Like many small business owners SignWorks uses Adobe PDF files. PDF files are a dynamic and versatile format that can dramatically simplify and expedite document viewing, transfer, storage and output. The PDF acronym stands for Portable Document Format and is widely used by publishers, Web programmers and graphic designers. PDF files are generally accepted as the preeminent format for universal document exchange. The following five attributes contribute to its extreme popularity:
Compatible: known as a cross-platform file format, PDFs can be used to recreate documents regardless of where they were originally created. PDF files also preserve the document’s original style and formatting (including colors and fonts), exactly as they were intended to appear. Virtually anyone using Adobe Acrobat Reader, on any platform and running any application version, can view and print identical PDF files.
PDF files are known to be active or highly navigable because they contain highly useful navigation tools, such as: internal and external links, structured bookmarks, search capabilities, thumbnail page views, multi-directional buttons, magnification options and more.
They are also convenient because of they are typically smaller in size than original source files (e.g., potentially 20% as large as HTML files) and easier to download and view. Also, you can download the whole document faster than you would a source file or even opt to download only a page-at-a-time.
PDF files are very accurate and are easily viewed and output. They use the PostScript language, hence the format ensures true, faithful and fast printing. Also, even when PDF files are viewed on-screen they retain precise color regardless of software or hardware variations. They also retain clarity in magnifications upward of 500%.
PDF files are very secure and feature extensive security protections. Users can maintain strict control over sensitive information by assigning security passwords to PDF documents before sending them. Also, the files can be authenticated and secured with digital signature technology. The PDF SelfSign feature enables creators and users to restrict and track access to critical documents through the use of encoded digital signatures.
It won’t take much to get started using versatile format. The following lists the five primary methods for creating PDF files.
1. Adobe Acrobat: software used to create and modify PDF files. Create a PDF file by simply dragging a document into Acrobat, choosing the format directly from Microsoft Office, or converting documents directly, among other methods.
2. Adobe PDF Writer: the software mimics a printer driver to create PDF documents from nearly any Windows application.
3. Adobe Acrobat Distiller: this software features automated, high-volume conversion of PostScript files to PDF.
4. Adobe Acrobat Capture: designed specifically for the conversion of scanned image files to PDF, the software is optimized for character recognition and clean-up.
5. Other software: other Adobe graphical and publishing software such like FrameMaker, PageMaker and Illustrator can be used to automatically create PDF files. Also, a surplus of third party software like EZ-PDF, ActivePDF Printer and QuarkXPress also offer PDF creation capability.