This page contains answers to commonly asked questions and general troubleshooting tips to help with technical issues for PDF files.
While we cannot answer specific questions about your computer's or printer's compatibility with our files or provide any personal assistance, below are some tips you can try.
If you are still having issues, you can turn to Google or Youtube for additional resources. Thank you for your understanding!
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Use Adobe Reader on a Desktop or Laptop
To open and print this product, you MUST use Adobe Reader.
Please do so from a computer (not a tablet or phone) and make sure you are NOT in preview mode (such as from an internet browser).
Adobe Reader can be downloaded for FREE at https://get.adobe.com/reader/.
If the file is still not working, you are most likely using a different PDF reader or in preview mode.
To make sure you are in Adobe:
- Download the file and close your browser so you are not opening the PDF online.
- Find the PDF file on your computer (such as in your Downloads folder), right click on the file, and select “Open with Adobe Reader.”
- If your computer asks to make Adobe Reader the default program to open PDF files, click “Yes.”
Tips for Printing PDF Files
Read below on tips for adjusting printing settings to print files as desired.
To avoid wasting paper and ink, tinker with the settings to print a few pages.
When you are satisfied with the layout, then go ahead and print the rest of the pages.
How to Print Specific Pages
Follow these steps to print a custom range of pages in your file:
- Open the PDF in Adobe Reader.
- Click on the small triangle on the left to expand the sidebar.
- Click on the icon for "Page Thumbnails" to preview all the pages in the document.
- Hold the CTRL button and select which pages you want to print.
- Click "Print," which should only include the pages you selected as your print range.
How to Change Print Size on Page
First, check that your file is opened in Adobe Reader. Then check these printer settings:
- Open the PDf in Adobe Reader.
- From the menu, click "Print."
- Look for the section "Page Size and Handling."
- Select the appropriate option, such as "Fit" or "Scale."
- Click "Print."
To print the document as is, select “Actual Size” or scale to “100%” and do a test print.
If you notice that parts of your file are being cut off, then change the page size setting to “Fit” and do another test print. You may also play with settings to print at a scale less than 100%.
If you notice huge white borders or the content appears shrunken on your page, then change the page size setting to “Fit” and do another test print. You may also play with settings to print at a scale greater than 100%.
If Black Boxes are Printing on the Page
Sometimes, your file with clip art or real photo appears fine on your device, but prints out with black boxes around the images.
This may be happening because the file is being printed:
- in a program other than Adobe Reader,
- from a phone or mobile device, or
- from a preview mode (such as in an internet browser or within an extracted folder).
To fix this, make sure the file is not being accessed from a zipped folder. If it is, then follow the instructions for how to unzip an extracted folder from our general FAQs page.
Next, make sure the file is opened in Adobe Reader.
If the problem is still happening, then follow these steps to print the file as an image in Adobe:
- Open the PDF in Adobe Reader.
- From the menu, click "Print."
- If you do not see "Print as Image" as an available option, click "Advanced" at the top.
- Select "Print as Image."
- Click "OK."
- Click "Print."
Tips for Editable or Form-Fillable PDF Files
An editable file means that some portions of text can be modified; graphics, background, or size cannot be edited. You will be able to tell if a PDF file is editable if you see blue form fields when you open the document in Adobe Reader.
Only text bound by a blue box may be edited. You do not need to install any additional fonts as the fonts will already be embedded in your file. Note that these blue form fields serve as an editing guide and will not be visible on the final print out.
You may type directly in the blue boxes as soon as you open the PDF file. You will not need to enter a password to modify these blue fields. If you are prompted to enter a password, that means you are trying to access a different edit mode of the document. Close the file, reopen it, and start typing into the blue boxes.
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If you download an editable or form-fillable PDF file from us, please follow the instructions in your download to add all your desired text. Text will be auto-filled on subsequent pages. Type text exactly as you want your text to appear.
Note that these files may not format properly for longer words. It is recommended to check pages to see if the layout works for you before printing.