostly concerned with getting text, OMR pre-slug marks, and bar codes to align with specific areas or OMR response grids on the printed form. The scannability of the form is most important.

Print a form on Scantron DesignExpert stock forms 103188 or 265914.

You are mostly concerned with getting the alignment marks in the corners of the Test Form to align with the marks in the corners of the stock form. The scannability of the form is most important.
  • Scantron DesignExpert
  • MergePrint Utility

Print your own OMR forms with the PrintFlex option.

You are mostly concerned with first, getting the printing to fit on the page, and second, getting the printing to align with the ScanFlex Alignment Guide. The scannability of the form is most important.
  • Scantron DesignExpert
  • MergePrint Utility

See How do I at the bottom of this topic for specific instructions on aligning your printer for these scenarios.

As you merge print your forms, it's normal for OMR pre-slug marks to vary somewhat in location. This is acceptable as long as each target OMR response position is mostly covered.

Ideally, pre-slug marks should be perfectly aligned with the OMR response positions on your form:

Realistically, it isn't practical to expect perfect pre-slug mark alignment due to variations in paper alignment in the laser printer paper tray, paper feed through the laser printer, and other variables. Marks like these are normal and acceptable:

Marks that do not cover most of the target OMR response position and that touch nearby response positions are questionable. The data may be read correctly but the only way to tell for sure is to scan the form and check the data.

Pre-slugging OMR responses is a process that requires a little practice and a little time to build experience with your forms, laser printer, scanner, and ScanTools application. We recommend you take a practical approach to this process:

  1. Aim for good, consistent mark alignment at the start of your pre-slugging project. Aiming for perfect mark alignment is a good objective but it isn't necessary or practical.
  2. Take time to check questionable mark alignment at the start of your pre-slugging project. Learn what works with your combination of forms, laser printer, scanner, and ScanTools application. Save examples of good and bad mark alignment for future reference.
  3. Pay more attention to mark alignment when something in your system changes: new forms, different laser printer, different scanner, updated ScanTools application, etc.

Scantron DesignExpert software supports both duplex and double-sided laser printing. "Duplex" means printing both sides at the same time in the same pass through the laser printer. "Double-sided" means printing both sides but at different times in different passes through the laser printer. Duplex printing can only be selected if your laser printer supports it.

You must perform printer alignment for both form sides before printing. Scantron DesignExpert software saves printer alignment information for both sides. It is usually a good idea to perform printer alignment for both sides at the same time if that is how you plan to print.

If you perform double-sided printing, follow these simple precautions:

  • Print each side of the form in a separate operation.
  • Print an additional quantity of the first side to use when aligning the second side.
  • After printing the first side of your form, allow forms to recondition for 24 hours before printing the second side. Paper is heated during laser printing, driving moisture out of the paper and causing it to curl and shrink. Reconditioning the paper for 24 hours allows the paper to relax so it’s easier to feed into the laser printer and achieve accurate printing.
  • Perform printer alignment for each side of the form just before printing. Scantron DesignExpert software saves printer alignment information for each side independently. When you laser print the back of your form, you must perform printer alignment for side two to make sure the laser printing is correctly positioned.

What's on the Screen?

Use this element… …to…
Corner Alignment

Adjust the location of your form printing on the page. Choices are:

  • Available for all document types and applications, especially PrintFlex. It is the default setting and is always selected when you open the Printer Alignment dialog. It is effective for most printing scenarios. The basic process is as follows:

    1. Align the location of your printing so that it is on the page. This is done by moving the Upper Left corner of your printing–Up, Down, Left, or Right–on the page.
    2. Adjust the fit of your printing so that it aligns with text or OMR responses on printed forms, with alignment marks on Scantron DesignExpert stock form 103188 or 265914, or with ScanFlex requirements. This is done by moving the Lower Right corner of your printing–Up, Down, Left, or Right–on the page. It must be performed after you have first located the upper left corner of your printing.
    3. Click OK to save the alignment for this document type.

    For details on specific alignment scenarios, see How do I, below.

