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MICROSOFT WORD FONT SIZE DIFFERENT

SIM B. REID 0 Reputation points
2026-04-08T17:12:58.6633333+00:00

We recently installed a new Sharp BP-51C26 Digital copier replacing a older Sharp MX-B456 copier why does the font size 12 print smaller when printing booklet on the new copier

Sim

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | Other | Windows
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  1. Charles Kenyon 167.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-04-16T13:45:05.27+00:00

    Do you have the correct driver software for the new printer/copier?

    If you do, I suspect that your best answer will come from the copier manufacturer.

    I assume that the problem arises with any document using that font, not just this document.

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  2. Stefan Blom 340.9K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-04-14T08:01:33.8366667+00:00

    Do you need further assistance with this issue?

    I take it you are using the "Book fold" option in Word's Page Setup dialog box? Also, see if there is a scaling option in your printer settings (because such an option could lead to unexpected results).

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  3. Katerina-N 9,085 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-04-13T22:14:17.35+00:00

    Hello SIM B. REID,

    Thanks for the details. This behavior is expected with booklet printing, and it’s usually caused by extra scaling from the printer driver, not Word itself. Here’s what’s happening and how to fix it:

    Why the font looks smaller?

    In Microsoft Word: When you print a booklet / multiple pages per sheet, Word already scales pages down

    On the Sharp BP-51C26 Digital Copier: The driver may also apply “Fit to page” or “Reduce/Enlarge”

    This creates double scaling, so 12 pt text prints smaller than expected

    Fix: prevent double scaling 

    Step 1 — Check settings in Word

    1. Go to File > Print 
    2. Under Settings:

    Use Booklet (or Print on both sides > flip short edge) 

    1. Confirm:

    Paper size matches your document (A4 or Letter) 

    1. Make sure:

    “Scale to paper size” is OFF

    Step 2 — Check printer settings (important)

    1. In Print window > click Printer Properties / Preferences 
    2. In the driver settings: 

    Set Scaling = 100% 

    Turn OFF:

    • Fit to page
    • Reduce / Enlarge
    • Auto scaling
    1. Make sure: 

    Paper size matches Word exactly

    1. Do NOT enable:

    Booklet / 2-up in the printer if Word already handles it 

    I hope this will help with your situation. Please feel free to reach back if you have further update or more questions.

    Best Regards,

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  4. AI answer

    2026-04-08T17:13:10.3933333+00:00

    In Word, a 12‑point font will always be the same logical size, but the printed size can appear different when:

    1. The printer or driver changes scaling
      • The new Sharp device may be applying different default scaling (for example, “Fit to page,” “Borderless,” or a different booklet/imposition mode) than the old copier.
      • In the Word Print dialog, ensure Settings → Scale to Paper Size is set to the actual paper size and not scaling up/down.
      • In the printer’s own properties/preferences (opened from Word’s Print dialog), turn off any “shrink to fit,” “fit to printable area,” or custom zoom/scaling options.
    2. Booklet layout is handled differently
      • Different devices/print drivers impose booklets differently (e.g., margins, gutters, and internal scaling to fit two pages per sheet).
      • Compare the booklet settings on the old and new Sharp drivers: page size, margins, and any “reduce/enlarge” or “image adjustment” options.
    3. Word zoom vs. print size
      • On screen, zoom has no effect on the printed size. To confirm the actual print size, use File > Print and check the print preview. If the preview shows the text smaller relative to the sheet, Word is scaling; if it looks correct, the printer driver is scaling.

    To troubleshoot:

    1. In Word, set the document page size correctly (e.g., A4/Letter) and confirm font is 12 pt.
    2. In File > Print, choose the new Sharp printer and set Pages per sheet and Scale to Paper Size so there is no extra scaling beyond the booklet layout.
    3. Open the Sharp printer Preferences/Properties from the same dialog and set scaling/zoom to 100% (or “Actual size”) and re‑test.
    4. If possible, print the same document as a non‑booklet single‑sided job to both printers and compare. If single‑page output matches, the difference is specifically in the booklet/imposition settings on the new device.

    References:

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