PDF Conversion Issues

How to Fix Word Document Colors Changing When Exported to PDF

Steve K Oct 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an issue where the colors of text, shapes, or borders in a Microsoft Word document appear different or distorted after the file is exported to a PDF format.

How to Fix Word Document Colors That Change When Exported to PDF

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Exporting a formatted Word document containing specific colored elements to a PDF file for sharing or printing.
Observed behavior: The colors in the exported PDF file do not accurately match the original colors displayed in the Microsoft Word document.

Before you start

Verify whether the color distortion affects the entire document content or only specific elements like page borders and inserted shapes.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Microsoft Print to PDF Feature

Bypass Word's built-in 'Save As PDF' export engine by using the virtual PDF printer, which often handles color rendering differently.

Microsoft Word utilizes different rendering engines for saving a file as a PDF versus printing it to a PDF. If the standard export alters your colors, the Print to PDF function forces the application to process the file exactly as it would for a physical printer, which typically resolves color profile mismatches.

Open the Print Menu

Open your affected document in Microsoft Word and click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Print' from the left sidebar.

Select the PDF Printer

Under the 'Printer' dropdown menu, choose 'Microsoft Print to PDF' instead of your physical printer.

Print and Save

Click the 'Print' button. A dialog box will appear asking where you want to save the file. Name your document, click 'Save', and open the new PDF to verify the colors.

Alternative PDF Printers: If 'Microsoft Print to PDF' is missing, you can use third-party virtual PDF printers or Windows' built-in XPS Document Writer to achieve a similar workaround.

Solution 2

Update Microsoft Office to the Latest Version

Install the latest Microsoft Office updates to patch known bugs related to PDF export and color management.

Export PDF Accurately

Export Documents to PDF with Accurate Colors in WPS Office

Avoid color rendering issues entirely by using WPS Office. The built-in PDF converter in WPS Office utilizes a highly optimized rendering engine that accurately preserves your document's original colors, borders, and complex shapes without requiring complex workarounds.

1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open the Word (.docx) document you need to convert.
2. Access the Export Tool: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and click the 'Export to PDF' button.
3. Save with Accurate Colors: Verify your export settings, choose a destination folder, and click 'Export' to generate a color-accurate PDF file instantly.

Flawless color preservation during PDF exportSeamless compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsBuilt-in advanced PDF editing and conversion toolsLightweight application with high rendering performance

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do colors look different in a PDF compared to Microsoft Word?

This happens because Word operates in an RGB color space designed for screens, while PDF exports often attempt to map colors to CMYK profiles used for commercial printing. This conversion can cause bright colors to look washed out or muted.

Does the 'Optimize for' setting in Word affect PDF colors?

Yes. When exporting a PDF, choosing 'Minimum size (publishing online)' applies aggressive compression, which can degrade image quality and alter color rendering compared to the 'Standard' option.

Can my PDF viewer application change how colors are displayed?

Absolutely. Different PDF viewers interpret color profiles differently. A PDF might look faded in a web browser but display perfectly accurate colors when opened in dedicated software like Adobe Acrobat or WPS PDF.

PDF Troubleshooting