Creating PDFs in Microsoft Powerpoint for Print

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Last updated: Mar 06, 2017 by Robert Fricke
6 min read

Mac Instructions (Office 2008 and Office 2011)

Start by making sure you've got a "poster-sized" poster:

1. Open your poster in Powerpoint, and go to File menu > Page Setup. 

2.  If the dimensions are 10" x 7.5", you haven't set the size of the poster yet.  If you have previously entered your dimensions, skip to Save your finished poster as a PDF (below).  Otherwise, enter the dimensions you'd like the poster to be.  At least one dimension must be 41" or less.

--> If you HAVEN'T created your poster yet, simply type in the size you want, and click OK. 
--> If you HAVE created your poster, you'll need to do a little math before clicking OK: To keep your poster proportioned the way you have it set up means that you need to scale it up using the same proportions, for example: 200% = 20" x 15", 300%= 30"x 22.5", etc 

3.  When you click ok, you may get a message that gives you three choices:  cancel, ok, or fix.  CLICK OK, not fix.

Save your finished poster as a PDF:

1.  File menu > Page Setup, and note the dimensions of your poster, then click Options.

 

2.  Under the Paper Size drop-down menu, select Manage Custom Sizes.

3.  Click the + sign. 

4.  Type in the height of your poster in the "width" box, and the width of you poster in the "height" box.  (Yes, this is messed up intentionally.)

 

5.  In the Non-Printable Area boxes (left, right, top, bottom) type in "0" for each box. 

6.  Click OK, then OK, then OK. 

7.  Go to  File menu > Print.

 

8.  In the lower left hand corner of the print screen, click PDF, then select Save as PDF.  (ENTER YOUR FULL NAME IN THE FILE NAME please.) Once you have saved the PDF, open the PDF and make sure it looks ok.

Windows Instructions (Office 2010)

Make sure you've got a "poster-sized" poster:

1. Open your poster in Powerpoint, and locate the Design Menu ribbon at the top of the screen. Locate Page Setup. 

2.  If the dimensions are 10" x 7.5", you haven't set the size of the poster yet.  If you have previously entered your dimensions, skip to Save your finished poster as a PDF (below). Otherwise, enter the dimensions you'd like the poster to be.  At least one dimension must be 41" or less.

--> If you HAVEN'T created your poster yet, simply type in the size you want, and click OK. 
--> If you HAVE created your poster, you'll need to do a little math before clicking OK: To keep your poster proportioned the way you have it set up means that you need to scale it up using the same proportions, for example: 200% = 20" x 15", 300%= 30"x 22.5", etc. 

Save your finished poster as a PDF: 

1.  In the Design Menu ribbon, locate Page Setup.  Make a note of the width and height of your poster. 

2.  Navigate to File > Print. 
  
3.  Select "CutePDF Writer" from the Name drop-down menu. Don't see "CutePDF"? Answer this question: Are you doing this on your computer or a Whitman computer (in a lab, the library, etc)? If you're doing this on your computer, you'll need to download and install CutePDF Writer BEFORE you proceed with the following instructions. CutePDF Writer is free software. 

4.  Click Printer Properties. 

5.  Click Advanced. 

6.  From the Paper Size drop down menu, select PostScript Custom Page Size. 

7.  Type in the height of your poster in the "width" box, and the width of you poster in the "height" box.  (Yes, this is messed up intentionally.) 

8.  Click OK on the next four screens. 

9.  Enter a name for your PDF (INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME IN THE FILE NAME, please.) Once you have saved the PDF, open the PDF and make sure it looks ok.

Windows Instructions (Office 2007)

Make sure you've got a "poster-sized" poster:

1. Open your poster in Powerpoint, and go to Menu toolbar, then to go to File menu > Page Setup. 

2.  If the dimensions are 10" x 7.5", you haven't set the size of the poster yet.  If you have previously entered your dimensions, skip to Save your finished poster as a PDF (below).  Otherwise, enter the dimensions you'd like the poster to be.  At least one dimension must be 41" or less.

--> If you HAVEN'T created your poster yet, simply type in the size you want, and click OK. 
--> If you HAVE created your poster, you'll need to do a little math before clicking OK: To keep your poster proportioned the way you have it set up means that you need to scale it up using the same proportions, for example: 200% = 20" x 15", 300%= 30"x 22.5", etc. 

Save your finished poster as a PDF: 

1.  In the Menu toolbar, go to the File menu > Page Setup.  Make a note of the width and height of your poster, and click OK. 

2.  Go to  File menu > Print. 
  
3.  Select "CutePDF Writer" from the  Name drop-down menu. Don't see "CutePDF"? Answer this question: Are you doing this on your computer or a Whitman computer (in a lab, the library, etc)? If you're doing this on your computer, you'll need to  download and install CutePDF Writer BEFORE you proceed with the following instructions. CutePDF Writer is free software. 

4.  Click Properties. 

5.  Click Advanced. 

6.  From the Paper Size drop down menu, select PostScript Custom Page Size. 

7.  Type in the height of your poster in the "width" box, and the width of you poster in the "height" box.  (Yes, this is messed up intentionally.) 

8.  Click OK on the next four screens. 

9.  Enter a name for your PDF (INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME IN THE FILE NAME, please). Once you have saved the PDF, open the PDF and make sure it looks ok.

Windows Instructions (Office 2003)

Make sure you've got a "poster-sized" poster:

1. Open your poster in Powerpoint, and go to File menu > Page Setup. 

2.  If the dimensions are 10" x 7.5", you haven't set the size of the poster yet.  If you have previously entered your dimensions, skip to Save your finished poster as a PDF (below).  Otherwise, enter the dimensions you'd like the poster to be.  At least one dimension must be 41" or less.

--> If you HAVEN'T created your poster yet, simply type in the size you want, and click OK. 
--> If you HAVE created your poster, you'll need to do a little math before clicking OK:  To keep your poster proportioned the way you have it set up means that you need to scale it up using the same proportions, for example: 200% = 20" x 15", 300%= 30"x 22.5", etc. 

Save your finished poster as a PDF: 

1.  Go to  File menu > Page Setup.  Make a note of the width and height of your poster, and click OK. 

2.  Go to File menu > Print. 
  
3.  Select "CutePDF Writer" from the  Name drop-down menu. Don't see "CutePDF"? Answer this question: Are you doing this on your computer or a Whitman computer (in a lab, the library, etc)? If you're doing this on your computer, you'll need to  download and install CutePDF Writer BEFORE you proceed with the following instructions. CutePDF Writer is free software. 

4.  Click Properties. 

5.  Click Advanced. 

6.  From the Paper Size drop down menu, select PostScript Custom Page Size. 

7.  Type in the height of your poster in the "width" box, and the width of you poster in the "height" box.  (Yes, this is messed up intentionally.) 

8.  Click OK on the next four screens. 

9.  Enter a name for your PDF (INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME IN THE FILE NAME, please). Once you have saved the PDF, open the PDF and make sure it looks ok.