Print a test badge

Print one before you print a thousand. This is the cheapest step in the whole badge process and the one that catches the expensive mistakes.

Steps

1. Open Badges and select your template.
2. Choose a Sample attendee — pick a real one, ideally with a long name.
3. Click Print test.

   

4. Print it on the actual badge stock, not plain A4.

What to check on the physical badge

Hold the printed badge, do not judge it on screen.

• Read it from three metres. If you cannot read the first name at arm's length across a room, it is too small.
• Nothing trimmed. Text and the QR code fully inside the cut edge.
• Scan the QR with the Check-in page. Not "it looks like a QR code" — actually scan it.
• Put it in a lanyard holder. Holders cover more than people expect, often a strip along the top.
• Colours match what you designed. Screens are backlit; print is not, and everything comes out darker.
• Try a long name and an Arabic name, if you have both.

Test the whole chain, not just the badge

If you print on the day, test the full path: print kiosk, real printer, real stock, real scanner. A badge that is perfect from the designer can still fail from the kiosk on venue hardware.

What happens next

A test print does not check the sample attendee in and does not count anywhere. Print as many as you need.

Common problems

It prints smaller than designed. Your print dialog is scaling. Set scale to 100% or "Actual size", not "Fit to page".

Colours are off. Normal between screen and print. If it matters, ask your supplier for a proof on their machine.

The QR will not scan from paper but does on screen. Too small or low contrast on that stock. Enlarge it and use pure black on white.

Arabic prints as empty boxes. The font does not support Arabic. Change the font on that text element.

Nothing happens when you click Print test. A blocked pop-up. Allow pop-ups for the site and try again.