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AFBOOK PDF
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Convert AFBOOK to PDF

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 3, 2026
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Is it possible to convert AFBOOK to PDF?
Yes - AFBOOK converts to PDF.

An .afbook is an Affinity Publisher book file that links several chapter documents, so you export it from inside Publisher rather than converting the file directly. Open the book, then use File > Export and pick a PDF preset. The layout stays intact, but the result is a flat PDF that can no longer be re-edited as an Affinity project.

Also to PDF: LTX · TEX · DWG

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert AFBOOK to PDF?

An .afbook is only a Book panel definition that ties together separate Affinity chapter documents, so it is not a portable file you can hand to anyone. Turning it into a .pdf produces a single self-contained document with fonts and images embedded, ready for print shops, e-readers or the web.

How to convert AFBOOK to PDF

Affinity Publisher (Book panel) EASIEST

Open the .afbook, then in the Book panel choose Export Book, or open a chapter and use File > Export (Ctrl+Shift+E). Pick PDF (for print) at 300 DPI or PDF (for web) at 72 DPI.

Affinity Publisher - PDF/X preset for print

For a commercial printer, in the Export dialog select a PDF/X-1a (mono) or PDF/X-3 (colour) preset so fonts embed and colours convert automatically, then export.

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About these formats

.AFBOOK Affinity Publisher Book

An .afbook file is a book project made in Affinity Publisher 2. It ties several separate .afpub chapter documents into one publication and stores the chapter order along with shared master…

Open .AFBOOK details →
.PDF Portable Document Format

A PDF (Portable Document Format) is a fixed-layout document that looks identical on every device - fonts, images, and layout are all embedded. Open it in any browser or the built-in viewer…

Open .PDF details →

Quality & what to watch

  • The .afbook itself holds no page content - it references external chapter documents, so all linked .afpub files must be present to export correctly.
  • Exporting flattens the design; the PDF is no longer editable as an Affinity project and live text effects are baked in.
  • Choosing a web preset downsamples images to 72-108 DPI, which lowers quality compared with the print preset.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open an .afbook without Affinity Publisher?
No. It is a proprietary Affinity Book file; you need Affinity Publisher (or the free trial) to open and export it.
How do I export every chapter as its own PDF?
Use the Book panel's export option, which can output the whole book as one PDF or each chapter as a separate PDF file.
Which preset is best for a printed book?
Use PDF/X-1a for black-and-white interiors or PDF/X-3 for colour; both embed fonts and lock colour conversion.
Will page numbers and the table of contents survive?
Yes. Book-level page numbering and an auto-generated table of contents are rendered into the exported PDF.