To this day, non a single version of Windows has come with native Print-To-PDF support, not even Windows 8. Microsoft once had ambitions to create a PDF alternative and has thus been holding on to its Open XML Paper Specificaion format (XPS). That's why every Windows release since Vista has come with an XPS printer. Fortunately, yous can install third-political party PDF printers and print to PDF in every version of Windows. This commodity demonstrates how you can print from Windows viii desktop and modernistic apps.

Why You Should Print to PDF

PDF is a standard and cross-platform document format. Y'all can choose from a range of complimentary PDF readers and many freeware tools support PDF, for example Chrome has an integrated PDF viewer. Moreover, the file format is self-independent, meaning regardless of where the PDF is viewed, the original formatting is preserved. In other words, when y'all print a file or website to PDF, you lot can share it with different applications and devices across platforms and it will always look the aforementioned.

This too highlights a general reward of digital documents. You can create an unlimited corporeality of copies of a document or shop information technology in the Cloud and admission information technology from diverse devices; all without additional costs. Imagine doing the same with paper!

Finally, digital documents are searchable. Even if your PDF doesn't incorporate searchable text, you can search the document name and rapidly notice what you're looking for from hundreds of other files. Once more, imagine doing that with paper.

Paper Piles

Ready to effort printing to PDF?

Selection a PDF Printer

Y'all tin can print to PDF from any awarding that supports printing. All y'all need is a third-party PDF printer. We recommend doPDF, simply because it supports Windows 8 64-bit and doesn't attempt to install nasty toolbars.

How to Print to PDF From the Windows 8 Desktop

To print a file to PDF, click the keyboard shortcut [CTRL] + [P] or select Print from the File menu, choice your PDF printer from the list of printers, and proceed equally if you were printing to paper.

Windows 8 Print Preview

Later on you hit Print, the PDF printer will ask you how to proceed with the file, i.e. where to save information technology, under what file proper name, and whether to open up the PDF document afterward saving.

doPDF Printer

Alternatively, you can open files from within doPDF and convert them into a PDF document.

Convert to PDF

How to Print to PDF From Windows viii Modernistic Apps

The Mod user interface, formerly known as Metro, does not offer traditional menus. Instead, options such as Print are available via the Charms bar or -- if you are on a regular computer -- via the [CTRL] + [P] keyboard shortcut.

To open the Charms bar, swipe from the right edge of your screen or move the mouse into ane of the corners on the right side of the screen. Select Devices and cull a printer from the list. If you get a This app can't print message, y'all're out of luck.

Windows 8 this app can't print

Otherwise, click Print, select a printer...

Windows 8 Modern UI Print

...and proceed with customizing impress options every bit you normally would. Note that you can save your custom settings every bit default by switching the lever for Employ these settings in all applications to the On position.

Windows 8 Modern UI Print Options

Although I demonstrated the print dialogue with the MakeUseOf website, yous'll go much meliorate results if you print websites using browser bookmarklets or extensions, similar PrintWhatYouLike.

Have Home Letters

You lot can add together Print-to-PDF functionality in Windows with a tertiary-party PDF printer. Printing to PDF has many advantages over newspaper, near chiefly flexibility, sharability, and cost. Printing in Windows 8 has changed, but non dramatically.

Could this commodity change your mind? Why would you still want to print to paper?

Image credit: Paper Sheets via Flickr, Paper Piles via Shutterstock

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