'Actual size' true meaning?

[Lonely Tears]

I guess this is more of a technical/computer question than an Affinity one, though this started while using AP.

So I was prepping for a plush I'm making by editing a pattern piece. The image originally came from a PDF which I loaded into AP, made a quick edit, then double checked the sizing was the same (I assumed anyway) by choosing Zoom > Actual Size and measuring the little 1 x 1 inch square in the corner. It still measured correctly so I copied the modified pattern directly from AP. Once cut out though, it was considerably smaller than the original image in the PDF.  Now I'm really confused what 'Actual Size' means across different software if they turn out different sizes in real life. Husband mentioned it must be because AP converted the PDF to something else while being edited? To clarify the document size was the same for both programs, and in general every setting seemed to match.

I guess I assumed that 'Actual Size' setting meant you could basically hold an A4 paper up the screen for a perfect match on the monitor, but in fact neither AP or Adobe Acrobat Reader did that, so now I'm confused how to achieve the sizing someone like a pattern creator intended irl.

[h_d]

I would use a combination of Rulers and the Transform panel to check and adjust the precise size of your image. If rulers aren't visible, go to View and choose Show Rulers. 

Below, my selected object is 35.5mm W x 34.7mm H. You can align the ruler origin to the top left margins of the document by dragging from the top left corner where the two rulers meet.

(This is in Affinity Photo but if by AP you mean Affinity Publisher it's pretty much the same.)

 

(Holding up a ruler or piece of paper to the screen isn't quite as dramatic as using Tippex to correct mistakes, but it's just as unreliable )

 

[walt.farrell]

3 hours ago, Lonely Tears said:

so I copied the modified pattern directly from AP.

Have you tried Exporting the file? Copy/Paste (if that's what you mean by "copied") may be affected by a variety of other factors.