Canada Topographic Maps are paper maps created in one of 3 scales:
What is being viewed here on this website, are scanned images of those original paper maps. The scale on the original paper map is exact but both the scanned image on the screen and resulting printout can be different scales from the original. This is not a problem unless you are printing the map and using the printout to find your way in the backcountry. In the backcountry, your scale should be as per the map or else be a scale you are very comfortable with.
On the screen of a computer, the scanned images of the maps are automatically rescaled as per internal computer/browser settings for optimal viewing. There is no attempt to match the scaling of the original image. Also, the printed map is often scaled to fit the selected papersize. Hence, the map appearing on the screen, the map you print, and the original map may all be different scales. So... be careful when viewing your 1:50,000 map on the screen or off the printer. The scale may not be 1:50,000.
Because of this scaling issue on computer images, Canada recently started printing a scale on the bottom of its newer topographical maps. To check if your printed map (or screen) is scaled properly, measure the scale printed on the map with your ruler. For example, on a 1:50,000 map, the 4 km scale printed on the map should be exactly 8 cm long.
Generally speaking on this website, the screen image of topographical map will be enlarged by a factor of about 3. The printout of an 8x11 map on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper should scale close to original. Scalewise, it will appear very different from the screen version. If you are printing the Topo Map using a print-house, you must specifically ask that the printout be scaled to 300 pixels per inch (ppi) (aka 300 dots per inch dpi) and ensure they know how to do that. Otherwise, the map will scaled to - you guessed it - the size of the paper they use. In other words, the paper must be scaled to the image, not vica versa.
In the backcountry, one should keep to the map-scale which the originator of the map intended. That way, anyone can use the map. Over time, one gets a feel for time and distance on standard maps using standard scales. For example, if the map is a 1:50,000 map then 4 cm measured on the map will represent 2 km. That means, 4 cm on the map should take about half an hour to hike. But if computer-automated scaling exists on the map, then 2 cm on the map can mean anything and paper distances on the paper map become meaningless at best and confusing/disorienting at worst.
Below is a list of print-houses familiar with this website who will ensure your maps are printed to scale.
For correct scaling, you must use a 300 dpi (dots per inch) printer.
For paper size, all 811 sub-maps assume a 300 dpi printers and expect 8.5" x 11" paper. The large map paper size varies from map to map and must be calculated by finding the pixel size of the downloaded image and dividing by 300. For example, the 1:50,000 map 031e06 - Huntsville is a direct download of 031e06_0400_canmatrix.prttif.zip from NRCAN converted from .tif to .jpg (as most browsers do not understand .tif). When the image is viewed, you can see it is 11226 x 8247 pixels which at 300 dpi, requires 37.42" x 27.49" size paper or slightly larger to allow for printer margins.
All 811 maps are 3300x2550 pixels which, when divided by 300 is 8.5x11. Subtract 100 pixels for printer margin to get 3100x2350 pixel print area which is the size of the image downloaded. Note there is a 60 pixel margin ( 120 pixel margin on the bottom) for labels leaving a 2980x2170 pixel sub-map from the NRCAN map for print. This is represented by the pink outline seen on the NRCAN map which shows the size, location, and margin of 811 sub-maps.
Figuring out your printer dpi setting and changing them (possible on a few higher end printers) is not simple. Most home printers default to 300dpi and if accuracy is not critical, they can be used for the 811 maps. If using CUPS printer drivers, you might be able to check your printer settings in http://localhost:631/admin to see if it is a 300 dpi printer.
If you are still having trouble, you can refer back to Natural Resources Canada website. For detailed print information about maps downloaded from Natural Resources Canada click here. and check the CanMatrix-Print_Ready column under table heading 6. What are the main characteristics for CanMatrix-Print_Ready, CanMatrix-Georeferenced, Toporama and CanTopo products?
Also, you can contact Natural Resources Canada directly directly at nrcan.geoinfo.rncan@canada.ca . The maps you are trying to print originated from Natural Resources Canada ftp site using a linux script similar to the following...
wget ftp://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/nrcan_rncan/raster/topographic/50k/117/d/03/117d03_e_0100_canmatrix_prttif.zip