You want to save a Word document’s print preview as an image file such as PNG or JPEG. Word does not have a built-in export button that directly converts the print preview to a picture. This article explains three reliable methods to capture the print preview as an image using the Snipping Tool, the Snapshot tool in OneNote, and a PDF-to-image converter.
Key Takeaways: Save Print Preview as an Image in Word
- Snipping Tool (Windows 11 / Windows 10): Capture a rectangular or full-screen region of the print preview window and save it as a PNG or JPEG file.
- OneNote Snapshot (Clip to OneNote): Insert a screen clipping of the print preview directly into a OneNote page and then export that page as an image.
- PDF to Image Converter: Print the document to a PDF file and then use a free online or offline converter to turn the PDF pages into image files.
Why Word Cannot Export Print Preview Directly as an Image
Word’s print preview feature is designed to show how the document will look on paper. It is a live rendering inside the application window, not a standalone image format. Word can save documents as PDF, XPS, or web pages, but none of these output methods produce a standard image file like PNG or JPEG. To get an image of the print preview, you must use a screen capture tool or a conversion pipeline that goes through an intermediary format such as PDF.
The three methods in this article cover the most common workflows. The Snipping Tool method is the fastest for a single-page preview. The OneNote method is useful if you already use OneNote and want to annotate the capture. The PDF converter method works best when you need to save all pages of a multi-page document as separate image files.
Method 1: Capture Print Preview With the Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool is built into Windows 11 and Windows 10. It lets you select a region of the screen and save it directly as an image file. This method works for any version of Word and does not require additional software.
- Open the print preview in Word
Press Ctrl+P or go to File > Print. The print preview pane appears on the right side of the window. - Launch the Snipping Tool
Press the Windows key and type Snipping Tool. Click the app to open it. Alternatively, press Shift+Windows key+S to open the small snipping bar. - Choose a snip mode
In the Snipping Tool, click New. Select Rectangular snip from the mode dropdown. The screen dims and the cursor changes to a crosshair. - Select the print preview area
Click and drag the crosshair over the print preview pane. Release the mouse button. The captured image opens in the Snipping Tool editor. - Save the image
Click the floppy disk icon or press Ctrl+S. In the Save As dialog, choose a folder, enter a file name, and select PNG, JPEG, or GIF from the Save as type dropdown. Click Save.
Method 2: Use OneNote’s Snapshot Tool
Microsoft OneNote includes a screen clipping tool called Snapshot. It can capture a region of the screen and insert it into a OneNote page. After the capture, you can export the OneNote page as an image file. This method is helpful if you want to annotate the preview before saving it.
- Open the print preview in Word
Press Ctrl+P or go to File > Print. Keep the print preview visible on the screen. - Open OneNote and start a screen clipping
Open OneNote and navigate to the notebook and section where you want to store the image. On the ribbon, click the Insert tab, then click Screen Clipping. The screen dims and the cursor becomes a crosshair. - Select the print preview area
Click and drag the crosshair over the print preview pane. Release the mouse button. The captured image appears on the OneNote page. - Export the OneNote page as an image
In OneNote, go to File > Export. Under Export Current, choose Page. Under Select Format, choose PNG or JPEG. Click Export. Choose a folder, enter a file name, and click Save.
Method 3: Convert Print Preview to PDF Then to Image
This method converts the document to PDF first, then uses a converter to turn the PDF pages into image files. It is the best option for multi-page documents because each page becomes a separate image. You can use Word’s built-in PDF export or a virtual PDF printer.
- Export the document as a PDF
In Word, go to File > Export > Create PDF/XPS. In the dialog, choose a folder, enter a file name, and click Publish. - Open the PDF in a converter tool
Open a free online converter such as Smallpdf, ILovePDF, or Adobe Acrobat online. Alternatively, use a desktop tool like GIMP or IrfanView. Upload the PDF file. - Choose image format and page range
Select PNG or JPEG as the output format. Specify the page range if you do not need all pages. Click Convert or Export. - Download the image files
After the conversion completes, download the ZIP file or individual images. Extract the files to a folder on your computer.
Common Pitfalls When Saving Print Preview as an Image
The captured image is blurry or low resolution
Screen captures take the resolution of your monitor. If your display is set to 150% scaling in Windows, the image may appear larger but not sharper. To get a higher-resolution image, zoom in on the print preview before capturing. In the print preview pane, use the zoom slider at the bottom to increase the zoom level to 100% or more. Then capture the preview with the Snipping Tool or OneNote.
Only part of the preview is visible in the window
The print preview pane may show only a portion of the page, especially if the document is set to a large paper size. Use the scroll bar to bring the desired section into view. For a full-page capture, reduce the zoom level until the entire page fits inside the preview pane. Alternatively, use the PDF-to-image method, which always captures the full page.
The image includes the Word interface or other windows
The Snipping Tool captures whatever is on the screen at the moment you drag the crosshair. To avoid capturing the ribbon, ruler, or other interface elements, make sure the print preview pane is the only area you select. In the Snipping Tool, choose Rectangular snip and draw a tight border around the preview content. If you accidentally capture extra elements, use the Snipping Tool’s crop feature to trim them before saving.
Print Preview Capture Methods Comparison
| Item | Snipping Tool | OneNote Snapshot | PDF to Image Converter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software needed | Built into Windows 11 / 10 | Microsoft OneNote (free with Office) | PDF converter tool (free online or desktop) |
| Best for | Single-page, quick captures | Annotated captures in OneNote | Multi-page documents, high resolution |
| Image quality | Depends on screen resolution | Depends on screen resolution | Up to 300 DPI or more |
| Steps required | 5 steps | 4 steps | 4 steps |
| Output format | PNG, JPEG, GIF | PNG, JPEG (via OneNote export) | PNG, JPEG, BMP, TIFF |
You can now save your Word print preview as an image using any of the three methods described. For a single-page document, the Snipping Tool is the fastest option. For a multi-page document that requires high resolution, use the PDF-to-image converter workflow. If you frequently need this capability, consider adding a screen capture tool like Snagit that offers more advanced editing features such as text callouts and arrows.