Printing a booklet or full-size directory

After you have chosen the layout of your pages and generated your directory, we offer two options for printing: a full-size 8.5 x 11 inches directory or a booklet that is 5.5 x 8.5 inches. 

In this Article

• Downloading your directory PDF for printing
• Printing a booklet using Adobe Acrobat or Reader
• Printing a booklet using our Printer Settings
• Troubleshooting Print issues

Downloading and Printing a full-size directory, booklet or addendum

1. Go to Share PDF
2. Locate the full directory, booklet directory or addendum you wish to print.
3. Click the "Download" link next to the directory you choose. Your directory will be downloaded to your computer. If you've made changes to the directory since you last generated a PDF, you will see a message "You've made changes since you've last generated." If you need to re-generate your directory before downloading, click the "Generate PDF" button. 
4. Remember your PDF will require your directory password you've created in order to open the document. 

5. Print the directory from your computer as you would any other document.  If you are printing the Booklet, then we automatically add blank pages at the end so that the back cover is always blank with no printing on it. A blank back page is the only option for the Booklet layout currently.

   Note: You can also print the Full Directory (8 1/2 x 11) in a booklet format using 11" x 17" (Tabloid) size paper. Once folded in half, your directory will be 8 1/2" x 11" with a fold on the left side. Follow the instructions below for Booklet printing, but choose 11" x 17" (Tabloid) size paper. 

Printing the Booklet size directory using Adobe

1. Go to Share PDF
2. Click the "Download" link next to Full Directory 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 (Booklet). If you've never generated a booklet directory, you'll need to click the "Generate PDF" button.
3. The booklet PDF will be downloaded to your computer.  Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat DC or Reader DC. This is not a feature available on Adobe Reader Touch App.
4. Click HERE for step by step instructions on printing booklets using Adobe Acrobat or Reader.  

NOTE - once you have printed the Booklet, the sheets will appear to be out of order until you fold them in half (all at the same time). Then when you flip through the booklet like you would a book, the pages will be in order. 

Printing the Booklet size directory using your Printer Settings

1. Go to Share PDF
2. Click the "Download" link next to  Full Directory 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 (Booklet). If you've never generated a booklet directory, you'll need to click the "Generate PDF" button.
3. The booklet PDF will be downloaded to your computer.  Open the file and select
   1. In the Print dialog box, under Printer, select a printer that can print on 8.5" x 11" (Letter size)
   2. Under
      • Print All Pages
      • Booklet, side-fold
      • Print on Both Sides
      • Landscape 
4. Select any other options that you want, and then click OK to print the publication.

NOTE: We have a known issue where the top and bottom margins in booklet format print larger than you see on screen.    Since every printer and their ability or settings are different, you may need to check your printer help or search online on how to get it to print the booklet 2-sided correctly.  

Troubleshooting Print issues

Setting the PDF Image Quality

In  Share PDF click the Set PDF Options to select the fonts and font size (font size is only applicable to the Roster Pages - not the photo pages), print color and photo image quality for your directory PDF. 

The photo image quality option provides 2 choices: Standard and High (larger PDF file size). 

The High-quality option inserts images into the Church Directory PDF at 300 DPI (dots per inch). The High-quality option (300 DPI) is useful when having your directory printed by a professional printer. A professional printer usually requests that images are 300 DPI in order to produce a high-quality final product and must use embedded fonts, so be sure that you are using Arial or Unicode font t(the other three fonts are not embedded for professional printing). The downside to using the High-quality option is it produces a larger PDF file (and also takes a little longer to generate). The 300 DPI PDF may not be the best choice for e-mailing to your church members, because of the larger size and longer time to send and receive the PDF.

The Standard quality option is the recommended choice and inserts images into your Church Directory PDF at 150 DPI (dots per inch). This means that any image inserted into the Church Directory PDF will have 150 DPI when printed. As an example, 150 DPI translates to a Family tab image of 646 pixels wide by 570 pixels high. The Standard (150 DPI) option is great for everyday printing, e-mailing or allowing your members to download your Church Directory PDF. 

If you are not sure what option to choose, then select the Standard option.  

IMPORTANT: As always, click on SAVE before leaving the page. 

What is the best paper to print directory on?

It really depends on what your printer or copier can handle.   For the cover, heavy card stock is best.  For inside pages, a lighter paper can be used, but don't use too light a paper because the directory will likely get a lot of use. A sturdy, medium- to heavyweight paper with a nice finish is best for inside pages.   A gloss finish will have a nicer look than matte finish stock.   Before you purchase paper make sure your printer or copier can handle the weight and finish. Before printing an entire directory, do a test printing of one or two pages on several different paper stocks to see what works best for you. Your supplier may be able to offer some samples.