About ternary graph paper
A ternary diagram plots mixtures of three parts on an equilateral triangle, where every point sums to 100%. Three families of parallel lines let you read each component straight off an edge. It is the standard tool for soil texture, alloys, phase diagrams and any recipe of three ingredients.
Each corner of the triangle is one pure component and the opposite edge is 0% of it, so any point inside represents a three-part mixture that adds to 100%. Three families of parallel lines let you read each component off its own axis — the standard tool for soil texture, alloys and phase work.
Set the grid interval to the precision you need; 10% divisions are typical. To plot a point, find each component's value along its axis and follow the grid lines to where they meet.
Great for
- Soil texture and sediment classification
- Alloy and phase diagrams
- Petrology and mineralogy
- Three-component mixture design
Common questions
How do I read a ternary plot?
Read each of the three components along its own set of parallel grid lines; the three values always add up to 100%.
What is ternary paper used for?
Soil texture classification, alloy and phase diagrams, petrology, and any design problem mixing three ingredients.
Guides for this paper
Printing at the right size
Every sheet is drawn in real units, so it prints true to size as long as you print at 100%. In the print dialog, set the scale to 100% and turn off “Fit to page” or “Shrink oversized pages” — then a 5 mm square really measures 5 mm. Download a vector SVG to edit later, a PNG at up to 600 dpi, or a ready-to-print PDF. Everything is generated in your browser, nothing is uploaded, and every sheet is free to print for personal, classroom and commercial use. See the guide to printing at true size or the FAQ for more.