How to Design a High-End PDF

A PDF is often the final deliverable a client sees. If it looks like a default Word doc, it devalues your work. High-end PDFs borrow principles from magazine design.

1. The Grid System

Don’t just type from left to right. Use a grid.

• Columns: Use a 2 or 3-column layout for readability. Long lines of text (100+ characters) fatigue the eye.
• White Space: Margins are luxury. Don’t cram content to the edge. Wide margins make the document feel important.

2. Typography Hierarchy

• Headings: Use a bold, distinct font (Sans Serif) for headers.
• Body: Use a highly readable font (Serif) for long text.
• Leading: Increase line height (1.4 to 1.6). Tight text looks cheap.

3. Vector Graphics

Never use low-res JPEGs.

• SVGs: Use vector icons and logos. They remain crisp at any zoom level.
• Charts: Generate charts as vectors, not screenshots.

4. Interactive Elements

A high-end PDF isn’t just paper on a screen.

• Hyperlinks: Make the Table of Contents clickable.
• Bookmarks: Add a sidebar navigation tree.
• Forms: Use fillable fields for user input.

Conclusion

Design communicates value. A well-designed PDF says “We pay attention to detail.”

Design at scale. MergeCanvas allows you to use HTML/CSS for layout, giving you the full power of web design tools to create stunning PDFs.