Printing certificates for a school kalolsavam or any judged competition goes wrong in three predictable ways: a name or grade typed wrongly, a batch printed before the results were final, and text that lands off-centre because the printer shrank the page. This guide covers the whole job in order: lock the results, pick the right certificate, choose the paper layout, test print, then run the batch.
Step 1: Print only after the results are final
A certificate is a record. If a rank changes after printing, you reprint, and the wrong copy may already be in a child’s hand. Wait until judging is closed, ties are settled and any appeal window you announced has passed. Then print straight from the published result, so the name, item, grade and rank on the certificate come from the same record as the result page and cannot disagree with it.
Step 2: Choose the certificate type
| Type | Who gets it | What it usually carries |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | Everyone who took part in an item | Name, school or unit, item, event name |
| Rank | Winners of an item (first, second, third) | Name, item, rank, grade, event name |
| Top position | Overall or championship toppers | Name, title won, event name |
Design each type once: your logo, the event name, and up to three signature lines (for example the principal, the festival convener and the programme coordinator). Pick a look and a background, then click any part of the certificate to change its font, size or colour. The same design is then filled with each winner’s details.
Step 3: Pick the sheet layout
Rank certificates print in one of two layouts:
- A4 landscape, one per sheet — the usual choice when you print on an office printer and hand over each certificate on its own.
- A3 portrait, two per sheet — two landscape certificates stacked on one A3 sheet, for a print shop that will cut them. It halves the number of sheets for a large festival.
Step 4: Run one test print
Print a single certificate on ordinary copier paper before any batch. Check four things:
- Spelling of the longest name you have, to see that it fits on one line.
- Margins — nothing cut off on any edge.
- Centring — hold the sheet to the light against a ruler or a second sheet.
- Signature space — enough room for a pen above each signature line.
If you are printing onto paper that already has a border or school crest, hold your test print over it against a window. If the two do not line up, adjust the design rather than the printer.
Step 5: Set the printer correctly
| Setting | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | Actual size (100%) | “Fit to page” shrinks the certificate and moves everything. |
| Orientation | Landscape for A4, portrait for A3 two-up | A wrong choice rotates or crops the design. |
| Paper size | Match the layout you chose | A3 design on A4 paper loses the edges. |
| Quality | Best or high | Small signature lines and fine borders print cleanly. |
| Paper | Heavier paper, about 170–250 gsm | Feels like an award and does not curl. |
Step 6: Print the batch in groups
Print by group, item or house rather than the whole festival at once. A batch that stops on a paper jam is easy to resume when each group is its own job, and you can hand each sub-coordinator their school’s stack. Check the first and last certificate of every batch against the result sheet before you hand them out.
Common mistakes
- Printing before an appeal or recount is finished.
- Retyping names into a separate file. Print from the result record instead.
- Skipping the test print because the same template worked last year. Printers, paper and names change.
- Mixing A3 and A4 settings between batches.
Frequently asked questions
How do I print kalolsavam certificates for all winners at once?
Finalise and publish the results, choose the certificate design, select the group or item whose winners you want, and print the sheet. Printing a group at a time is safer than one giant job.
Why does my certificate print smaller than on screen?
The print dialog is probably set to “Fit to page” or a different paper size. Switch to actual size (100%) and match the paper size to the layout you picked.
Can I add the principal’s signature?
The rank certificate has up to three signature lines with your own headings. Most schools leave the space blank and sign by hand after printing.
For the setup side, see the chest number, ID card and certificate generator and how chest numbers and ID cards are generated. To see the certificate designer, open the read-only live demo, or message us on WhatsApp (WhatsApp only, no phone calls) or email support@etalenter.com. Malayalam version: സർട്ടിഫിക്കറ്റ് പ്രിന്റിംഗ് ഗൈഡ് (മലയാളം).
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