How to Print Party Printables at Home | Party in a PDF
Everything you need to know about printing your PartyinaPDF kits — from settings to paper, at-home to print shop.
The perfect print settings
Use these settings every time you print a PartyinaPDF kit for the sharpest, most vibrant results.
Print Dialog — Recommended Settings
- Paper Size: US Letter (8.5 × 11 in)
- Orientation: Portrait (or as shown in file)
- Scale / Fit: Fit to Page
- Color Mode: Color — NOT Grayscale
- Print Quality: Best / High Quality
- Margins: None or Minimum
- Two-sided: Single-sided (unless noted)
- Copies: As many as you need!
Open in Adobe Acrobat for best results
Always print PDFs from Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download) rather than your browser. Browser printing can compress images and shift colors. Acrobat gives you full control over every setting.
Pick the right paper
The paper you use makes a huge difference. Here’s what works best for each type of party item.
Regular Copy Paper
20–24 lb
Your everyday printer paper. Works fine for activity sheets, coloring pages, and anything kids will use and toss.
- Activity pages, coloring sheets
- Most Popular
Cardstock
65–80 lb
The sweet spot for most party items. Sturdier than paper, still runs through most home printers. Colors look richer and more vibrant.
- Banners, games, signs, tags
Heavy Cardstock
90–110 lb
Premium feel, best for keepsakes and display pieces. Requires a print shop — most home printers can’t handle this weight.
- Invitations, centerpieces, keepsakes
Glossy Photo Paper
48–68 lb
Makes photos and illustrated designs pop with vivid, shiny color. Great for display pieces but fingerprints show easily.
- Photo-heavy designs, backdrop pieces
Label / Sticker Paper
Adhesive-backed
Self-adhesive sheets available at most office stores. Perfect for cupcake toppers, favor tags, and sticker designs.
- Cupcake toppers, favor stickers
Where to buy cardstock
Find cardstock at Amazon, Walmart, Staples, Office Depot, or Michaels. Look for 65lb white cardstock — it’s the most universally compatible. Astrobrights and Hammermill are trusted brands that print beautifully.
Inkjet vs. Laser — which is better?
Both work great for PartyinaPDF kits. Here’s the honest breakdown to help you get the best results from what you have.
Inkjet Printer
Most common home printer
Advantages:
– Affordable to buy upfront
– Prints on more paper types incl. glossy
– Great for photo-quality images
– Can print on thick cardstock (up to ~80lb)
Disadvantages:
– Ink can smear if paper is damp
– Ink cartridges can be expensive
– Colors may look slightly muted
Laser Printer
Best for party kits Recommended
Advantages:
– Sharper text and crisper edges
– More vibrant, accurate colors
– Prints dry instantly — no smearing
– Faster and cheaper per page
Disadvantages:
– Higher upfront cost
– Can’t print on most glossy papers
– Many home models print in black only
Don’t have a color laser printer? Use a print shop!
FedEx, Staples, and most print shops use high-quality color laser printers. For special occasions, it’s worth the $1–3 per page for professional results.
Get the most vibrant colors
Party printables are all about those bright, festive colors. Here’s how to make them look their absolute best.
Always print in Color mode
Sounds obvious, but it’s easy to accidentally leave your printer on Grayscale from a previous print job. Double-check every time you open the print dialog.
Check: Color Mode → Color (not Grayscale)
Use Best or High Quality setting
Draft mode uses less ink and produces noticeably duller colors. Always switch to Best Quality, especially for colorful party designs.
Check: Quality → Best / High Quality
Let ink dry before handling
Inkjet prints especially need 30–60 seconds to dry fully. Picking them up too soon can smear colors, especially on dark backgrounds.
Wait: 30–60 sec after printing
Check your ink levels
Low ink causes faded colors and streaky prints. Print a test page first if you haven’t printed in a while, or if your last job used a lot of ink.
Check: Printer Settings → Ink Levels
Color profile settings (advanced):
- sRGB Use This: Standard for home printers. Colors look vibrant and accurate.
- CMYK: Best for professional print shops. Colors may look slightly muted at home.
- Grayscale Avoid: Strips all color — only use for black & white activity sheets.
Cutting & assembly tips
A clean cut makes all the difference. Here’s how to get professional-looking results at home.
Paper trimmer > scissors
A paper trimmer (guillotine cutter) gives you perfectly straight lines every single time. Available at Amazon or Walmart for under $15.
Tip: Trim along printed cut lines
Use a cutting mat
Protects your table and keeps your craft knife cuts precise. A self-healing mat is a great investment if you print party kits regularly.
Tip: Grid lines help with alignment
Laminate for durability
Run game boards, signs, and menus through a laminator for a waterproof, professional finish. Cold laminating pouches need no machine.
Best for: Games, menus, signs
Hole punch favor tags neatly
Use a 1/4″ hole punch on favor tags before cutting them out — it’s much easier to line up a punch on a full sheet than on a tiny cut piece.
