How to Export a OneNote 2016 Page to PDF with a Colored Background
Question details
The user needs to export a page in OneNote 2016 to a PDF document while preserving the custom background color of the page.
- Product
- OneNote 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Exporting or saving notes as a PDF file to share with others while maintaining the visual style, such as a dark blue or custom colored background.
- Observed behavior
- OneNote 2016 automatically drops the custom background color during the export process, resulting in a PDF with a default plain white background.
Before proceeding, prepare and save a solid-colored image file (such as a solid dark blue rectangle) on your computer that matches the background color you wish to display in your final PDF.
Use a Colored Image as a Custom Background Layer
Since OneNote does not natively support exporting custom background colors to PDF, you can insert a colored image and set it as the background before exporting the page.
OneNote 2016 defaults to a white background for all PDF exports to optimize documents for physical printing. By using a solid-colored image as a custom background layer, you can bypass this limitation and retain your desired page color in the final PDF document.
Open your page in OneNote 2016, navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon, select 'Pictures', and choose the solid-colored image file you saved on your computer.
Click and drag the corners of the inserted image to expand it until it completely covers the entire text area and workspace of your OneNote page.
Right-click the resized image and select 'Set Picture as Background' from the context menu. This action moves the image behind your notes and locks it in place.
Click 'File' in the top-left corner, then choose 'Export'. Under 'Export Current', select 'Page', choose 'PDF (*.pdf)' as your format, and click the 'Export' button to save your colored document.
Edit PDF Backgrounds Easily with WPS Office
If you frequently work with PDFs and need to adjust page layouts or background colors, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and powerful alternative to Microsoft Office. Its built-in PDF editor lets you quickly change PDF backgrounds without relying on complicated workarounds.
- 1. Download and install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website to download and install the free software suite on your computer.
- 2. Open the exported PDF: Launch WPS Office, select the PDF editor tool, and open the white-background PDF you exported from OneNote.
- 3. Change the PDF background: Navigate to the 'Edit' tab, click on 'Background', and select 'Add Background' to apply your preferred solid color directly to the PDF pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my exported OneNote PDF always have a white background?
OneNote 2016 is designed to optimize exports for standard document printing. Consequently, it automatically strips away custom page background colors and rule lines, defaulting to a white background in the generated PDF to save printer ink and ensure text readability.
Can I apply this image workaround to OneNote for Windows 10?
Yes. The process of inserting a colored image, resizing it, and setting it as the page background works identically in OneNote for Windows 10 and other modern versions of OneNote before you print or save the document as a PDF.
Is there a way to add a colored background to the PDF after it is exported?
Yes. Instead of changing the OneNote page itself, you can simply export the document with its default white background, open it in a dedicated PDF editor like WPS PDF, and use the 'Edit Background' feature to apply your desired color directly to the final file.
