Creating a PDF

Portable Document Format (PDF) files are useful because they act as electronic versions of printed pages with several benefits over traditional paper copies:

  • PDFs are a greener option
    • No paper required
    • No need to power on a printer
    • No need for toner
    • No reprinting pages that have mistakes
  • They are usually small enough to be easily transferred via e-mail or on a USB thumbdrive
  • PDFs are viewable on almost any electronic device (from computers to smart phones to tablets)

How do you create a PDF? Creating them is similar to printing your document on paper.

Creating a PDF on a Macintosh computer:

The ability to create PDF’s is built into the Macintosh Operating System so the process is the same for all applications:

  1. Open the document you would like to convert into a PDF
  2. Select File > Print or type Command-P
  3. In the bottom left corner of the print dialog is a PDF drop-down menu, click the button and choose Save as PDF

     
  4. Give the file a name and choose the location you would like to save it. You can also change the document Title and Author if you like.
  5. Click Save

Creating a PDF on a Windows computer:

Windows 10 computers have a printer named Microsoft Print to PDF. You're able to print your document to this printer and it will create a PDF for you. Here are the steps to create one:

  1. Open the document you would like to convert into a PDF
  2. Select File > Print or type Ctrl-P.
  3. Click on the printer named Microsoft Print to PDF


     
  4. Ensure all of your other settings are as you like (page size, orientation, margins, etc)
  5. Click the Print button
  6. You will be presented with a dialog box Save Print Output As.


     
  7. Enter the name for your document.
  8. Navigate to where you'd like to save the document and click Save.

That’s it! You now have a PDF version of the document that you can use and distribute as you see fit.

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