> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vibedoc-ai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Export & PDF Generation

> Export documents to PDF with pixel-perfect formatting

## Overview

VibeDoc offers multiple export options to get your documents out of the platform and into the format you need. Our PDF generation uses **Snapshot0** for reliable, high-fidelity output that matches your preview exactly.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/vibedoc/nyIpYqCdQSz9ZFvN/images/export-demo.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=nyIpYqCdQSz9ZFvN&q=85&s=732fd9dde06d119b86fe5812d1947d40" alt="Export Options" className="rounded-lg border" data-path="images/export-demo.png" />

## Export Options

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="PDF Download" icon="file-pdf" color="#EF4444">
    Generate professional PDF files with perfect formatting
  </Card>

  <Card title="Browser Print" icon="print" color="#8B5CF6">
    Use native browser print for quick local printing
  </Card>

  <Card title="Web Share" icon="share-nodes" color="#3B82F6">
    Share via web link (see [Sharing](/features/sharing))
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## PDF Export

### How It Works

VibeDoc uses **Snapshot0**, a specialized PDF generation service:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Export → Download PDF">
    Access the export menu from the document editor
  </Step>

  <Step title="System Captures Document">
    Snapshot0 renders your document in a headless browser with:

    * All fonts loaded
    * Images rendered
    * CSS styles applied
    * Page breaks calculated
  </Step>

  <Step title="PDF Generation">
    Creates a high-fidelity PDF with:

    * Exact preview matching
    * Searchable text
    * Embedded fonts
    * Proper pagination
  </Step>

  <Step title="Download">
    PDF downloads automatically to your device
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Features

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Perfect Fidelity" icon="check">
    What you see in preview is exactly what you get in PDF. Colors, fonts, spacing, and layout are preserved perfectly.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Orientation Support" icon="rotate">
    Export in **Portrait** (default) or **Landscape** orientation. Switch in document settings.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Standard Page Size" icon="file">
    All documents export as **A4 size** (210mm × 297mm) - the most common document standard worldwide.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Embedded Fonts" icon="font">
    Fonts are embedded in the PDF, so recipients see the correct typography even without the fonts installed.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Searchable Text" icon="magnifying-glass">
    All text in the PDF is searchable and copy-pasteable, not rendered as images.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Small File Size" icon="compress">
    Optimized compression keeps file sizes small without sacrificing quality.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Requirements

<Info>
  **PDF Export Requirements:**

  * ✅ Active internet connection
  * ✅ Document must be saved (not draft)
  * ✅ Pro plan for commercial use (Free plan: up to 5 exports/month)
</Info>

### Pricing

| Plan           | Monthly PDF Exports | Cost per Additional Export |
| -------------- | ------------------- | -------------------------- |
| **Free**       | 5                   | \$0.10                     |
| **Pro**        | Unlimited           | Included                   |
| **Enterprise** | Unlimited           | Included                   |

<Tip>
  Pro plan is \$9.99/month and includes unlimited exports plus other premium features.
</Tip>

## Print Document

### Browser-Native Printing

For quick local printing, use the **Print** option:

**Advantages:**

* ✅ No credit cost
* ✅ Instant (no cloud processing)
* ✅ Works offline
* ✅ Direct to printer

**Limitations:**

* ⚠️ Browser-dependent rendering
* ⚠️ May differ slightly from PDF
* ⚠️ Limited to local printers

### How to Print

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Export Menu">
    Click **Export** in the document editor
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Print Document">
    Choose **Print Document** from the dropdown
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for Ready">
    System ensures all content is loaded (fonts, images, layout)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Print Dialog Opens">
    Your browser's native print dialog appears
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure & Print">
    Select printer, adjust settings, and print
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Print ready detection waits up to 60 seconds for large documents. You'll see a loading toast while preparing.
</Note>

### Print Settings

Recommended browser print settings:

```yaml theme={null}
Paper Size: A4
Orientation: Auto-detect (matches document)
Margins: None (document has built-in margins)
Scale: 100%
Background Graphics: Enabled
Headers/Footers: Disabled
```

## Orientation Control

### Portrait vs. Landscape

Switch document orientation in the editor toolbar:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Portrait">
    **Portrait** (vertical) - Default

    * Best for: Letters, contracts, reports
    * Dimensions: 210mm × 297mm (A4)
    * More pages, easier to read on screen
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Landscape">
    **Landscape** (horizontal)

    * Best for: Presentations, wide tables, certificates
    * Dimensions: 297mm × 210mm (A4 rotated)
    * Fewer pages, better for wide content
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Tip>
  Orientation affects both preview and export. Change it before generating PDFs.
</Tip>

