Print Markdown or save it as a PDF

The spaceMD viewer can print a formatted Markdown document or save the rendered result as a PDF. Both actions create output from the current document without changing the Markdown source.

Printing and PDF export are included in the free viewer. They do not require the formatted Quick Look purchase.

Open the complete document

1. Open the Markdown file in the spaceMD viewer.
2. Wait until the document is fully rendered.
3. Check headings, tables, code blocks and local images.
4. If an image is missing, grant the relevant folder before creating the output. See Show local images.

Use the viewer rather than Quick Look for output. Quick Look can shorten files larger than 4 MB, while the viewer is intended for the complete document.

Print the document

1. With the document open in spaceMD, press Command-P.
2. Choose the printer and standard macOS print options.
3. Review the page range and orientation.
4. Start printing.

spaceMD uses a dedicated print appearance instead of copying the screen theme directly. The output uses black text on white. Code blocks wrap long lines rather than cutting them off. Tables and block quotes are kept together across page boundaries where possible.

Changing from the System, Newspaper or Terminal screen theme does not turn the printed page into a dark or coloured version. The print appearance is designed for paper and PDF output.

Save as a PDF

1. Open the document in the spaceMD viewer.
2. Press Shift-Command-E.
3. Choose a destination folder.
4. Enter the PDF file name.
5. Confirm the save action.
6. Open the resulting PDF and check the pages.

The PDF is a new file at the location you choose. The original .md file is not renamed, moved or modified.

Check page breaks, wide tables and long code before sharing the result. A layout that reads well in a scrolling window can use more pages than expected on paper.

Prepare better output

The print appearance handles normal Markdown automatically, but the source structure still matters:

• use headings in a logical order
• keep table cells concise enough for the selected page orientation
• use fenced code blocks for source code
• make sure referenced local images are available before export
• open the complete file in the viewer when Quick Look reports that it was shortened

spaceMD does not download remote images during export. An image referenced with http:// or https:// remains unavailable because remote resources are blocked. Use a permitted local copy when it must appear in the output.

Check the result

A successful PDF save creates a readable file at the selected location. A successful print job appears in the normal macOS print queue. In both cases, the Markdown file remains unchanged.

If it does not work

Save as PDF is unavailable: Confirm that the document is open in the spaceMD viewer, not only in Finder Quick Look.

A local image is missing: Check the folder permission, image path and 8 MB per-image limit. Reopen the document after granting access.

A remote image is missing: This is expected. spaceMD blocks remote resources during reading and output.

The output is incomplete: If the source file is larger than 4 MB, make sure you opened it in the viewer. Do not create the PDF from a shortened Quick Look view.

A table is too wide: Try landscape orientation in the macOS print panel or shorten the table content. The Markdown source remains under your control in your editor.

For support, include the spaceMD and macOS versions, whether you printed or saved a PDF, and which element is affected. Use a neutral test document instead of sending confidential content.