HTML into PDF rendering can be a real pain. You have a nice HTML page as a source file, and after conversion, it looks like a mess. Its headers don't include the necessary information, the logo is distorted, and the overall format is wrong.

If it’s a single document, you can go back to the original or edit the generated PDF file to fix everything. But what if you need to complete HTML into PDF rendering for thousands of documents? Then, the scale of the problem skyrockets and starts affecting your business processes. You need to figure out how to save HTML as PDF, keeping the desired format. It’s important to meet all the PDF requirements and use the right PDF converters for smooth rendering.

To guide you on HTML into PDF rendering, we will share the main PDF requirements below. You will have to keep them in mind configuring HTML into PDF rendering to get neat PDF files at the output.

What Format Should a PDF Document Have After HTML Into PDF Rendering?

HTML into PDF rendering is largely used by publishers and businesses that need to deliver PDF documents to customers. These are healthcare organizations, finances, utilities, and other entities sending bills, invoices, statements, official reports, etc.

Publishers follow their unique PDF requirements that vary depending on the type of book, brochure, or other print. Therefore, here we will focus on businesses using HTML into PDF rendering. Such companies save HTML as PDF to generate documents and official communications. When they convert a web page to PDF, it has a standard structure and size.

After HTML into PDF rendering, the final Adobe Acrobat document must:

• Have a header, body, xref table, and trailer. Even though the end-user sees only the content of the body, all these elements are essential to create a PDF properly. They contain valuable information about the document and enable PDF readers to process and display the file.
  

The header is the first line that includes the version or the PDF specification.

The body contains text, multimedia, images, and other elements shown to the user.

The xref table includes the references to all the objects within the file.

The trailer instructs the application reading the generated PDF file on how to find the cross-reference or other significant elements.

• Properly display all the source images. When you click the Save HTML as PDF button, images and logos are the most likely to suffer. You need to make sure the final PDF document displays the right images. Hence, it’s important to double-check the configurations and generated PDFs after HTML into PDF rendering.
• Follow the size specifications. A standard PDF file has an 8.5 x 11 letter size. So if you use HTML into PDF rendering software for official communications, the final document must follow the sizing standards.
• Have PDF metadata. When you convert a web page to PDF, metadata is additional information about the generated PDF document. It includes file name, title, date of creation, author, copyright details, and the application used to create the file. These details will later help your company to organize and track PDF files.
  

If you need to create a custom PDF file, no problem. Changing some initial convert HTML settings and parameters will allow you to modify the look of the final document. PDF supports many features apart from text adding. You can include logos or images, make it password-protected, and more.

Core PDF Rendering Requirements to Set Up for Quality Conversion

Once you connect HTML into PDF rendering software to your systems, you need to set it up. There are several PDF requirements you should pay particular attention to. You will be able to customize them to make the final PDF look as expected.

Headers and Footers

To convert HTML into PDF with proper headers and footers, you have two options. You can either add them through a separate HTML file or use software that allows including headers and footers in the main HTML document. The second option is easier since it considerably simplifies configuration and web browser HTML into PDF rendering.

Size and Orientation

If you want to change the standard 8.5 X 11 size PDF requirements, usually, you can do it through CSS rules or edit the HTML code parameters. The solution will depend on the PDF generator you use. For instance, Inkit Render enables you to easily customize dimensions using the width and height parameters.

Some other standard document sizes are:

• 8.5 x 14.0 inches for legal documents
• 8.0in x 11.0 inches for government communications
• 5.5 x 8.5 inches for statements
• 841 x 1189 mm for A0 format
• 594 x 841 mm for A1 format
• 420 x 594 mm for A2 format
• 297 x 420 mm for A3 format
• 210 x 297 mm for A4 format
  

The standard orientation for PDF documents is portrait.

Links

When a PDF document contains references, you need to make sure the final version is properly linked. HTML into PDF rendering software allows automatically creating both internal and external links.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks are used to render HTML into PDF with an outline or content of the document. They must be arranged hierarchically and have different levels set with prince-bookmark-level properties in HTML files. Hence, if you need a PDF with document navigation, bookmarks are among the must-have PDF requirements.

Margins

The default PDF requirements for margins are 0.75 inches. Such margins allow to locate and format the content on the PDF documents properly. If you need, you can change the page margin value to customize the final PDF file. But note that the margin height should match the headers and footers.

Page Numbers

HTML into PDF rendering software enables you to automatically numerate generated documents using different styles. You can use decimals (1,2,3), decimals with zero (01,02,03), Latin letters (a,b,c / A,B,C), or roman numbers (i,ii,iii / I, II, III).

Page Breaks

It’s not always possible to break the document at a specific spot. Hence, you should indicate when to create a break to make the final PDF look good (e.g., create breaks after chapters and avoid them after headings).

Quality web page to PDF converters minimize the risk of rendering issues. They provide configuration guidelines and have the core settings selected by default for a seamless webpage to pdf conversion. Inkit Render is one of the options to save HTML as PDF automatically. Learn more about how Render works in the next section.

Read About Open-Source, Paid, or Custom HTML into PDF Rendering

How Inkit Render Helps to Save HTML as PDF Flawlessly

Render is an HTML to PDF converter included in Inkit’s reach enablement platform (REP). The rendering functionality of this tool is offered as an API, so you can instantly add it to your existing software.

Render is unique with its SVG support for quality PDF conversion and a high level of automation. After a quick configuration, it starts to automatically save HTML as PDF following your custom settings. You can specify headers and footers, select page breaks, margins, and other parameters to meet PDF requirements.

Learn more about Render on our website or contact Inkit to get the demo.