Printable Graph Paper

Ternary Graph Paper

An equilateral triangle ruled in three directions, where every point is a mix of three components adding up to 100%.

297 × 210 mm
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How to print Ternary Graph Paper

  1. Pick the paper

    Choose Ternary Graph Paper from the list. It opens with the usual size already set.

    Ternary Graph Paper selected in the list of paper types
  2. Set it up

    Pick the paper size, the grid and the orientation. Customize holds colours, margins and more.

    Settings for Ternary Graph Paper: paper size, grid and orientation
  3. Download or print

    Download the ready PDF, or print straight from the page at 100% scale.

    Ternary Graph Paper preview with the Download PDF and Print buttons

Three numbers, two dimensions

A three-part mixture has only two degrees of freedom: fix any two proportions and the third is whatever is left. So a triangle is enough to show all of them, with each corner being 100% of one component and each opposite edge being 0% of it.

Reading a point means following the three sets of rulings back to their scales. The three values you get always sum to 100 — that is guaranteed by the geometry, not by your arithmetic.

Where three components is the whole problem

Ternary diagrams turn up wherever a material is defined by the ratio of exactly three things.

  • Soil texture — sand, silt and clay, the standard soil classification triangle.
  • Metallurgy — ternary alloy phase diagrams.
  • Petrology — QAP classification of igneous rocks.
  • Chemical mixtures — solvent systems and phase behaviour.
  • Colour mixing — three-pigment or three-primary composition.

Every sheet here is free, adjustable and prints at exact scale.

Questions

How do I read a point on a ternary diagram?

Follow the rulings parallel to each of the three edges back to their scales. Each corner represents 100% of one component, and the three readings always sum to 100%.

How many divisions should I use?

10 gives 10% steps, which is the standard and readable at A4. Go to 20 for 5% steps if you are plotting closely spaced compositions.

Can I use it for the soil texture triangle?

Yes — print at 10 divisions and draw the classification boundaries on once. That gives you a reusable master to plot samples on.