  • Available for all document types. We recommend you use it only after first performing Two Corner Alignment. If you perform that alignment and find that you still need to "fine-tune" printer alignment, then try this more advanced Four Corner Alignment. The basic process is as follows:

    1. Align the location of your printing so that it is on the page. This is done by moving the Upper Left corner of your printing–Up, Down, Left, or Right–on the page.
    2. Adjust the fit of your printing so that it aligns with text or OMR responses on printed forms, with alignment marks on Scantron DesignExpert stock form 103188 or 265914, or with ScanFlex requirements. This is done by moving the Lower Right corner of your printing–Up, Down, Left, or Right–on the page. It must be performed after you have first located the upper left corner of your printing.
    3. Fine-tune the fit of your printing by moving the Upper Right corner of your printing–Up, Down, Left, or Right–on the page.
    4. Fine-tune the fit of your printing by moving the Lower Left corner of your printing–Up, Down, Left, or Right–on the page.
    5. Click OK to save the alignment for this document type.

    For details on specific alignment scenarios, see How do I, below.

Side

Select the side of the form you are performing printer alignment for: Front or Back. Your selection depends on whether you are printing a one- or two-sided form and whether you are single-side laser printing or duplex laser printing. Some typical printing scenarios include:

  • Printing a one-sided form.
  • Printing a two-sided form with a single side laser printer.
  • Printing a two-sided form with a duplex laser printer.
  • Printing a one-sided OMR Laser Printer Only form type (usually with Scantron DesignExpert stock form 103188 or 265914).

You can define alignment settings for both sides before exiting Printer Alignment.

Align For Duplex Printing

Identify that this form will be printed on a duplex (two sides at one time) printer. This selection is only available if you are aligning laser printing for an OMR Laser Printer Only form type or printing on Scantron DesignExpert stock form 103188 or 265914, and using a duplex laser printer. Duplex means that the printer is capable of printing on both sides of the form in one pass through the printer.

CAUTION: In addition to checking Align For Duplex Printing here, you must also select for duplex printing in the following places:

  • New OMR File - Laser Printer dialog; select Double-Sided under Paper.
  • Print dialog Properties section. The Properties dialog contains settings selections specific to your laser printer, such as "2-sided Printing" or "Print on Both Sides." You or your IT group may have set this up as a default setting for your duplex printer.

Position (in Hundredths)

Select a corner, then specify the amount of adjustment for each corner:

  • If you select Two Corner Alignment, only the Upper Left and the Lower Right Corners can be aligned.
    • Upper Left Corner - Use the Upper Left Corner option to move the entire printed image into place on the page.
    • Lower Right Corner - Use the Lower Right Corner option to adjust the fit of the printed image, once the upper left corner is properly positioned. The upper right and lower left corners are positioned automatically.
  • If you select Four Corner Alignment (Advanced), all four Corners can be aligned.
    • Upper Left Corner - Use the Upper Left Corner option to move the entire printed image into place on the page.
    • Upper Right Corner - Use the Upper Right Corner option to adjust the fit of the printed image, from that corner.
    • Lower Left Corner - Use the Lower Left Corner option to adjust the fit of the printed image, from that corner.
    • Lower Right Corner - Use the Lower Right Corner option to adjust the fit of the printed image, from that corner.

Movement (up/down, left/right)

Use the Up/Down and Left/Right controls to move the corner you select up or down and left or right on the page.

  • Click the Up or Down arrow to move vertically in one one-hundredth of an inch (.01 inch) increments, up to one inch in each direction.
  • Click the Left or Right arrow to move horizontally in one one-hundredth of an inch (.01 inch) increments, up to one inch in each direction.

You can also directly enter values from -100 (Up) to +100 (Down) and -100 (Left) to +100 (Right). For example, 10 = 1/10th inch, 20 = 1/5th inch, 25 = 1/4th inch, etc.Negative number entries must include a minus sign.

Print Test
(available only for OMR Laser Print Only forms)

Print an alignment test form that will guide you through the process of aligning with the stock form.

Defaults

Reset printer alignment settings to the Scantron DesignExpert system defaults: zero (0) for each corner.

