How to Fix PDF Font Size and Spacing Problems When Printing
Question details
Users are experiencing unreadably small text and unexpected spacing when printing PDF files, likely due to printer driver settings or scaling configurations.
- Product
- PDF Printer
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing PDF documents, specifically when exporting or printing forms from specialized software like real estate applications.
- Observed behavior
- The printed PDF exhibits unexpected letter spacing and unreadably small font sizes compared to the digital version.
Ensure your printer is turned on, connected properly, and loaded with the correct paper size. Verify if the issue occurs with all PDF files or just a specific document.
Adjust Print Scaling and Paper Size Settings
Disable automatic scaling features that shrink the document, ensuring fonts print at their actual size.
Many PDF viewers automatically scale documents to fit the printable area of the page. If the original document margins differ from your printer's default margins, this scaling can drastically shrink the font size and distort spacing.
Open your problematic PDF document and press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to open the print dialog window.
Find the section labeled 'Page Sizing & Handling', 'Scale', or 'Page Setup' depending on your PDF viewer.
Uncheck options such as 'Fit to Page' or 'Shrink Oversized Pages'. Select 'Actual Size' or set the Custom Scale exactly to 100%.
Click on 'Properties' or 'Preferences' next to your printer name to ensure the selected document size matches the physical paper loaded in your printer.
Click 'Print' and review the printed document to see if the font size and spacing are correct.
Change or Update the PDF Printer Driver
Test alternative virtual PDF printers or update your current printer driver to rule out software conflicts.
Print PDFs Correctly with WPS Office
WPS Office features a highly compatible, built-in PDF reader that bypasses common printer driver errors, ensuring your fonts and spacing print exactly as they appear on screen without unexpected shrinking.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office on your computer.
- 2. Open the PDF: Right-click your problematic PDF document, select 'Open with', and choose WPS PDF.
- 3. Access Print Settings: Click 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or simply press Ctrl+P.
- 4. Set to Actual Size: Under 'Print Handling', select 'Actual Size', ensure 'Auto Center' is checked, and click 'Print'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF text look so small when printed?
This usually happens when the print dialog is set to 'Shrink Oversized Pages' or 'Fit to Page'. These settings scale down the entire document to ensure all margins fit within your printer's default printable area. Selecting 'Actual Size' in the print dialog resolves this.
Can corrupted fonts cause spacing issues in printed PDFs?
Yes. If a PDF was created without embedding the original fonts, your printer might substitute them with its own default fonts, resulting in overlapping text or strange spacing. Using the 'Print as Image' option in your advanced print settings can bypass font rendering issues.
How do I test if my printer driver is causing the font problem?
Try printing the document using 'Microsoft Print to PDF' or another virtual PDF printer. If the newly created virtual PDF looks completely normal, the physical printer's driver is likely at fault and should be updated from the manufacturer's website.
