To make a book-print PDF from Scrivener, use Compile to assemble the intended Binder material, choose a print or PDF output, set the page size and layout for the receiving printer, and inspect the compiled file from beginning to end. Printing the current editor document is different from compiling the full Draft, so first confirm which sections your output includes.
1. Prepare the Binder before compiling
In the Binder, review the Draft structure and confirm the order of chapters and any front or back matter. Decide which folders and documents belong in the book. Research notes, alternate scenes, planning documents, and internal comments should not be included just because they sit near the manuscript.
Make a copy or a named version of the project before changing the compile setup. Then create a simple checklist of the expected output: title page, contents if needed, introduction, chapters, notes, acknowledgments, and other chosen sections. Keep the cover file separate unless your print provider explicitly requests a combined file.
2. Open Compile and choose the correct material
Open File > Compile. Review the selected source range and the documents included from the Draft. Choose an output format intended for print or PDF rather than an ebook format. Scrivener’s official manual describes the Compile interface and the “Print” output option; exact labels can vary between Windows and macOS versions.
Check the section layout assigned to each Binder document. A chapter folder may compile as a chapter heading with its children, while an individual text document may use a different layout. Preview the start of several chapters so you can see whether titles, subtitle text, and page breaks appear as intended.
3. Match page settings to the print job
Before choosing margins or a paper size, get the receiving provider’s current requirements. Confirm finished page dimensions, single pages versus spreads, bleed, color handling, and whether crop marks are required. A screen-reading PDF and a print PDF can use different page sizes and margins.
In Compile’s page settings, verify paper size, orientation, margins, and any facing-page behavior available in your chosen format. If the printer gives a specific template or specification, use it rather than assuming a common novel size. Do not add printer marks, bleed, or a cover layout unless the job calls for them.
4. Review numbering, headings, and notes
Compile output may control chapter numbering, headers, footers, page numbers, and how footnotes are placed. Check whether the first chapter starts at the intended page and whether front matter uses the numbering style you planned. If a table of contents is included, generate or update it after the final section order and page layout are stable.
Inspect representative pages that contain footnotes, images, block quotations, tables, or scene breaks. A clean chapter opening does not prove that the whole document has compiled correctly. Look for missing text, unexpected blank pages, headings stranded at the bottom of a page, and notes that have moved or changed numbering.
5. Compile and proof the actual PDF
Run Compile and save a clearly named review PDF, such as BookTitle-print-review-01.pdf. Open that file in a PDF reader. Check the first and last page, every chapter opening, and pages with unusual formatting. Compare the PDF’s physical page order with the Binder checklist.
- Confirm all intended chapters are present and ordered correctly.
- Check page dimensions and orientation on representative pages.
- Inspect fonts, punctuation, special characters, and text wrapping.
- Review images at their final printed size; confirm that captions and credits remain attached to the right images.
- Check page numbers, headers, footers, notes, and any contents-page references.
- Keep the project source and compiled PDF as separate files.
If the PDF has a problem, return to the source or Compile settings, make the correction, create a new version, and proof that new file. Do not upload a previous PDF after making a later change in Scrivener.
Literature & Latte’s Scrivener 3 User Manual explains Compile and print output. For final submission, check the YourBookBound file guide or request a free human file check. The current $99 service includes the listed book-preparation services, one hardcover, and standard tracked shipping; see the pricing page for terms.