New Feature: Free-Form Page Formats for PDFs (#2595)

docs/changelog/index.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ rss: true
 ---
 
 <Update label="v5.0.3" description="25th January 2026">
+  - Implement the ability to print Free-Form PDFs which do not have a fixed page height, allowing the user to fit the content on a page as they see fit. [(link)](/guides/selecting-page-format)
   - Allow the user to override the default endpoint for all AI providers, not just Ollama. Also display the default endpoint for each provider in the AI settings page.
   - Updated the chip input component, to allow the user to add, edit, remove or reorder keywords for skills and other sections.
   - Improved RTL support across the app, thanks to @obreo for the contribution. [(link)](https://github.com/amruthpillai/reactive-resume/pull/2583)

docs/docs.json

@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 						"pages": [
 							"guides/creating-your-first-resume",
 							"guides/choosing-a-template",
+							"guides/selecting-page-format",
 							"guides/moving-items-between-sections",
 							"guides/fitting-content-on-a-page",
 							"guides/exporting-your-resume",

docs/guides/fitting-content-on-a-page.mdx

@@ -15,9 +15,26 @@ When your resume content overflows the page, Reactive Resume displays a warning
 
 ## Quick fixes
 
-Here are several ways to fit your content within a page, ordered from content changes to layout adjustments.
+Here are several ways to fit your content within a page, ordered from simplest to most involved.
 
-### 1. Shorten text blocks
+### 1. Switch to Free-Form format
+
+If you don't plan on printing your resume, the simplest solution is to switch to **Free-Form** format. Free-Form creates a single continuous page with no height limit, eliminating overflow concerns entirely.
+
+With Free-Form:
+
+- Your entire resume renders as one seamless document
+- No awkward page breaks to manage
+- ATS parsers and AI scanners can still read your content perfectly
+- You focus on content, not arbitrary page constraints
+
+To switch formats, go to the **Page** section in the right sidebar and change the **Format** to Free-Form. For more details, see [Selecting the right page format](/guides/selecting-page-format).
+
+<Tip>
+  Since most resumes are viewed digitally today, Free-Form is often the best choice unless you specifically need to print physical copies.
+</Tip>
+
+### 2. Shorten text blocks
 
 Long paragraphs take up space without adding proportional value. Review each section and cut ruthlessly:
 
@@ -30,7 +47,7 @@ Long paragraphs take up space without adding proportional value. Review each sec
   Read each bullet point and ask: "Does this help me get an interview?" If not, cut it.
 </Tip>
 
-### 2. Use multi-column layouts
+### 3. Use multi-column layouts
 
 Some sections work better in multiple columns, especially lists of short items.
 
@@ -54,7 +71,7 @@ Good candidates for multi-column layouts:
   Multi-column layouts work best for sections with short, uniform items. Sections with long descriptions (like Experience or Projects) usually work better in a single column.
 </Info>
 
-### 3. Move items to another page
+### 4. Move items to another page
 
 If you have more content than fits on one page, move less important items to page two. This keeps your first page focused on your most relevant experience.
 
@@ -70,7 +87,7 @@ For detailed instructions, see [Moving items between sections](/guides/moving-it
   Keep your most recent and relevant experience on page one. Move older positions or less critical sections (like older projects or volunteer work) to subsequent pages.
 </Tip>
 
-### 4. Adjust layout and design settings
+### 5. Adjust layout and design settings
 
 The right sidebar contains settings that control how much space your content uses. Small adjustments here can make a big difference.
 
@@ -86,10 +103,10 @@ Open the right sidebar and explore these options:
 | **Picture size** | Picture (left sidebar) | A smaller photo leaves more room for text |
 
 <Info>
-  **Font size is the most effective setting.** Reducing body font from 11pt to 10.5pt (or even 10pt) can free up significant space while remaining readable. The editor supports 0.1pt increments, so you can fine-tune precisely.
+  **Reducing font size is the best option** when you need to fit more content while keeping A4 or Letter format. Reducing body font from 11pt to 10.5pt (or even 10pt) can free up significant space while remaining readable. The editor supports 0.1pt increments, so you can fine-tune precisely.
 </Info>
 
-### 5. Hide less important sections
+### 6. Hide less important sections
 
 If you're still short on space, consider hiding sections that aren't essential for your target role:
 
@@ -102,14 +119,15 @@ To hide a section, click on the section heading in the left sidebar and toggle t
 
 ## Finding the right balance
 
-Start with content changes (steps 1-3) before adjusting design settings (steps 4-5). The best resumes fit their content naturally rather than forcing everything into a cramped layout.
+If you need to stick with A4 or Letter format, start with content changes (steps 2-4) before adjusting design settings (steps 5-6). The best resumes fit their content naturally rather than forcing everything into a cramped layout.
 
 Try this order:
 
-1. Cut unnecessary text first
-2. Reorganize with columns where appropriate
-3. Move secondary content to page two if needed
-4. Fine-tune font size and spacing last
+1. Consider switching to Free-Form if printing isn't required
+2. Cut unnecessary text first
+3. Reorganize with columns where appropriate
+4. Move secondary content to page two if needed
+5. Fine-tune font size and spacing last
 
 <Tip>
   Use the live preview to see changes as you make them. Small adjustments add up—reducing font size by 0.5pt combined with slightly smaller margins can recover enough space for several lines of content.

