Convert HTML to PDF in Python

To convert HTML to PDF in Python, call Converter.convert_html() with the HTML source, PdfSaveOptions, and an output path. The source can be an HTML file, an HTMLDocument, inline HTML with a base URI, or a URL supported by the selected overload.

Aspose.HTML for Python via .NET renders HTML and CSS to fixed-layout PDF output. The following examples demonstrate conversion from a file and a webpage URL, custom PDF settings, and form-field flattening.

Convert HTML to PDF in Python

The shortest file-based workflow uses a source path and the default PDF save settings:

1. Provide the source HTML file path.
2. Create a PdfSaveOptions object.
3. Call Converter.convert_html() with the source, options, and output PDF path.

# Convert HTML to PDF in Python

import aspose.html.converters as conv
import aspose.html.saving as sav

# Convert HTML to PDF
conv.Converter.convert_html("document.html", sav.PdfSaveOptions(), "output.pdf")

This overload reads the HTML file, applies the default PDF settings, and writes output.pdf.

Convert a Webpage URL to PDF in Python

Use a Url object when the HTML source is an online webpage:

1. Create a Url object for the webpage.
2. Create PdfSaveOptions and specify an output path.
3. Pass the URL, options, and output path to Converter.convert_html().

import os
import aspose.html as ah
import aspose.html.converters as conv
import aspose.html.saving as sav

output_dir = "output"
os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)

url = ah.Url("https://docs.aspose.com/html/files/document.html")
output_path = os.path.join(output_dir, "document-from-url.pdf")

options = sav.PdfSaveOptions()
conv.Converter.convert_html(url, options, output_path)

The application must have network access to the webpage and its linked resources. This example uses a small static HTML file so that the result is predictable. A complex website can take considerably longer to process while its stylesheets, images, fonts, scripts, and other resources are loaded.

Customize HTML to PDF with PdfSaveOptions

Use PdfSaveOptions when the PDF requires custom page settings, background color, metadata, form-field behavior, or password and permission settings.

1. Load the HTML source into an HTMLDocument.
2. Create PdfSaveOptions and configure only the settings required by the output.
3. Pass the document, options, and output path to Converter.convert_html().

The following example configures page size and margins, background color, PDF metadata, and password-based permissions.

import os
import aspose.html as ah
import aspose.html.converters as conv
import aspose.html.drawing as dr
import aspose.html.saving as sav
import aspose.pydrawing as pd
import aspose.html.rendering.pdf.encryption as rpe

input_dir = "data"
output_dir = "output"
os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)

input_path = os.path.join(input_dir, "document.html")
output_path = os.path.join(output_dir, "document-options.pdf")

with ah.HTMLDocument(input_path) as document:
    options = sav.PdfSaveOptions()
    options.page_setup.any_page = dr.Page(
        dr.Size(800, 600),
        dr.Margin(10, 10, 10, 10)
    )
    options.background_color = pd.Color.bisque

    document_info = options.document_info
    document_info.title = "Aspose HTML Example"
    document_info.author = "Your Name"
    document_info.subject = "PDF Conversion"
    document_info.keywords = "Aspose, HTML, PDF"

    options.encryption = rpe.PdfEncryptionInfo(
        user_password="user123",
        owner_password="owner123",
        permissions=(
            rpe.PdfPermissions.PRINT_DOCUMENT
            | rpe.PdfPermissions.EXTRACT_CONTENT
        ),
        encryption_algorithm=rpe.PdfEncryptionAlgorithm.RC4_128
    )

    conv.Converter.convert_html(document, options, output_path)

The numeric page size and margin values in this example are measured in pixels. The generated PDF uses the specified user and owner passwords and permits printing and content extraction.

