What is Print CSS?
Print CSS – more precisely: the “CSS3 Paged Media Module” – is the global open standard for fully automated PDF generation from structured data.
It refers to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) specifically used for designing print layouts. While CSS is typically used for formatting web pages, Print CSS allows for specific styling to ensure content is optimized for printing.
Here are some common applications of CSS for printed media:
-
Page Layout:
CSS can define the page layout for printing, including margins, headers and footers, page numbers, and other page elements. -
Fonts and Text Formatting:
CSS allows control over fonts, sizes, line heights, and text alignment to ensure optimal readability and aesthetics in printed text. -
Colors and Backgrounds:
CSS can define colors and backgrounds suited for print, often ensuring good contrast and legibility. -
Image Formatting:
CSS can control the size, alignment, and positioning of images on printed pages to ensure they fit well and print at high quality. -
Page Break Control:
CSS provides rules to manage page breaks, ensuring that content is arranged properly and not split in undesirable ways across pages. -
Print Hiding:
CSS allows specific elements or content to be hidden or adjusted for print, ensuring that printed versions of web pages or documents are cleanly and professionally formatted.
By creating dedicated Print CSS rules, developers can ensure that content is presented optimally on both screens and printed pages. This supports a consistent and professional appearance across different media formats.