How to Print PDF Brochures and Invitations

Printing brochures and invitations is simple once you know which settings to use. The main goal is to get your pages in the right order, double-sided, and folded correctly, without upside-down panels or cut-off text.

We’ll walk you through double-sided brochure printing, how to use Smallpdf PDF Reader in the process, and how to fix common print issues.

How to Print a Brochure Double Sided

Double-sided printing is what turns a simple PDF into a real brochure. Here’s a quick overview before we dive into full steps. 1. Open your PDF brochure in a reader such as Smallpdf PDF Reader or your browser’s PDF viewer. 2. Go to “File” > “Print” to open the print dialog. 3. Choose your printer, paper size (A4 or Letter), and set orientation to “Landscape” if your brochure is designed that way. 4. Turn on “Print on both sides,” “Two-sided,” or “Duplex printing.” 5. Select “Flip on short edge” for most brochures so pages don’t end up upside down. 6. Check the preview, print a single test copy, then print the full run.

Once this looks good, you can move into more precise settings inside your PDF apps.

How to Print a Brochure From a PDF

Printing a brochure PDF is easy when you follow these quick steps:

Step 1: Open the Brochure with Smallpdf‘s PDF Reader

Go to PDF Reader on Smallpdf and click “Choose File” to upload your brochure PDF from your device. You can also drag and drop the file or import it from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

Wait for the file to load in the viewer. Once it’s open, click the “Finish” button in the top-right corner.

A menu will appear on the right side. Click the printer icon there to open your browser’s print dialog.

Wait for the file to upload to the reader. Once it opens, click the “Finish” button in the top right-hand corner.

Step 2: Choose Your Printer and Select the Paper Size and Orientation

In the print dialog:

• Pick the correct printer under “Destination” or “Printer.”
• Choose your paper size, usually A4 or Letter, for brochures.
• Set the orientation to “Landscape” or “Portrait” to match your brochure design.

If your brochure is designed for folding across the long edge, landscape is usually the right choice.

Step 3: Set the Print Layout

To print a PDF brochure, especially one that folds, you‘ll want to set up the right layout.

For bifold brochures (two-fold):

• Set “Pages per sheet” to one or two, depending on your layout.
• Turn on “Print on both sides” or “Two-sided printing.”
• Choose “Flip on short edge” so the inside pages are correctly oriented.

For trifold brochures (three-fold):

• Enable two-sided printing.
• Again, use “Flip on short edge” to keep panels aligned when you fold.

If your print dialog offers a “Booklet” layout, that can also help arrange pages correctly for certain brochure designs.

Step 4: Set the Page Range and Number of Copies

If you only want to print certain pages, adjust the “Pages” field to include just the front and back, or a specific range. Enter the number of copies you need.

For larger runs, it’s always smart to print one test copy first.

Step 5: Check the Preview and Print

Always check the print preview to ensure the layout, margins, and orientation look correct. If something doesn’t appear right, click “More settings” and tweak:

• Check orientation on both sides.
• Make sure margins and folds line up as expected.
• Adjust “Scale” to “100%,” “Actual size,” or “Fit to page” based on your design.
• Use “More settings” to tweak margins or pages per sheet if needed.

Once you‘re happy with your settings, click “Print” to start printing your brochure PDF.

For Printers Without Duplex

If your printer doesn’t support automatic double-sided printing, you can still print brochures manually: 1. In the print dialog, select “Odd pages only.” Print the first side. 2. Flip the stack according to your printer’s feed direction (often blank side up). 3. Print again, this time choosing “Even pages only.”

Do a small test first to confirm how your printer expects the paper to be reinserted.

Prepare Your Brochure File for Print

Before hitting print, make sure your brochure file meets these requirements for the best results:

• Resolution: Set images to 300 DPI for crisp, professional printing.
• Color mode: Use CMYK color mode instead of RGB for accurate print colors.
• Fonts: Embed all fonts to prevent text from changing during printing.
• Bleed marks: Include 0.125” bleed if your design extends to the paper edges.
• Fold type: Consider whether you‘re creating a tri-fold, z-fold, or gate fold brochure, as panel widths may need adjustment.

These settings ensure your brochure prints exactly as designed without any surprises.

Print Settings for Brochures That Prevent Upside-Down Pages

One of the most common brochure printing mistakes is getting upside-down pages. Here’s how to avoid this frustrating issue.

Duplex Settings Explained

Short-edge binding (also called “flip on short edge“) is perfect for brochures that fold horizontally. This setting ensures the back page appears right-side up when you flip the brochure over.

