Portable Document Format
PDF
What is PDF?
• Universal file format developed by Adobe Systems
• Incorporates fine detail and quality of print
publications with the interactivity of electronic
publications
• PDFs are the electronic equivalent of your printed documents
• Based on PostScript printing language
Benefits of PDF
• Versatile: works well in both electronic and print worlds
• Display consistently: PDF pages display the same on any
computer regardless of the system and platform used to view the
documents.
• Predictable Printing: PDFs print exactly as they appear, with
proper page breaks and margins.
• Preserves all fonts, formatting, colors and graphics of any
document regardless of the application and platform used to
create it.
Benefits of PDF
• Secure: PDF files can be secured to prevent undesired changes
or printing, or to limit access to confidential documents.
• Efficient & Flexible: PDF files can be updated quickly and
easily
• Reduce printing costs
• Eliminated outdated materials
• Easily distributed (Free PDF readers)
What to publish in PDF format?
• Documents that need to be accessible across platforms
• PDFs allow recipients to open files even if they don’t have the
applications used to create it.
• Documents that need to be printed (Ex: Forms-IRS, applications,
registrations, etc.)
• Any document with complex layout that requires precise
formatting, fonts and high graphic quality.
• Documents that would not translate into xhtml well
PDF vs. (X)HTML
• HTML and PDF files formats are complementary technologies
• HTML: for documents that are to be read online
• PDF: for documents to be printed after download
• LIKE HTML, PDFs use a type of tagging language (postscript) to
describe the formatting and layout of a document.
• LIKE HTML, PDFs allow you to add hyperlinks from text,
graphics, button, etc.
• Interaction and navigation
PDF vs. (X)HTML
• UNLIKE HTML, PDFs hold true to any advanced formatting (with
html, the browser controls the fonts, text size, and page
formatting)
• UNLIKE HTML, PDFs support high resolution graphics
• The high-resolution graphics display at a coarser resolution on
screen, but they reproduce faithfully when printed.
• UNLIKE HTML, PDFs allow you to embed fonts into the
publication
• UNLIKE HTML, PDFs have larger file sizes
How to create a PDF
• Based on PostScript Printing Language
• Programming language developed by Adobe Systems
• PostScript describes the formatting and layout of a page
• The position and appearance of all text, fonts, and graphics on a page
• When you print a document to a postscript printer, the postscript
printer drivers (ppd) read the layout of your document and translate
it into postscript code.
• You can create a postscript file directly from the print dialog box of most
software applications
How to create a PDF
• PDF Readers
• Foxit Reader 2.2: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/
• Skim (Mac OS X): http://skim-app.sourceforge.net/
• PDF Writers
• Primo PDF: http://www.primopdf.com/
• Real PDF Series software includes Real PDF Writer, Real PDF Generator,
Real PDF Printer, Real PDF Creator, and Real PDF Converter.
http://www.realpdf.com/index.html
• CutePDF Writer: http://www.cutepdf.com/
• PDF Studio: http://www.qoppa.com/psindex.html
• Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat
• Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Distiller
• Allows you to work with, create, read, print, modify PDF files
• Acrobat (Parts & Pieces)
• Adobe Reader
• Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard / Professional / 3D version 9
• Acrobat Distiller
• Allows you to convert any postscript file to a PDF
• PDF Export
• All Adobe applications come with a PDF export plug-in and distiller
• Adobe PDF Maker
• Allows you to create a PDF from within Microsoft Office Applications
• This option can be added to the Microsoft Office application when Acrobat is installed.
• Print to PDF (Using Distiller)
• Allows you to use an applications print command to create an Abobe PDF directly from within
common authoring applications
Predefined Adobe PDF settings
• High Quality: Use these settings to create Adobe PDF documents for quality printing on
desktop printers and proofers. Created PDF documents can be opened with Acrobat and
Adobe Reader 5.0 and later.
• Press Quality: Use these settings to create Adobe PDF documents best
suited for high-quality prepress printing. Created PDF documents can be
opened with Acrobat and Adobe Reader 5.0 and later.
• Standard: Use these settings to create Adobe PDF documents suitable for
reliable viewing and printing of business documents. Created PDF documents
can be opened with Acrobat and Adobe Reader 5.0 and later.
Predefined Adobe PDF settings
• Smallest File Size: Use these settings to create Adobe PDF documents best
suited for on-screen display, e-mail, and the Internet. Created PDF documents
can be opened with Acrobat and Adobe Reader 5.0 and later.
• PDF/A-1b: Use these settings to create Adobe PDF documents that are to be
checked or must conform to PDF/A-1b, an ISO standard for the long-term
preservation (archival) of electronic documents.
• PDF/X-1a: Use these settings to create Adobe PDF documents that are to be
checked or must conform to PDF/X-1a:2001, an ISO standard for graphic
content exchange.
Let’s see how this works…