TIP: Try printing with the default settings before performing any printer alignment. In many cases, you will find that your printer alignment is OK without having to make any adjustments.

How do I…

NOTE: You can only print proofs from Scantron DesignExpert, not the MergePrint Utility.

  1. Do one of the following:
    • If you are overprinting on the stock form without merging/pre-slugging, select File > Print.
    • If you are merging/pre-slugging, start the Merge Wizard and follow the wizard steps until you reach Printing, then click Print.
  2. Print one copy of the form.
  3. Visually check the alignment.

    4. The entire image should fit properly on the page. In most cases, you will find that the default printer alignment settings are acceptable and that no printer alignment is required.

  4. If alignment is required, select File > Print then click Printer Alignment.

    5. TIP: Use the default Two Corner Alignment setting. It is very unlikely that you will need to use the advanced Four Corner Alignment.

  5. Select Front or Back. If your form is two-sided, you can align both sides before test printing.
  6. Examine the upper left corner of the laser printing. Is it located where you want it or does it need to be moved? What direction? How far?
    1. If alignment is needed, select Upper Left Corner and then use the Up/Down and Left/Right to move the printing.
    2. Print another copy of your form and reexamine the upper left corner of the laser printing. Repeat the process until the upper left corner is correctly located.
  7. Examine the right side and the bottom of the laser printing. Does it fit relative to the edges of the paper or does it need to be resized? Longer? Shorter? Wider? Narrower? By how much?
    1. If resizing is needed, select Lower Right Corner and then use the Up/Down and Left/Right controls to adjust laser printing length and width to fit the page.
    2. Print another copy of your form and reexamine the fit of the laser printing on the page. Repeat the process until the laser printing is correctly located.
  8. Click OK to save your settings.
  9. Proceed with printing.

Although the Merge Wizard is designed to enable you to print data from your database on a variety of form types, you can also use it to print "blank" copies of forms when no database link is needed. This includes:

  • Printing OMR Laser Printer Only forms on Scantron DesignExpert stock forms 103188 or 265914.
  • Printing OMR forms with the PrintFlex option.

 

  1. Select None for the Database Type then click Next.
  2. Click Print.
  3. Align your printer.
  4. (Optional) Click Properties to check or set Document Properties such as portrait or landscape orientation, single or duplex printing, tray selection, and so forth.
  5. Enter the number of copies to print.
  6. Click OK.
  1. Select None for the Database Type then click Next.
  2. Enter the Starting Number, Ending Number, Increment, and Number of Digits. See Step 5, under What's on the Screen above, for details. Click Next.
  3. Click Print.
  4. Align your printer.
  5. (Optional) Click Properties to check or set Document Properties such as portrait or landscape orientation, single or duplex printing, tray selection, and so forth. See Windows help for details on these options.
  6. Click OK.

NOTE: Perform merge printing from the Merge Wizard rather than from the Print dialog. You must use the actual forms that you plan to merge print during the alignment process.

  1. Start the Merge Wizard.
  2. At the Printing step, click Print. Use the Print dialog to laser print from your database on one copy of your printed form. Select duplex printing or other properties, as appropriate.
  3. Visually check the alignment. Information from your database should fit properly on the page. This includes text and bar codes in their proper places and, most importantly, OMR pre-slug marks aligned to the OMR response positions. The default printer alignment settings may be OK in some cases or the default printer alignment will be very close.
  4. If alignment is required, click Print again, then click Printer Alignment. The Printer Alignment dialog will open.

    5. TIP: Use the default Two Corner Alignment setting. It is unlikely that you will need to use the advanced Four Corner Alignment.

  5. Examine the upper left corner of the laser printing. Is it located where you want it or does it need to be moved? What direction? How far?
    1. If alignment is needed, select Upper Left Corner and then use the Up/Down and Left/Right to move the printing.
    2. Print another copy of your form and reexamine the upper left corner of the laser printing. Repeat the process until the upper left corner is correctly located.
  6. Examine the right side and the bottom of the laser printing; most importantly, OMR pre-slug marks alignment with OMR response positions. Does the printing fit or does it need to be realigned? Left? Right? Up? Down? By how much?
    1. If realignment is needed, select Lower Right Corner and then use the Up/Down and Left/Right controls to adjust laser printing to fit.
    2. Print another copy of your form and reexamine the fit of the laser printing. Repeat the process until the laser printing is correctly located.
  7. Click OK to save your settings.
  8. Proceed with merge printing.