Long-edge binding works better for documents that are bound on the long side, like books or reports.

If your test print comes out wrong, switch between these two options and print one page again.

Page Range and Order

When manually printing double sided:

• Print “Odd pages only” first.
• Reinsert the pages correctly.
• Then print “Even pages only.”

If your printer outputs pages face-up instead of face-down, you may need to enable “Reverse order” so stacking stays correct.

Print a Brochure From Common Apps

Different applications have slightly different print settings. Here’s how to print brochures from the most popular apps:

Microsoft Word

• Go to “File” > “Print.”
• In the print settings, choose “Print on Both Sides.”
• Under layout options, select “Booklet” if available.

Word arranges pages so they print in the correct order for folding.

Preview (Mac)

• Open the PDF in Preview and choose “File” > “Print.”
• Under “Layout,” pick “Two-Sided.”
• Choose “Short-Edge binding” to keep both sides upright.

Print one test copy first to confirm folding works as expected.

Troubleshooting Brochure Printing

If something goes wrong, it’s usually a simple setting.

• Pages print upside down: Switch from “Long-edge binding” to “Short-edge binding” (or the reverse if needed) and reprint a test page.
• Content gets cut off: Set margins to “Minimum” or “None” and use “Fit to printable area” when your design includes full-bleed backgrounds.
• Colors look off: If the file was created in RGB, printed colors may differ. For future designs, export from your design app in CMYK and then convert to PDF.
• No double-sided option available: Your printer may not support duplex printing or the driver may be outdated. Check printer settings, update drivers, or use manual duplex as described earlier.

If your brochure PDF is very large or image-heavy, you can also use Compress PDF to reduce file size so your printer handles it more reliably.

Home Printer vs Professional Printing

Trying to decide between printing at home or using a professional service? Here’s when each option works best.

Home printing is perfect for small quantities, quick turnarounds, and when you need immediate results. It’s cost-effective for under 50 copies and gives you complete control over the process.

Professional printing delivers superior quality with options like glossy or matte finishes, heavier paper stock, and precise color matching. It’s more economical for large quantities and provides consistent results across hundreds or thousands of copies.

Print Your Brochure With Smallpdf‘s Free PDF Reader

To print a brochure from a PDF:

• Open it in a reliable PDF reader such as Smallpdf’s PDF Reader.
• Choose the correct printer, paper size, and landscape or portrait orientation.
• Turn on double-sided printing and use “Flip on short edge” for most brochure layouts.
• Preview the result, print a single test copy, then print your full batch.

By combining correct duplex settings with a well-prepared PDF, you avoid upside-down pages, cut-off text, and color surprises.

When you’re ready, you can use Smallpdf tools for free to optimize, organize, and share your brochures with ease.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to print a double-sided brochure in PDF?

Open your PDF in a reader like the Smallpdf PDF Reader. Go to “File” > “Print”, turn on “Print on both sides” or “Two-sided printing,” and choose “Flip on short edge” to keep the back page upright. Check the preview, then print a test copy before printing the full batch.

How do I get my PDF to print double-sided?

Double-sided printing depends on your printer. In the print dialog, look for a duplex option like “Two-sided,” “Print on both sides,” or “Duplex printing.” If you see “Flip on long edge” or “Flip on short edge,” choose the setting that matches your layout. If no duplex option appears, your printer may not support automatic double-sided printing.

How to print a PDF booklet double-sided?

Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat and go to “File” > “Print.” Choose “Booklet” in the Page Sizing & Handling section. Select “Both sides” and choose “Left edge” or “Short edge” depending on your fold style. Acrobat arranges the pages in booklet order so they print and fold correctly.

Why is there no option to print double-sided on PDF?

If the double-sided option is missing, your printer may not support duplex printing, or your printer driver may be outdated. Check your printer model, update the driver, and reopen the print dialog. If duplex printing still isn’t available, use manual double-sided printing by printing odd pages first, reinserting the stack, and then printing even pages.

How do I enable double-sided printing?

Go to “File” > “Print” and look for a duplex option under the layout or more settings section. Enable “Two-sided,” “Print on both sides,” or “Duplex printing.” If you see binding options, choose “Flip on short edge” for most brochures and invitations. Save the setting as default if you plan to use it often.

How to print double-sided when it’s not an option?

If your printer doesn’t support duplex printing, you can still print double sided manually. Print “Odd pages only” first, flip the printed stack according to your printer’s feed direction, then print “Even pages only.” Always test with one sheet first to confirm how your printer handles the reinserted paper.