### When to Use Each

| Content Type           | Recommended Orientation |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------- |
| Business Letters       | Portrait                |
| Contracts & Agreements | Portrait                |
| Reports & Articles     | Portrait                |
| Invoices               | Portrait                |
| Presentations          | Landscape               |
| Wide Data Tables       | Landscape               |
| Certificates           | Landscape               |
| Timelines & Roadmaps   | Landscape               |

## Advanced Export Options

### Custom Branding

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Remove VibeDoc Branding" icon="eraser">
    Pro feature: Remove "Powered by VibeDoc" badge from shared PDFs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Custom Watermarks" icon="stamp">
    Coming soon: Add your own watermarks and logos
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Batch Export

Export multiple documents at once (coming soon):

```yaml theme={null}
Features:
  - Select multiple documents
  - Export all to PDFs
  - Zip file download
  - Progress indicator
```

### Scheduled Exports

Automate exports (enterprise feature, coming soon):

```yaml theme={null}
Use Cases:
  - Daily report generation
  - Weekly status updates
  - Monthly invoices
  - Automatic archiving
```

## Export Quality

### Resolution

PDFs are generated at **300 DPI** (print quality):

* Sharp text rendering
* Crisp borders and lines
* Professional output
* Suitable for printing

### Font Handling

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Web Fonts">
    Web fonts (Google Fonts, custom fonts) are embedded in the PDF so they display correctly everywhere.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Fallback Fonts">
    If a font fails to load, system falls back to: Helvetica (sans-serif) or Times (serif).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Font Licensing">
    Ensure you have rights to embed fonts in PDFs. VibeDoc's default fonts (Geist) are licensed for this use.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Color Management

Colors in PDFs match web preview:

* RGB color space
* Hex colors preserved
* Gradient rendering
* Transparency support

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion icon="circle-question" title="PDF export fails or times out">
    **Possible Causes:**

    * Poor internet connection
    * Document too large (>100 pages)
    * Server load (rare)

    **Solutions:**

    * Check your internet connection
    * Try splitting large documents
    * Wait a minute and retry
    * Use Print as alternative
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="circle-question" title="PDF doesn't match preview">
    **Possible Causes:**

    * Custom fonts not loading
    * Browser-specific CSS
    * Zoom level incorrect

    **Solutions:**

    * Ensure fonts are properly embedded
    * Clear browser cache and retry
    * Contact support with screenshot
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="circle-question" title="Print option is slow">
    **Explanation:**
    Print waits for all resources to load (fonts, images, layout calculation). This is intentional to ensure quality.

    **Timeout:**
    If loading takes >60 seconds, you'll see an error. Try:

    * Refresh the page
    * Check internet connection
    * Use PDF export instead
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="circle-question" title="File size is too large">
    **Causes:**

    * Many high-resolution images
    * Complex tables (>100 rows)
    * Embedded fonts

    **Solutions:**

    * Optimize images before adding
    * Split into multiple documents
    * Use web sharing instead
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="circle-question" title="Insufficient credits">
    PDF export is a Pro feature. Free tier gets 5 exports/month.

    **Solutions:**

    * Wait for monthly reset
    * Upgrade to Pro
    * Use Print option (no credits)
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Best Practices

<Check>
  **Do:**

  * Preview document before exporting
  * Check orientation setting
  * Verify all content is visible
  * Test on a small document first
</Check>

<Warning>
  **Don't:**

  * Export drafts (wait until finalized)
  * Assume perfect match without checking
  * Ignore file size (keep under 10MB)
  * Export unnecessarily (uses credits)
</Warning>

## Comparison: Export Methods

| Feature        | PDF Download      | Browser Print   | Web Share |
| -------------- | ----------------- | --------------- | --------- |
| **Fidelity**   | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐             | ⭐⭐⭐⭐            | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐     |
| **Speed**      | Moderate (10-30s) | Fast (under 5s) | Instant   |
| **Cost**       | Credits           | Free            | Free      |
| **Offline**    | ❌                 | ✅               | ❌         |
| **Sharing**    | File transfer     | Manual          | Link      |
| **Quality**    | Print-ready       | Print-ready     | Screen    |
| **Searchable** | ✅                 | ✅               | ✅         |

## API Access

Programmatic exports (coming soon):

```javascript theme={null}
// Future API
const pdf = await vibedoc.export({
  documentId: 'doc_123',
  format: 'pdf',
  orientation: 'landscape',
  quality: 'high'
});
```

<Note>
  API access will be available for Enterprise plans in Q2 2025.
</Note>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Sharing" icon="share-nodes" href="/features/sharing">
    Share documents via web links
  </Card>

  <Card title="Templates" icon="palette" href="/features/templates">
    Customize document styling
  </Card>

  <Card title="Credits & Billing" icon="coins" href="/guides/credits-billing">
    Understand export costs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Block Editor" icon="cube" href="/features/block-editor">
    Prepare content for export
  </Card>
</CardGroup>