What prints with the starting settings
| Paper | US Letter — 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in) |
|---|---|
| Square size | 25.4 mm = 1″ |
| Squares on this page | 7 × 9 |
| Margins | 1/2″ |
| Line weight | 0.25 mm (bold 0.35 mm) |
| Print setting | Scale 100% / Actual size |
Standard square size
| Square size | Millimetres | Inches | Per inch | Grid on Letter | Grid on A4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2″ | 12.7 mm | 0.5″ | 2 | 15 × 20 | 14 × 21 |
| 1″ | 25.4 mm | 1″ | 1 | 7 × 10 | 7 × 10 |
| 1 1/2″ | 38.1 mm | 1.5″ | 0.67 | 5 × 6 | 4 × 7 |
| 2″ | 50.8 mm | 2″ | 0.5 | 3 × 5 | 3 × 5 |
| 10 mm | 10 mm | 0.394″ | 2.54 | 19 × 25 | 19 × 27 |
| 20 mm | 20 mm | 0.787″ | 1.27 | 9 × 12 | 9 × 13 |
| 25 mm | 25 mm | 0.984″ | 1.02 | 7 × 10 | 7 × 11 |
| 30 mm | 30 mm | 1.181″ | 0.85 | 6 × 8 | 6 × 9 |
Every square has a name
A plain grid helps you keep proportions; a labelled grid also lets you talk about locations. That makes it useful far beyond drawing class: in sewing, quilting, tabletop games and even planning a garden.
Uses
Grid method drawing. Copy a reference square by square for accurate proportions; turn on diagonals for portraits. To put a matching grid on your own photo, use add grid to image.
Enlarging patterns. Scale up small printed patterns to full size, one square at a time.
Battle maps. Name positions such as D7 at the table.
Planning. Lay out a garden, a room or a stitched design on named squares.
Printing tips
Print at 100% / Actual size so 1-inch squares are exactly 1 inch. Calibrate your printer if you need very accurate enlargements.
Frequently asked questions
What is the grid method of drawing?
You draw a grid over a reference photo and an identical grid (or a scaled one) on your paper, then copy the image one square at a time. Labels make it easy to keep track: what is in square C4 of the photo goes in square C4 of the drawing.
Why add diagonals?
Diagonals divide each square into four triangles, giving extra reference points for curves and details, which helps with portraits.
How do I enlarge a sewing pattern with it?
Many vintage and book patterns are printed on a small grid with a note such as "1 square = 1 inch". Print this paper at 1-inch squares and copy the pattern square by square to bring it to full size.
Can I use it as a battle map?
Yes. One-inch squares match the common 5-foot square scale used with miniatures, and the coordinates make it easy to call out positions. See 1 inch graph paper for plain battle-map grids.
Which square sizes are available?
From 5 mm to 2 inches, with presets for 1/2 inch, 1 inch, 1 1/2 inch, 2 inch, 10 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm and 30 mm.
What happens after column Z?
Columns continue AA, AB and so on, like a spreadsheet.
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