Draft mode

Updated: 05/01/2023 by Computer Hope
Red Draft stamp indicating a document is a draft or test document.

Draft quality, Draft view, or draft mode is a feature found on older printers where they would lower their quality and saturation for a "test version" of a printed document. Draft mode was used to show the user what the print job would look like (while saving some ink/toner) before printing the final copy. The print quality or draft mode was configured through the printer properties menu.

Note

Today, many word processors include a draft mode that removes a document's formatting.

How do I get into Draft view?

In Microsoft Word, to get into Draft view, click View at the top of the window and then the Draft icon. To get out of Draft view, click any of the other available views, like Print Layout.

Tip

You can also get a Draft view by clicking the Draft button in the View buttons or with the Ctrl+Alt+N keyboard shortcut.

Letter quality, Near letter-quality, Printer terms, View, WD, WIP