docs/guides/selecting-page-format.mdx

@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+---
+title: "Selecting the right page format"
+description: "Learn about the three page format options in Reactive Resume—A4, Letter, and Free-Form—and choose the best one for your needs."
+---
+
+Reactive Resume offers three page format options: **A4**, **Letter**, and **Free-Form**. Each format affects how your resume is rendered and exported as a PDF. This guide explains the differences and helps you choose the right format for your situation.
+
+## Available formats
+
+### A4
+
+A4 is the international standard paper size used in most countries outside North America. When you select A4, your resume pages conform to these dimensions:
+
+| Property | Value |
+|----------|-------|
+| Width | 210mm (794px) |
+| Height | 297mm (1123px) |
+
+Choose A4 if you're applying to jobs internationally or in regions that use the metric system.
+
+### Letter
+
+Letter is the standard paper size in the United States and Canada. When you select Letter, your resume pages conform to these dimensions:
+
+| Property | Value |
+|----------|-------|
+| Width | 216mm (816px) |
+| Height | 279mm (1056px) |
+
+Choose Letter if you're applying to jobs in North America.
+
+### Free-Form
+
+Free-Form is a modern format designed for digital-first resumes. Instead of conforming to a physical page size, Free-Form produces a **single continuous page** with no height limit. The width matches A4 (210mm), but the height extends as needed to fit all your content.
+
+| Property | Value |
+|----------|-------|
+| Width | 210mm (794px) |
+| Height | Unlimited |
+
+<Info>
+  With Free-Form, there are no page breaks. Your entire resume renders as one seamless document, regardless of how much content you have.
+</Info>
+
+## Why Free-Form exists
+
+The reality of modern job applications is that **nobody prints resumes anymore**. Your resume is almost always viewed digitally—on a screen, in an applicant tracking system (ATS), or parsed by AI-powered screening tools.
+
+When your resume is processed digitally:
+
+- **ATS parsers** extract text content regardless of page dimensions
+- **AI scanners** analyze the full document as a single unit
+- **Recruiters** scroll through PDFs on their screens rather than printing them
+- **PDF parsing tools** read the entire content regardless of page height
+
+Since physical page constraints no longer matter for most use cases, Free-Form lets you focus on content rather than worrying about fitting everything into arbitrary page limits.
+
+<Tip>
+  If you don't plan on printing your resume, Free-Form is often the simplest choice. You never have to worry about content overflowing or awkward page breaks.
+</Tip>
+
+## How to change your page format
+
+<Steps>
+  <Step title="Open your resume in the builder">
+    Navigate to your Dashboard and click on the resume you want to edit.
+  </Step>
+
+  <Step title="Open the right sidebar">
+    In the resume builder, look for the right sidebar on the right side of the screen.
+  </Step>
+
+  <Step title="Navigate to the Page section">
+    In the right sidebar, find and click on the **Page** section to expand it.
+  </Step>
+
+  <Step title="Select your format">
+    Find the **Format** dropdown and select your preferred option: A4, Letter, or Free-Form.
+
+    <Frame caption="Screenshot of the Format dropdown in the Page section">
+      <img src="/images/guides/selecting-page-format/screenshot-1.webp" alt="Screenshot of the Format dropdown in the Page section" />
+    </Frame>
+  </Step>
+
+  <Step title="Review the preview">
+    Your resume preview updates immediately to reflect the new format. Check that your content displays correctly.
+  </Step>
+</Steps>
+
+## Choosing the right format
+
+Use this quick reference to decide which format fits your needs:
+
+| Situation | Recommended Format |
+|-----------|-------------------|
+| Applying to jobs in North America | Letter |
+| Applying to jobs internationally | A4 |
+| Digital-only applications (no printing) | Free-Form |
+| Uploading to ATS or job portals | Free-Form |
+| Need to print physical copies | A4 or Letter |
+| Long resume with lots of content | Free-Form |
+| Traditional industries (law, finance) | A4 or Letter |
+
+<Warning>
+  If you switch from Free-Form to A4 or Letter, your content will be split across multiple pages. Review the result carefully to ensure page breaks don't occur in awkward places.
+</Warning>
+
+## Example PDFs
+
+Download these sample resumes to see how different formats affect the final PDF output:
+
+<CardGroup cols={1}>
+  <Card arrow horizontal title="A4 Format Example" icon="file-pdf" href="/assets/pdfs/a4-example.pdf">
+    A sample resume in A4 format showing traditional page breaks and constraints.
+  </Card>
+  <Card arrow horizontal title="Free-Form Example" icon="file-lines" href="/assets/pdfs/free-form-example.pdf">
+    A sample resume in Free-Form format showing a continuous single-page layout.
+  </Card>
+</CardGroup>
+
+## Frequently asked questions
+
+<AccordionGroup>
+  <Accordion title="Does Free-Form work with ATS systems?">
+    Yes. ATS systems parse the text content of your PDF, not the page dimensions. Free-Form resumes are fully compatible with applicant tracking systems.
+  </Accordion>
+
+  <Accordion title="Can I switch formats after creating my resume?">
+    Absolutely. You can change the format at any time from the Page section in the right sidebar. Your content is preserved—only the layout changes.
+  </Accordion>
+
+  <Accordion title="What if a job posting asks for a 'one-page resume'?">
+    If the employer specifically requests a one-page resume and expects a traditional format, use A4 or Letter and ensure your content fits within a single page. See [Fitting content on a page](/guides/fitting-content-on-a-page) for tips.
+  </Accordion>
+
+  <Accordion title="Does Free-Form affect the file size?">
+    Slightly. A longer single page may produce a marginally larger PDF than a paginated version of the same content, but the difference is negligible for typical resume lengths.
+  </Accordion>
+
+  <Accordion title="Which format should I use for LinkedIn?">
+    LinkedIn doesn't display uploaded resumes in their original format—it extracts the content. Free-Form works perfectly for LinkedIn uploads.
+  </Accordion>
+</AccordionGroup>