When the final output has to be printed, the printing scale has to be defined. The typical output to be printed is the orthomosaic as it serves as a map. Common scales for printing an orthomosaic:

• 1:1000
• 1:500
• 1:200
• 1:100
• 1:50
• 1:10 (small objects)
• 1:5 (small objects)

The printing scale indicates the acceptable error that a printed orthomosaic can have. The acceptable error is based on the smallest difference that a human can distinguish at a drawing, which on a scale of 1:1, is about 0.25 mm. This error should be multiplied by the printing scale to calculate the acceptable error that a printed orthomosaic should have.

The acceptable error defines the GSD that should be obtained for the project. The GSD should be at least 3 times smaller than the acceptable error. For more information about the GSD: Ground sampling distance (GSD).