Print-ready PDFs: greyscale, pages per sheet and booklets
Printing at a shop or at home costs less with fewer sheets and no colour. PDF Maker turns a PDF greyscale, puts several pages on one sheet, lays out booklets and sends the file to a printer, all on your Android phone.
These steps are for PDF Maker, our Android app. The app does the work on your phone; this web page does not touch your files.
Make a PDF greyscale (black and white)
- Open PDF Maker and tap Greyscale PDF in the PDF group, then choose the file.
- Choose Keep text (colours and pictures turn grey, the text stays selectable, and the file is usually smaller) or As pictures (each page redrawn as a grey picture; larger, and the text can no longer be selected).
- With As pictures, set the Sharpness. Then tap Make greyscale and save.
Some forms and portals ask for black-and-white scans; a greyscale copy also prints faster and saves colour ink.
Several pages on one sheet
- Tap Pages per sheet and choose the PDF.
- Pick 2, 4, 6 or 9 pages on each sheet and the Paper size. Turn on a thin frame around each page if you like.
- Tap Make sheets. The pages are placed in reading order.
Good for lecture slides, handouts, drafts and revision notes. Convert slides first with PowerPoint to PDF.
Print a booklet
Booklet puts the pages two to a side in booklet order. Print on both sides, flipping on the short edge, then fold the stack in the middle and staple it: the pages come out in the right order. Blank pages are added at the end when needed, so the booklet folds evenly.
Print from your phone
Print PDF opens Android's print screen, where you choose the printer, the number of copies, the pages and two-sided printing. It works with printers your phone can reach, or with Save as PDF.
All four tools run on your phone, with no upload and no daily limit.
Questions
How do I convert a colour PDF to black and white?
Open PDF Maker, tap Greyscale PDF, choose Keep text or As pictures and tap Make greyscale.
How do I print 4 pages on one sheet?
Use Pages per sheet, pick 4 and your paper size, and tap Make sheets. Then print the new PDF.
How do I print a PDF as a booklet?
Use Booklet, then print on both sides flipping on the short edge, fold the stack in the middle and staple it.
Does greyscale make the PDF smaller?
Usually, with Keep text. As pictures can make it larger. To reach an exact size, use Reduce PDF size.