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Molkit

PDF Export

Export your drawing as a print-ready PDF. The content is written as vector graphics, so text and bonds stay sharp at any zoom or print size. Open the dialog from File then Export PDF.... There is no keyboard shortcut for PDF export.

Opening the dialog

Choose File then Export PDF.... The dialog gives you a filename, a scope toggle, and the page setup controls described below. Click Export PDF to generate the file. Generation runs asynchronously while the PDF libraries load, so the button shows Generating... until the download is ready.

Dialog options

  • Filename: The base name for the downloaded file. It defaults to the current molecule name.
  • Scope: Export the whole canvas or only the current selection.
  • Page Size: Pick a paper size (Letter, A4, and the other entries in the list). Defaults follow your Page Setup when one is active.
  • Orientation: Portrait or landscape.
  • Margins: Choose a preset, or pick Custom to set top, right, bottom, and left margins. All margin values are in inches. The dashed box in the preview shows the resulting printable area.
  • Fit: Auto-fit content to printable area scales the drawing to fit inside the margins. Center on page places it in the middle of the printable area. Both are on by default.
  • Background: Toggle whether a background fill is included, and pick its color. Turn this off for a transparent or paper-white result.

Preview

The preview shows the page layout only: paper proportions, orientation, the printable area inside your margins, and the page dimensions. It does not render your drawing. Use it to confirm the page and margin setup before exporting, then check the downloaded PDF for the actual content.

What the PDF contains

The drawing is written as vector geometry through jsPDF and svg2pdf, so atoms, bonds, and text remain crisp when printed or scaled. A few render types are handled with these tradeoffs:

  • Fonts are embedded in the file so text displays the same on machines that do not have those fonts installed. See Fonts in exports for which fonts embed and how.
  • Complex fills such as pattern fills are preserved as vector geometry where possible.
  • Filter effects like drop shadows, glow, and blur are rasterized into the PDF rather than kept as live effects.
  • Gradient strokes are converted to solid strokes, since the PDF writer does not support gradients on stroked lines. Gradient fills are kept.

For most chemistry drawings these conversions are not visible. If a drawing leans heavily on filters or gradient-stroked lines, compare the PDF against the canvas before relying on it.

See also