Advanced Styling for MDX-to-PDF Conversion: Optimizing Images and Code Blocks

Converting your MDX or Markdown content to a professional-looking PDF is not only about making the conversion work—it’s about ensuring your documents look polished and are easy to read. In this post, we dive into advanced styling techniques specifically for images and code blocks, two common elements that often require extra care during PDF conversion.

Optimizing Images for High-Quality PDFs

Images play a crucial role in technical documentation, but if not handled correctly, they can disrupt the layout of your PDF. Here are some best practices:

• Consistent Sizing: Ensure that images have a maximum width set via CSS. This prevents them from overflowing the document width. For example, add a rule like:

img {
  max-width: 100%;
  height: auto;
  margin: 1rem 0;
}

• Margin and Padding: Use margins to separate images from text. This improves readability and prevents images from clashing with other elements.

• Image Compression: Optimize your images before including them. Compressed images load faster and maintain quality, which is especially important when generating PDFs.

• Alt Text and Captions: Adding descriptive alt text (which may also be converted into captions) helps maintain context when images are resized or if they fail to load.

Styling Code Blocks for Clarity

Code blocks are a staple of technical documentation. For your PDFs to look professional, code blocks must be both legible and visually distinct. Consider these tips:

• Monospaced Fonts and Background: Use a monospaced font with a contrasting background to differentiate code from regular text. For example:

pre, code {
  font-family: Menlo, Monaco, "Courier New", monospace;
  background-color: #f6f8fa;
  padding: 0.5rem;
  border-radius: 4px;
}

• Syntax Highlighting: If possible, integrate syntax highlighting using a library like PrismJS or Highlight.js. This not only improves readability but also adds visual interest.

• Line Numbers: For lengthy code snippets, displaying line numbers can help readers follow along. There are libraries that can generate line numbers automatically.

• Overflow Handling: Ensure code blocks are scrollable horizontally if they exceed the container width. You can add a CSS rule such as:

pre {
  overflow-x: auto;
}

Additional Advanced Techniques

Here are some extra tips to elevate your MDX-to-PDF styling:

• Custom CSS for Specific Components: Use targeted CSS classes for MDX elements (like .mdx-preview img or .mdx-preview pre) to fine-tune the appearance only within your preview area.

• Media Queries for Print: Consider adding print-specific styles using media queries. This way, you can adjust layouts and font sizes exclusively for the PDF output without affecting the web view.

• Testing and Iteration: Regularly preview your generated PDFs and adjust your CSS accordingly. The conversion process might render some elements differently than your browser, so iterative testing is key.

Conclusion

Advanced styling is essential to transform your MDX or Markdown documents into high-quality, professional PDFs. By optimizing images and refining the look of your code blocks, you not only enhance readability but also create documents that reflect your brand’s attention to detail.

Try incorporating these techniques into your workflow and see how a few simple CSS tweaks can make a big difference in your PDF outputs. If you have any questions or additional tips, feel free to share them in the comments below.

Happy converting!