Tip: Punch first, then cut
Assemble banners with string
For letter banners, use baker’s twine or ribbon. Fold tabs over the string and tape or glue the back. Space letters evenly before securing.
Tip: Lay out on floor first to space evenly
Score fold lines before folding
For tent cards and table numbers, run a bone folder or butter knife along the fold line first. This makes a crisp, clean fold every time.
Tools: Bone folder or empty ballpoint pen
Using a print shop
Getting your files printed professionally is easy, affordable, and often produces better results than home printing.
Where to go
FedEx Office, Staples, Office Depot, UPS Store, and CVS all offer color printing. Walmart Photo and Walgreens work great for photo-paper items.
Cost: Usually $0.50–$2 per page
What to ask for
Say: “Color laser print on 65lb white cardstock, US Letter, full bleed if possible.” That single sentence gets you professional results every time.
Script: Save this phrase on your phone
How to send your files
Email the PDF to yourself, then open it on the store’s computer — or use their upload portal online. You can also bring your files on a USB drive.
Easiest: Email to yourself → forward to store
Order in advance
For busy party seasons (holiday, graduation, summer), order at least 2–3 days ahead. Same-day service is usually available but can cost extra.
Tip: Order online for pickup — fastest option
Save money at the print shop
Print multiple items per page when possible (the kit may already include this). Ask for self-serve printing at FedEx — it’s usually 30–50% cheaper than asking staff to do it for you. Check for online coupons before you go — Staples and FedEx frequently offer 20–40% off.
Troubleshooting common issues
Don’t panic. Most printing problems have a simple fix. Find yours below.
Colors look faded or washed out
Most likely cause: Print quality is set to Draft or Standard, or you’re low on ink.
Fix 1: Open print settings → Quality → change to Best or High Quality.
Fix 2: Check ink levels in your printer’s app or settings panel. Replace any cartridge below 20%.
Fix 3: Run a print head cleaning cycle (find this in your printer’s maintenance settings). This only takes a minute and often dramatically improves color richness.
The design is cut off at the edges
Most likely cause: Scale is set to Actual Size or 100% instead of Fit to Page, or margins are too large.
Fix 1: In your print dialog, change Scale to Fit to Page (or “Shrink to fit”).
Fix 2: Set Margins to None or Minimum.
Fix 3: Make sure Paper Size matches the file — US Letter for most kits. If it’s set to A4, the design may get cropped.
Ink is smearing or smudging
Most likely cause: Handling prints too soon after printing (inkjet), or using the wrong paper type setting.
Fix 1: Wait at least 60 seconds before touching inkjet prints. Let them sit flat on a clean surface.
Fix 2: In printer settings, change Paper Type to match what you’re using (e.g., Cardstock, Matte Paper). Using the wrong setting causes the printer to apply too much ink.
Fix 3: Try switching to a laser printer or print shop for heavy-color designs.
Prints are coming out the wrong size
Most likely cause: Paper size mismatch, or scaling is set to something other than 100% / Fit to Page.
Fix 1: Confirm your paper is US Letter (8.5×11 in) — not A4, Legal, or any other size.
Fix 2: Set Scale to 100% if you want exact sizing, or Fit to Page to fill the sheet.
Fix 3: In Adobe Acrobat → File → Print → under “Page Sizing & Handling” choose Fit or Actual Size.
Print has horizontal lines or streaks
Most likely cause: Clogged print heads (inkjet) or dirty drum (laser). Common when printer hasn’t been used in a while.
Fix 1: Run Print Head Cleaning from your printer’s maintenance menu. May need to run 2–3 times.
Fix 2: Print a test/alignment page first to prime the heads before your real print.
Fix 3: Check ink — one cartridge may be almost empty. Even if you’re only printing in one color, all cartridges are often needed for quality output.
Paper jams when using cardstock
Most likely cause: Cardstock is too thick for your printer, or it was loaded in the wrong tray.
Fix 1: Check your printer’s manual for max paper weight. Most inkjet home printers max out at 65–80lb cardstock.
Fix 2: Use the manual feed / rear tray if available — it uses a straighter paper path that handles cardstock much better.
Fix 3: Fan the cardstock sheets before loading to prevent static sticking. Load fewer sheets at a time (10–15 max).
Fix 4: If your printer consistently jams on cardstock, use a print shop instead — they handle heavy stock easily.
PDF won’t open or looks blank
Most likely cause: File opened in a browser instead of a dedicated PDF reader, or the download didn’t complete fully.
Fix 1: Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) and open the file directly in it — not in Chrome or Safari.
Fix 2: Re-download the file from your order confirmation email or account → My Orders. The previous download may have been incomplete.
Fix 3: Try a different browser for the download. Chrome sometimes mishandles large PDF downloads — try Firefox or Edge.
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