Warm-up (30 seconds): Think about the last time you printed something. Did it look exactly how you expected? What happened?

This lesson prepares your polished proposal document for printing or sharing. You'll learn Print Preview to check your work, adjust print settings, and export to PDF — the professional format for sharing documents that can't be accidentally changed.

Why Print Preview matters professionally

We ALWAYS check Print Preview first because it shows the exact layout that prints or exports — catching cut-off text, missing headers, or spacing issues before you waste paper or send an unprofessional document to a client/sponsor.

Print settings: What + Why for each

• Margins (Narrow = 0.5"): Prevents content from being cut off at page edges — essential for professional letters/proposals
• Paper size (A4): Ireland standard — matches what teachers/printers expect
• Orientation (Portrait/Landscape): Portrait for letters, Landscape when tables/images are wider than tall

docx vs PDF: When to use each

• .docx (editable): Send to teachers/mentors who need to add feedback or make changes
• .pdf (fixed format): Send to sponsors/clients/parents — they see exactly what you intended, no accidental formatting changes

Follow these steps to check a sample TY Fundraiser Proposal in Print Preview. Watch my thinking: 'I want this proposal to look professional when the TY coordinator prints it, so we check margins first, then headers, then export both formats.'

Now apply what you learned to make professional final versions of your own polished proposal document. This adds two files to your Project Portfolio: the print-ready .docx and .pdf versions.

Don't panic—these are super common!

• Issue: Print Preview shows content cut off at edges
  Solution: Reduce margins in Page Setup or change to Landscape orientation
• Issue: PDF download goes to wrong folder
  Solution: Check your Downloads folder (Windows: Quick access → Downloads; Mac: Downloads in sidebar; Chromebook: Files → Downloads)
• Issue: Can't find Save As or Export options
  Solution: Try {{kbd:Ctrl+S}} / {{kbd:Cmd+S}} first — look for File menu in top-left corner