PDF (portable document format) is, according to the idea of its creators, Adobe company, a file format allowing for the presentation of given content independently from the hardware, operating system and software, on which the file has been created.

Gradually the PDF file has become an easily manageable substitute of the page description language – that is, PostSript - a language used for moving the effects of desktop publishing onto print matrices, as well as a primary format of programs for manipulating graphics and text (e.g. AdobeIlustrator, PhotoShop) and the Mac OS X system.

The most important features of PDF are: PostScript compatibility, font embedding and data compression.

HOW TO VIEW A PDF FILE?

Viewing pdf files is possible with the free program AcrobatReader.

The latest version of the viewer is available

for download here.

HOW TO CREATE A PDF FILE?

Programs creating PDF files can be roughly divided into 3 groups:

1. Graphic editing programs with export to PDF enabled;
2. Programs crearing a “virtual printer”, the use of which results in the creation of a PDF file;
3. Programs for PostScript processing, which have a function of converting to PDF.

The first group (exporting to PDF) includes:

• CorelDRAW (from version 8.0)
• Corel Ventura 10
• Adobe Illustrator (from version 7.0)
• Adobe InDesign (all versions)
• Adobe Photoshop (from version 5.5)
• Kombi (from version 5.0)
• Macromedia FreeHand (from version 9.0)
• Deneba Canvas (from version 7.0).

A similar category of programs provide a possibility of generating a PDF file from inside the application, which in reality runs an external program converting PostScript to PDF (usually Distiller). Such tools are available in Adobe PageMaker (the Export to PDF plugin) or as macros for Microsoft Word and other Microsoft Office group programs.

The second group - programs creating a printer on the system and enabling PDF creation from any program with the printing option - comprises programs such as:

• PDF995 - adware, registration $9,95
• eXPert PDF standard version $30, professional $60, trial version available
• BCL EasyPDF $49, trial version available
• Jaws PDF Creator $120, trial version available
• Enfocus Instant PDF 2.0 $249, trial version available

Adobe Acrobat Distiller, a part of the Adobe Acrobat, sometimes also attached to other products, such as i.e. Adobe PageMaker.
Group three - programs processing PostScript files - consists of:

• Acrobat Distiller
• Aladdin GhostScript (freeware, OpenSource)
• PDF Creator

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PDF FILES

PDF on the Polish DTP discussion list

PDFzone

Planet PDF