Color printer test page

Press Ctrl+P and this page prints a full test sheet: RGB and CMYK gradient bars, an alignment grid, an 11-step grayscale ramp, and text from 6 to 24 pt. It works with any inkjet or laser printer, including Epson, Canon, and HP models. Nothing is uploaded.

The sheet prints by itself. Press Ctrl+P, or Cmd+P on a Mac, and print at 100% scale on plain paper.

RGB gradient barsRedGreenBlueCMYK gradient barsCyanMagentaYellowBlackAlignment gridGrayscale ramp, percent black1009080706050403020100Text sizes6 ptSphinx of black quartz, judge my vow8 ptSphinx of black quartz, judge my vow10 ptSphinx of black quartz, judge my vow12 ptSphinx of black quartz, judge my vow14 ptSphinx of black quartz, judge my vow18 ptSphinx of black quartz, judge my vow24 ptSphinx of black quartz, judge my vow

Prefer a file? The PDF variant has the same charts as small downloads, and the black and white variant suits toner printers and black-only printing.

How to use

  1. Load plain paper, press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on a Mac), and set the scale to 100%. Fit-to-page shrinking changes the physical size of the grid and the text samples.
  2. Read the RGB and CMYK bars left to right. Each one starts at full strength and fades to paper white. A smooth fade with no banding means the ink is flowing evenly; white gaps or stripes point at a clogged nozzle on an inkjet or uneven toner on a laser.
  3. Check the alignment grid. Thin lines should stay continuous and meet the diagonals cleanly. Doubled or jagged lines mean it is time to re-run your printer's head alignment utility.
  4. Look at the grayscale ramp and the text sizes. Grays should stay neutral with no color tint, and even the 6 pt line should print sharp. When a cleaning cycle or an alignment run changes something, print the page again and compare.

Frequently asked questions

Is anything uploaded when I print this page?

No. The test sheet is part of the page itself, drawn as vector graphics by your browser, and printing goes through the browser's own print dialog straight to your printer. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is stored, and the page sets no cookies. If you prefer a file, the PDF variant serves the same charts as small static downloads.

Why do the color bars fade to white?

Each bar is a single ink at decreasing strength. The full-strength end shows whether the printer lays down solid color; the fade shows how it handles light coverage, where banding and ink-starved patches show up first. Fading to paper white instead of gray keeps the reading simple: anything that is not smooth color is a print defect.

What does the alignment grid show?

Fine vertical and horizontal lines, heavier lines every 25 mm, and two diagonals. A printer with aligned heads draws each line as a single crisp stroke. When thin lines double, break, or step off the diagonals, the heads are out of alignment; re-run the alignment utility from the printer's own menu and print again.

How often should I run a cleaning cycle?

There is no fixed schedule, and the right interval depends on the printer model, the ink, and how often you print. Cleaning consumes ink, so run it when this page shows missing lines or color gaps rather than on a calendar. If the sheet looks right, leave the printer alone.

Does this work with Epson, Canon, and HP printers?

Yes. The sheet is brand-neutral vector graphics, so any inkjet or laser printer a browser can print to can produce it, including Epson, Canon, and HP models. Brand utilities have their own names and menus, so use your printer's manual or support site for model-specific steps such as nozzle checks.