Turn any class or teacher timetable into a sharp PNG for WhatsApp, newsletters or phones in under a minute, or share a live link that never goes stale.
Written by Muhammad Huzaifa, Founder of Academic Scheduler · Updated October 2026 · Insights from 350+ school onboardings
When we first wrote this post, we announced a one-click option to download a timetable as an image. Schools liked the idea for a simple reason: an image is the easiest thing to drop into a WhatsApp group, a parents' newsletter or a phone's photo gallery.
Update, October 2026: the separate image download is no longer part of the app. The Download menu now offers PDF and Excel, and you can share a live link. You can still get a clean timetable image in under a minute, and this guide shows exactly how.
How do I save my school timetable as an image?
In Academic Scheduler, open the class or teacher timetable, click Download and choose Download as PDF. Then convert the PDF page to PNG or JPG (for example with Preview on a Mac), or take a screenshot of the timetable on screen. For sharing that stays up to date, send a share link instead of an image.
Why schools want timetables as images
- Messaging apps. Parents and students open an image instantly; a PDF or spreadsheet is one more tap and sometimes an app they don't have.
- Phone wallpapers and galleries. Students like to keep their class timetable on their phone.
- Newsletters and slides. An image drops straight into a document or presentation.
Method 1: Download as PDF, then save as an image (best quality)
The PDF is the cleanest starting point: an A4 landscape table with the class or teacher name, period times, subjects and teachers, the date it was generated and your school name.
- Open Schedules and pick the class (Class Timetable tab) or teacher (Teacher Timetable tab).
- Make sure Edit Mode is off.
- Click Download → Download as PDF.
- Convert the page to an image:
- Mac: open the PDF in Preview, choose File → Export, and pick PNG or JPEG.
- Windows: open the PDF, zoom so the whole table fits, and capture it with the Snipping Tool (Windows + Shift + S), then save it.
- Phone: open the PDF and take a screenshot.
PNG keeps text sharper than JPG, so choose PNG when you have the option.
Method 2: Screenshot the timetable in the app (fastest)
- Open the timetable in Schedules with Edit Mode off.
- Optional: use the colour filter to colour the grid by subject or teacher, which looks good in an image.
- Zoom the browser out until the whole week fits on screen.
- Take a screenshot (Windows + Shift + S on Windows, Cmd + Shift + 4 on Mac) and crop it to the table.
Method 3: Share a live link instead of an image
Every image is a snapshot. As soon as you move a period, the copies in parents' phones are wrong. On plans that include sharing, click Share next to Download to create a password-protected link to the timetable. Anyone with the link and password sees the current version on their phone, in a horizontal or vertical layout, and you can see how many times it has been viewed.
| Option | Quality | Stays up to date? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDF converted to image | High | No | Newsletters, printing, notice boards |
| Screenshot | Good | No | Quick messages to one group |
| Share link | Full page | Yes | Parents and students all term |
Tips
- Save changes first. Click Save All before turning Edit Mode off; unsaved pending edits are discarded and won't appear in downloads.
- Name images clearly, for example "Grade 7 - B timetable, October 2026", so old versions are easy to spot.
- Pair an image with a link. Post the image for convenience and the share link as the source of truth.
- Need an editable copy? Use Download as Excel; see Smart Timetable Export (PDF and Excel).
Related reading: Download Exam Timetable as PDF, live mobile timetables for teachers and Timetable Management Software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download my timetable as an image in Academic Scheduler?
Not with a dedicated button any more. Download the timetable as a PDF and save it as PNG or JPG, or take a screenshot of the timetable in the app.
What is the best image format for a timetable?
PNG. It keeps small text and table lines sharp, while JPG can blur them.
How do I share a timetable with parents on WhatsApp?
Send an image made from the PDF for quick viewing, and add a password-protected share link so parents can always see the latest version.
Can I download a teacher's timetable too?
Yes. Switch to the Teacher Timetable tab, choose the teacher and use Download in the same way.
Why does my downloaded timetable not show my latest change?
Downloads only include saved periods. Changes left in Pending are discarded when you turn Edit Mode off, so click Save All before leaving Edit Mode, then download again.
Can I print the timetable instead?
Yes. Download the PDF, which is A4 landscape and print-ready, and print it from any computer or phone.
Try it yourself
Start your free trial of Academic Scheduler, build your timetable and share it as a PDF, an image or a live link.
