Do you find that your customers want to print out your web pages? This is an old habit that for some, is hard to break. Internet and printed marketing materials are two very different mediums and problems arise because what looks fabulous online can be a disaster when printed.
The problem stems from how many dots make up a digital image on the web a clear printed image – printing actually requires three times as many dots! Whether you a computer geek or a green environmentalist, the sentiment is that computers and the Internet are suppose to save trees by saving paper.
Do you wistfully hum the old Hollywood show-tune “Gotta Dance!” substituting the lyrics “Gotta Print!” If you or your web visitors have just gotta print then you’ll find this short list of web printing tips useful.
- All websites do not print the same. Structures of websites vary and few web designers create sites so they can be printed—it’s just not the way of the web. Depending on a visitor’s computer, background colors are often omitted, resulting in a patchwork-looking page when printed. If you know your website’s audience is comprised of people who print the screens, let your designer know, so a solution can be implemented in the design.
- Print Preview. Because the site and visitor’s computer configuration effect printing, the Print Preview function is extremely useful in any browser. Rather than clicking Print and sending the document to print (which can cause some web pages to print out on several pieces of paper), select Print Preview where you can choose Shrink to Fit or Print to Fit. Selecting this function will size the web page to print on one sheet of paper. Printing on less paper will make it easier to review, cost less and help the environment.
- Create a PDF if it’s meant to be printed. While not all web pages need to be designed to print, there are times where you want to offer a printable brochure, a document, fact sheet, etc. A PDF file is a perfect format. A Word file can easily be converted to PDF through Adobe Acrobat or even free services like PDF995.com. The best part is that search engines pick up text within a PDF, and a PDF prints as it appears online. Ahhhh, a paper lover’s dream come true!
If you’re still feeling a twinge of conscience about printing, you can encourage your site visitors to be green. Google “Think before you print.” There are some very nice logos for your website that will remind visitors to make a conscious decision not to print.
