printstyle

Printstyle refers to the set of formatting rules and design decisions intended for printed output rather than on-screen display. In web design, printstyle is typically implemented as a print stylesheet or as print-specific rules within a general stylesheet. These styles are activated when a user prints a page or saves it as a PDF, using the CSS media type or media queries such as @media print.

Printstyles aim to present content clearly and concisely by tailoring the layout to paper dimensions and reader needs. Common techniques include removing nonessential elements (navigation menus, sidebars, advertisements), simplifying color schemes, increasing type size for readability, and adjusting margins and page breaks. Page-related controls, such as page-break-before and page-break-after, help ensure logical content flow across pages. Web authors may also use the @page rule to set margins and page dimensions and may adjust line length, font choices, and line spacing for print.

In addition to web contexts, many document formats and word processors support print styles or print previews, allowing users to define separate styling for printed copies. This can mirror the intention of a print stylesheet by selecting fonts, spacing, and layouts optimized for paper.

Best practices emphasize testing across browsers and devices, ensuring essential content remains understandable when stripped of interactive elements, and respecting accessibility considerations. Printstyles should preserve document structure and semantics, so that reading and navigation remain effective in print form.

See also: CSS media queries, @media print, @page, print-friendly design, accessibility in print.