Free screenplay converter
Fountain to PDF
Free Fountain formatter, industry-standard PDF
Paste Fountain text or drop a .fountain file and get a print-ready screenplay PDF in seconds. Title page, scene numbers, dual dialogue, emphasis, (MORE) and (CONT'D): everything Fountain describes lands on the page where a reader expects it. Free, no signup, and the script stays in your browser.
- Private: your script never leaves this browser tab.
- Free, no signup, no watermark.
- Industry layout kept: scene headings, cues, dialogue, (MORE) and (CONT'D).
Private by design: the conversion runs in this tab and nothing is uploaded.
How it works
The converter reads the full Fountain syntax: title page keys, scene headings (natural or forced with a period), character cues (natural or forced with @), parentheticals, dialogue, dual dialogue (^), transitions, centered text, lyrics, page breaks (===), sections and synopses, notes and boneyard, and *italic*, **bold** and _underline_. It then paginates the script on the standard sheet: Courier 12 point, 1.5 inch left margin, dialogue at 2.5 inches, cues at 3.7 inches, transitions flush right, page numbers top right from page 2. Sections, synopses and notes stay out of the PDF, as Fountain intends.
Every screenplay format, both ways
Any format in the left column converts to PDF, Final Draft, Fountain, Word or plain text. Apps without a writable format here all open FDX or Fountain.
| Format | Reads | Writes |
|---|---|---|
| Final Draft (.fdx) | ||
| Fountain (.fountain) | ||
| Word (.docx) | ||
| Fade In (.fadein) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Highland (.highland) | Use Fountain, which it opens | |
| Celtx (.celtx) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| WriterDuet (.wdz, .json) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Trelby (.trelby) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Text (.txt) |
From plain text to a screenplay PDF anyone can read
Fountain lets you write a screenplay in any text editor, on any device, in plain text that will still open in fifty years. The catch comes when someone else needs to read it: producers, contests and actors expect a PDF formatted like Final Draft prints it. This page turns your Fountain file into exactly that, without installing an app.
Formatting is more than margins. A professional PDF keeps a scene heading with the lines that follow it, never strands a character cue at the bottom of a page, splits long speeches with (MORE) and (CONT'D), and numbers pages top right from page 2. The converter applies those rules, and the preview shows the exact pages before you download.
Need the script in another app afterwards? The same page writes Final Draft (.fdx) for Final Draft, Fade In, WriterDuet, Celtx and Arc Studio, and Word for anyone who edits in Word or Google Docs.
Who uses it
- Writers drafting in plain text: write in iA Writer, Obsidian, VS Code or Notes, then export a submission-ready PDF in one step.
- Table reads and rehearsals: print clean pages for actors from the latest Fountain draft, with scene numbers if you need them.
- Contest entries: produce the standard PDF contests and fellowships ask for, with a proper title page.
Stop fixing margins.Formatting is built in.
ScreenWeaver handles industry-standard formatting and exports to PDF and Final Draft (.fdx). Free, with unlimited pages.
- $0, does not expire
- PDF and Final Draft export
- Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad
Fountain to PDF: the complete guide
It parses the full Fountain syntax (title page, forced elements, dual dialogue, emphasis, centered text, lyrics, page breaks, sections, synopses, notes) and paginates the script to the industry standard with (MORE), (CONT'D) and page numbers.
For this workflow, the central problem is clear: Fountain is fast to write but readers, contests and actors expect a PDF formatted like Final Draft prints it. Left unresolved, this creates downstream friction and slower decisions. The practical target is a print-ready, correctly paginated screenplay PDF from any Fountain text, in seconds and in the browser.
Limitation to keep in mind: Sections, synopses and notes are left out of the PDF, as Fountain intends. Non-standard scene headings must be forced with a period to be recognized.
Advanced workflow: Writers who version scripts in Git keep the .fountain file as the source of truth and cut a PDF per tagged draft, so every PDF maps to an exact text revision.
Step-by-Step Workflow
- Paste the Fountain text or drop the .fountain file.
- Check the title page and the scene and character counts.
- Choose the paper size and whether to print scene numbers.
- Review the preview and download the PDF.
Use Cases By Profile
- Writer: draft in any text editor and export a submission-ready PDF.
- Director or AD: print table read pages from the latest draft, with scene numbers.
- Student: produce a properly formatted script without buying software.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Leaving no blank line before a character cue, so Fountain reads it as action.
- Typing a scene heading without INT. or EXT. and without the leading period that forces it.
- Forgetting the ^ on the second speech of a dual dialogue.
Professional Best Practices
- Force any unusual element: . for a heading, @ for a cue, > for a transition, ! for action.
- Use === for a hard page break before a new act.
- Turn on the element view to spot any line Fountain read differently than you meant.
Treat this tool output as a decision support layer, not a replacement for authorship. Great scripts are remembered for specific choices, emotional precision, and clarity of dramatic movement. Tools help by removing noise so your energy can go where it matters: character, conflict, escalation, and payoff. If you review outcomes after each pass and keep an explicit log of accepted changes, your workflow becomes faster and more predictable from draft to draft. That consistency is exactly what professional collaborators value: fewer surprises, clearer rationale, and a script that evolves with intent.
Extended FAQ
What is Fountain?
A plain text markup for screenplays: you write in any editor using a few conventions (capital cues, INT. and EXT. headings, blank lines between elements) and an app formats it. Highland, Fade In, Beat, Slugline and this converter read it.
Does it support dual dialogue and title pages?
Yes. Title page keys (Title, Credit, Author, Source, Draft date, Contact) build the title page, and a ^ after the second cue prints two speeches side by side.
Can I convert Fountain to Final Draft instead?
Yes. Pick FDX as the output on this same page, or use the Fountain to FDX converter.
Is my script uploaded?
No. The text is parsed and the PDF built inside your browser tab.
Why are my sections and notes missing from the PDF?
In Fountain, sections (#), synopses (=) and notes ([[ ]]) are for the writer only and never print. They are kept when you convert to FDX or Fountain.