How to Print Lines and Rotated Text Without a PDF Background
Question details
The user wants to print lines and rotated text added to a PDF form, but needs to exclude the original PDF background from printing.
- Product
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing filled data onto pre-printed physical forms where the document's digital background is unnecessary and would waste ink.
- Observed behavior
- Standard text added via 'Fill & Sign' or 'Edit PDF' does not print when the 'Form Fields Only' option is selected, or printing normal content forces the background to print.
Ensure you are using a PDF editor with advanced form creation tools (like Prepare Form), rather than basic Fill & Sign features, as the print behavior differs significantly between them.
Use Form Fields and Printable Annotations
Create interactive line fields and text fields using the Prepare Form tool to ensure only the entered data prints when selecting the 'Form Fields Only' print option.
When you use the 'Form Fields Only' print option, standard text added via 'Fill & Sign' or 'Edit PDF' is treated as part of the document background and will not print. To resolve this, you must use interactive form fields or specific printable annotations.
This approach is perfect for overlaying digital form entries onto pre-printed physical paper.
Open your PDF document in your preferred PDF editor and access the 'Prepare Form' or 'Form' menu to begin adding interactive elements.
Select the text field tool to draw the input areas over the document where you need text or lines to appear.
Right-click the inserted text field and select 'Properties'. Go to the 'Appearance' or 'General' tab to adjust the text orientation or rotation angle as required.
Go to 'File' > 'Print'. In the print dialog box, locate the 'Comments & Forms' dropdown (or similar print content setting) and select 'Form Fields Only'. This ensures the background is ignored during printing.
Create and Print Custom PDF Forms with WPS Office
WPS Office provides robust PDF editing tools, allowing you to easily insert form fields, rotate text, and customize print settings so you print exactly what you need without wasting ink on backgrounds.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document in the built-in PDF editor.
- 2. Insert Form Fields: Navigate to the 'Form' tab to add text fields, insert lines, and modify field properties to adjust text orientation.
- 3. Print Form Data Only: Press Ctrl+P to open the Print dialog. Under the print content settings, choose to print only the form fields to exclude the background.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Fill & Sign text not printing when I select 'Form Fields Only'?
The Fill & Sign tool flattens text into the main PDF content layer, which the printer interprets as the document background. To print text without the background, you must use interactive form fields created via the 'Prepare Form' tool.
How do I rotate text in a PDF form field?
Right-click the form field, select 'Properties', and navigate to the 'Appearance' tab. From there, you can change the text orientation or specify a rotation angle.
Can I print only comments and annotations without the PDF background?
Yes. In the Print dialog box, look for the 'Comments & Forms' section and select 'Document and Markups' or a similar annotation-only setting, depending on how your specific PDF software labels printable markups.