PdfSaveOptions Class

PdfSaveOptions inherits common rendering settings and adds PDF-specific controls. The most relevant properties are:

Property	Use it to control
page_setup	PDF page size, margins, and page layout.
css	CSS processing settings, including the media type used during rendering.
background_color	The color that fills each PDF page. The default is transparent.
horizontal_resolution and vertical_resolution	Resolution of raster images generated for graphical filter effects. The default is 300 dpi. These properties do not define an overall DPI for the PDF.
jpeg_quality	JPEG compression quality when JPEG compression is used. The default is 95; increasing it does not improve the source image resolution.
document_info	PDF metadata such as the title, author, subject, and keywords.
form_field_behaviour	Whether generated PDF form fields remain interactive or are flattened.
encryption	Passwords, permissions, and encryption details for the output PDF.
is_tagged_pdf	Creation of a tag structure in the PDF. Tagging alone does not guarantee compliance with an accessibility standard.

Flatten PDF Form Fields During Conversion

Set form_field_behaviour to FormFieldBehaviour.FLATTENED when form fields in the generated PDF should no longer be interactive:

1. Load the HTML document that contains the form controls.
2. Create PdfSaveOptions and select flattened form-field behavior.
3. Convert the document with Converter.convert_html().

# Convert HTML to PDF and flatten form fields in Python

import os
import aspose.html as ah
import aspose.html.converters as conv
import aspose.html.saving as sav
import aspose.html.rendering.pdf as rp

# Prepare input and output paths
data_dir = "data"
output_dir = "output"
os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)

source_path = os.path.join(data_dir, "SampleHtmlForm.html")
result_path = os.path.join(output_dir, "form-flattened.pdf")

# Load the HTML form
with ah.HTMLDocument(source_path) as doc:

    # Flatten form fields in the output PDF
    options = sav.PdfSaveOptions()
    options.form_field_behaviour = rp.FormFieldBehaviour.FLATTENED

    # Convert the HTML form to PDF
    conv.Converter.convert_html(doc, options, result_path)

Convert HTML to XPS in Python

The same Converter API can produce XPS instead of PDF. Use XpsSaveOptions to configure XPS output:

1. Specify the source HTML file.
2. Create an XpsSaveOptions object.
3. Call Converter.convert_html() with the source, options, and output XPS path.

import aspose.html.converters as conv
import aspose.html.saving as sav

options = sav.XpsSaveOptions()
conv.Converter.convert_html("document.html", options, "document.xps")

Use this direct conversion workflow when you only need to convert HTML to XPS. Use XpsDevice when the application requires explicit control over the rendering device.

Related HTML Conversion Guides

• HTML Converter – choose another HTML output format.
• Fine-Tuning Converters – compare direct conversion with renderer and device-based workflows.
• Rendering Options – configure PDF encryption, page layout, and other rendering settings.
• Render HTML to XPS with XpsDevice – use the Rendering API as an alternative to direct conversion with XpsSaveOptions.
• Save HTML with Resources – control how linked CSS, images, fonts, and scripts are saved with HTML.

Other Platforms

• Convert HTML to PDF in .NET
• Convert HTML to PDF in Java

FAQ

Can I convert an HTML string to PDF in Python?

Yes. Pass the HTML string, a base URI, PdfSaveOptions, and the output path to Converter.convert_html(). The base URI lets the converter resolve relative URLs for stylesheets, images, fonts, and other resources.

Can I convert a webpage URL to PDF in Python?

Yes. Pass an Url object to a supported Converter.convert_html() overload, or load the webpage into an HTMLDocument before conversion. The application must be able to access the page and its linked resources.

Why are CSS, images, or fonts missing from the PDF?

Relative resource URLs must resolve against the document location or a valid base URI. Remote resources must be accessible, and fonts used by the page must be available to the rendering environment. Also check whether the page defines different styles for screen and print media.

Does is_tagged_pdf guarantee an accessible PDF?

No. Setting is_tagged_pdf to True creates a PDF tag structure, but accessibility also depends on the source document structure, alternative text, reading order, form labels, and other content requirements.

Try Online HTML to PDF Conversion

Use the free online HTML to PDF Converter for quick manual conversion without writing code. Use Aspose.HTML for Python via .NET when HTML-to-PDF conversion must run in a Python application, service, or document-processing workflow.

Download complete examples and data files from GitHub.