How to save your thesis as a PDF file for perfect printing

Prepare your thesis for printing and binding the right way. Discover what software to use to save your thesis as a PDF file and learn useful tips and tricks for the best printing results!

Done at last! Your thesis is written, the hardest and most tedious part is over. Now it's time to prepare your thesis for submission in the best possible way. Several steps are necessary for this. To ensure that your thesis has what it takes to get the top grade, Thesis & Me will get your work up to speed – with professional text corrections. Whether proofreading and editing, formatting or plagiarism checking: we offer everything reliably from a single source. But that's not all. To ensure smooth printing afterwards, the right preparation is everything here, too. Before we can start printing, we need your thesis in PDF format. Is it still in another format? No problem. We'll show you how to easily convert it into a PDF.

Export your thesis as a PDF: the best software to use

PDF is an ISO-standardized version of the Portable Document Format designed for electronic document archiving and long-term storage. This is the ideal format for professional printing since what you see in the PDF document is exactly what you will get when it is printed, with everything set out just how you planned. Thereby you effectively avoid potential formatting problems and shifts. When you have completed the final draft of your thesis, including the cover, the content, and any attachments you may want to add, you must create a PDF file. How can you do that?

Desktop or mobile: both are possible

Whether you are using your laptop or mobile device, converting your thesis into a PDF file is a task that can be easily completed. While the desktop option is more convenient, there are apps you can use on your phone if you are on the go.

✔ Mobile: Android smartphones and tablets can perform numerous activities that you would believe require a PC. These are excellent tools for working on or converting papers on the move. Some great applications you can use include Able2Extract PDF Converter, PDF Converter Pro, Doc to PDF Converter, and more. Most mobile applications are also available for iOS devices, so you can just convert and edit PDF on your iPhone and you can also continue editing the converted files when you have a computer in front of you.

✔ Desktop: Although smartphone technology allows you to convert files from one format to another, doing so consumes RAM and the app itself requires space. The ideal method is to format files on a computer before transferring them to other devices. If you are looking for a PDF converter that can transform PDF files to and from other file types, such as Word, Excel, PPT, JPG, PNG, Ebook, and HTML, you should opt for a desktop software for your computer.

3 top ways to convert your thesis into PDF

There are three general ways in which you can convert your thesis file into a PDF: professionally, quickly or creatively. Let’s explore the three options.

1. Professionally: using Adobe

To convert Microsoft Word documents to PDF files, use Adobe Acrobat online services. After you sign in, you may easily download the converted file and share it with others. Adobe ensures that your document formatting is preserved when you use our online Word to PDF conversion tool. When you use the online tool to convert DOC and DOCX files, your fonts, graphics, and alignment will appear as intended on Mac or Windows.

2. Quickly: Microsoft Office

You could also save or convert your files to PDFs using Office software so that you can share them or print them using professional printers. No additional software or plug-ins are needed.

The most recent versions after Microsoft Office 2007 enable you to save directly the document as a PDF. Navigate to Files -> Save As and pick ".pdf format" from the Save As Type drop-down menu. To save, click the "Save" button.

3. Creatively: External PDF readers

There are various PDF reader and converter programs you can use to transform your thesis into a PDF file. Some are entirely online, while other could also be used offline and do not require an internet connection.

Nitro online Word to PDF Converter is one option. However, there are several limits to this program. While converting and delivering an average-sized PDF file is rapid, files with more pages or complicated formatting may take longer. Also, Nitro will only convert files with fewer than 50 pages or 5 MB in size.

WPS online PDF converter uploads your file on cloud storage. Upload your file by dragging and dropping it into the selection box or choosing it from your computer. Wait until the Word to PDF conversion is complete before downloading the file. One hour after conversion, your files will be erased from the WPS servers.

Wondershare PDFelement is another excellent tool. It lets you convert files on- and offline. It has Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS applications. It is also useful for bulk PDF conversion. PDFelement is available for free download for anyone who wishes to give it a try. It does, however, limit the number of pages you can convert.

When deciding what software to use to convert your thesis into a PDF file, first and foremost, consider what features you need. Secondly, make sure the program you go for is compatible with your operating system and runs smoothly. Thirdly, ensure that it is accessible, especially if you need to use it offline. Those factors could influence your decision.

What to keep in mind: 5 key factors

There are certain points and specifications you need to consider before submitting your thesis for printing and binding. Here is what you should pay extra attention to:

✔ Double-sided printing: When printing on both sides, make sure that the backs of title pages, tables of contents, figures, images, charts and so on are left blank. Check that the print file's page numbers are optimized for double-sided printing. If not, the page numbers will be partially printed inside the book.

✔ Margins: We recommend double-checking the margin settings. For instance, if you want a greater gap on the outside than on the inside, you must do it on both sides. Otherwise, the inner margin measurements will be on the outside of every second page. Verify the margins and page numbers in our convenient 3D live preview. This way, you can be certain that your printed book will be flawless.

✔ Colors & images: Make sure that your images and colors are consistent, especially after your converting your file into PDF format. Sometimes, depending on the software you use, they could get “broken” in the process, so check if you need to edit anything.

✔ Digital & Print: It is common practice for universities to require both a physical and digital copy of your thesis. The most important thing is to ensure that you are both copies completely match and you are not submitting two different versions of your thesis.

✔ Double-check: Last but not least, do not forget to double check every single detail. You want your thesis to be perfect – the best way to achieve that is by examining it in detail one last time before sending it over for printing and binding. “Perfection has to do with the end product, but excellence has to do with the process.” (Jerry Moran)