> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://helping.alive-pic.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Templates and Paper Sizes

Templates are what turn a raw photo into a polished, branded print. Paired with the right paper size, they make every print look professional — without any extra effort.

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## Supported Paper Sizes

| Size | Dimensions | Orientation | Best For |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2x6 | 2 × 6 inches | Portrait (tall strip) | Classic photo strips |
| 4x6 | 4 × 6 inches | Portrait | Photo cards, single photos |
| 6x4 | 6 × 4 inches | Landscape | Wide layouts, group photos |

### 2x6 — The Classic Strip

The most iconic photo booth format. A tall, narrow strip with 3–4 stacked photos. Guests love these — they fit in wallets, stick on fridges, and feel nostalgic.

* Requires 2x6 strip paper or can be cut from 4x6 sheets
* Use the **Duplicate Strip** feature to print two strips side-by-side on a 4x6 sheet

### 4x6 — The Photo Card

A standard photo print size. Great for single featured photos, multi-photo layouts with more room, or premium-feeling outputs.

* Uses standard 4x6 photo paper (the most widely available format)
* More space for branding, text, and decorative elements

### 6x4 — Landscape Card

Same paper as 4x6, just rotated to landscape orientation. Ideal for wide group shots or horizontal template designs.

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## What Is a Print Template?

A print template defines how your printed photo will look. Think of it as a design blueprint that controls:

* **Where the photos go** — One big photo, or multiple poses arranged together
* **The background design** — Your branding, logos, borders, event name, hashtags — anything behind the photos
* **The paper size** — Matched to one of the sizes above

You design the template once, and ALIVE applies it automatically to every print.

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## How Templates Work

1. A guest takes photos in the booth
2. ALIVE places the photos into the template layout
3. The background design is layered behind the photos
4. Everything is combined into a single, polished image
5. The final image is sent to your printer

The result: a professional, branded print — every single time.

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## Photo Layouts

Templates support different layouts depending on what you're going for:

* **Single photo** — One photo fills the entire print (great for 4x6 cards)
* **Multi-photo strips** — 3 or 4 photos stacked vertically (classic photo strip style)
* **Custom arrangements** — Photos arranged in creative layouts with your branding

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## Background Designs

The background is where your branding lives. It sits behind the guest photos and can include:

* Client logos
* Event names and dates
* Decorative borders and frames
* Hashtags and social handles
* Any custom artwork

|| For the sharpest prints, make sure your background image matches the paper size. A blurry background means a blurry print.

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## Print Modes

### Standard (Borderless)

The image fills the entire paper edge to edge — no white borders. This is the most popular mode for photo cards.

### Strip Tiling

For photo strips, ALIVE can **tile two copies of a strip side by side on a single sheet**. A 4x6 sheet becomes two 2x6 strips that guests can tear apart. One print, two keepsakes — and your paper cost stays the same.

[screenshot: Strip tiling showing two 2x6 strips on a 4x6 sheet]

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## Automatic Scaling

ALIVE automatically adjusts the template output to match your specific printer. The same template produces great results across different printer models — you design once, and the app handles the rest.

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## The Golden Rule

Your **template size** must match your **paper size**. If they don't match:

* The print might be stretched or compressed
* You'll get unexpected white borders
* The output won't look professional

| Before every event, verify: Template size = Paper size = Paper loaded in printer. This three-way match is the key to perfect prints.

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## Tips

* **2x6 strips are the crowd favorite** — If you're not sure, go with strips
* **Design at high resolution** — Use high-quality background images so your prints come out sharp
* **Test before events** — Print a test copy to make sure your template looks right on paper
* **Keep it clean** — Templates with too much going on can distract from the guest's photo
* **Buy paper in bulk** — You'll go through more than you think, especially at large events

| A great template makes your prints look premium. Spend time getting your design right — it's one of the biggest things that sets professional operators apart.

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## What's Next?

* [Live Print Preview](/en/article/live-print-preview-6e894l) — See how your template looks before printing
* [Configuring Print Behavior](/en/article/configuring-print-behavior-19193ub) — Auto-print, copies, and print limits