Key points at a glance
- Use colour where it conveys information.
- A grayscale version must remain understandable if printed without colour.
- Check whether the ordering process offers the selection you need.
Make colour an information choice
A chart with three data series may be clear in colour but ambiguous in grayscale. Inspect each coloured page: does the hue carry meaning or merely decorate? Patterns, line styles and direct labels help people who cannot rely on colour differences alone.
This is more specific than a general preference for colour printing. When ordering, identify which pages genuinely require colour and which remain clear in monochrome.
Count positions in the actual PDF
After the last edit, list pages with colour-dependent content. Use exported PDF page positions rather than printed chapter numbers: roman-numbered front matter may shift the count. A screenshot of the PDF thumbnails can help you verify the positions.
For example, Figure 7 appears on page 42 of the main text but PDF page 49. If the service offers selected colour pages, the requested position must match the PDF. Review the order preview afterwards.
Check availability and price
Not every print workflow permits page-by-page colour selection. First confirm that the combination you want is actually offered; do not assume a custom option exists. Compare full totals for the available colour and grayscale settings with the same binding and copy count.
For multiple copies, colour choices affect the whole print volume. A cheaper setting is not a saving if it destroys the meaning of a figure. If the university requires colour, build that into your baseline specification.
Approve representative pages
Inspect legends, thin lines, photographs and screenshots at normal and enlarged zoom. Very pale hues and low contrast may look weaker in print than on a bright screen. Adobe provides output-preview tools, though they are not a physical print proof.
Use the same approved PDF for every matching copy and confirm the final print settings at checkout. If you change a figure after reviewing colours, repeat the check before upload.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Marked colour-critical figures.
- Checked PDF positions rather than chapter numbers.
- Reviewed offered colour settings.
- Compared total cost at the correct quantity.
- Checked contrast in the final PDF.
Common mistakes
- Using text page numbers for print selection.
- Relying on red and green alone.
- Assuming selected colour pages can be ordered without checking.
Check printing and binding for your thesis
Upload your checked PDF, compare the available formats, and review the price, preview and delivery options before ordering.
Check the configuratorRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print only selected pages in colour?
That depends on the options currently offered. Check the configurator or ask before ordering.
Are grayscale diagrams acceptable?
Only if series, categories and values remain clear without colour. Test a grayscale view.
Will colour increase the cost of every copy?
The effect depends on the offered setting and quantity. The basket total is the reliable figure.