Printing your storybook PDF

What is in the file

The PDF has fifteen pages: the cover, a title page, the twelve story pages and a back cover. The pages are tall, close to a 2:3 shape, and saved at high resolution, so they print sharply at US Letter size (8.5 by 11 inches) and larger.

Printing at home

1. Open the PDF and choose Print.
2. Set the scaling to Fit or Fit to page, portrait.
3. Choose the highest quality setting your printer offers.
4. Use heavier paper if you have it: matte photo paper or 32 lb (120 gsm) paper holds color far better than everyday copy paper.
5. Print one page first to check color and margins, then the rest.

Because the pages are taller than Letter, a narrow white border is left at the sides. Keep it as a frame, or trim it with a paper cutter.

Printing at a print shop

Any office or copy shop that prints color documents can print the PDF. Ask for color, single-sided, on cardstock or heavyweight paper, and for the scaling to be set to fit the page.

Binding options, from simplest to most book-like:

• A clear-front report cover with a slide-on spine. Cheap and quick.
• Coil or comb binding. Lies flat when open.
• A stapled booklet (saddle stitch). Booklets need a page count in multiples of four, so ask for one blank page at the end to make sixteen.

Making it feel like a gift

• Print the cover on its own, on cardstock, and use it as the card.
• Tie the printed pages with a ribbon, or slip them into a large envelope.
• Print one favorite page and frame it beside the book.

Reading it on a screen

The private link opens on any phone, tablet or computer, with pages that turn. On a phone you can also save the PDF to Files or Books so it opens without a connection.