NOTE: If you are using Scantron DesignExpert stock form 103188 or 265914, you must align your printer.

  1. Load Scantron DesignExpert stock form 103188 or 265914 in the laser printer tray. Be sure to load the correct stock form for the file you are printing:
    • Form 103188 has 5 per inch timing mark spacing.
    • Form 265914 has 6 per inch timing mark spacing.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • If you are overprinting on the stock form without merging/pre-slugging, select File > Print.
    • If you are merging/pre-slugging, start the Merge Wizard and follow the wizard steps until you reach Printing, then click Print.
  3. Click Printer Alignment.
  4. Click Print Test.

    5. A Printer Alignment Test will be laser printed on Scantron DesignExpert stock form 103188 or 265914. There are separate tests for Front Portrait, Back Portrait, Front Landscape, and Back Landscape. Make sure you have loaded the correct stock form:

    Form 103188

    Form 265914

    Form 103188 - 6x5 Spacing

    Form 265914 - 6x6 Spacing

  5. Visually check the alignment.

    6. The Test Form includes black bullets and reference OMR responses in each corner that must align with target positions on the form. The bullet for the upper left corner must be as close as possible to the center of the target circle. The bullets for the other three corners must be inside their target circles, not touching the edges of the circle. You will find that the default printer alignment settings are OK or very close in most cases.

  6. If alignment is required, follow the Printer Alignment directions printed on the Test Form.
  7. Repeat the process until the laser printing is correctly located.
  8. Click OK to save your settings..
  9. Proceed with printing.
  1. Do one of the following:
    • If you are printing plain paper forms without merging/pre-slugging, select File > Print.
    • If you are merging/pre-slugging, start the Merge Wizard and follow the wizard steps until you reach Printing, then click Print.
  2. Print one copy of the form.
  3. Visually check the alignment.

    4. The entire image should fit properly on the page. You will find that the default printer alignment settings are OK in most cases and that no printer alignment is required.

  4. Check print location with the ScanFlex Alignment Guide. Depending on your form, there are five or six alignment tests to perform. Perform each test in sequence and, if alignment is required, perform printer alignment as described below before moving from one test to the next.
    1. If you need to perform printer alignment, click Print again, the click Printer Alignment.

      2. TIP: Use the default Two Corner Alignment setting. It is very unlikely that you will need to use the advanced Four Corner Alignment.

    2. Examine the upper left corner of the laser printing. Check it against the ScanFlex Alignment Guide. Is it located properly or does it need to be moved? What direction? How far?
      1. If alignment is required, select Upper Left Corner and then use the Up/Down and Left/Right to move the printing. See the Printer Alignment dialog information above for details about how the controls work.
      2. Print another copy of your form and check it with your ScanFlex Alignment Guide. Reexamine the upper left corner of the laser printing. Repeat the process until the upper left corner is correctly located.
    3. Examine the right side and the bottom of the laser printing. Does it fit relative to the tests on the Guide or does it need to be resized? Longer? Shorter? Wider? Narrower? By how much?
      1. If alignment is needed, select Lower Right Corner and then use the Up/Down and Left/Right controls to adjust laser printing length and width to fit the page. See the Printer Alignment dialog information above for details about how the controls work.
      2. Print another copy of your form and reexamine the fit of the laser printing relative to the ScanFlex Alignment Guide. Repeat the process until the laser printing is correctly located.

    5. See the ScanFlex and PrintFlex Help topics for additional details about this process.

  5. Click OK to save your settings.
  6. Proceed with printing.

 

Merge Wizard - Printing step

Print dialog

ScanFlex Rules for Success - Introduction to ScanFlex and PrintFlex

Stock Forms