How to create a PDF document: By: Tim Baker
Nearly every week I get asked "How do I create a PDF?" or "What's the best way to create a PDF?" First, what is a PDF and what does PDF stand for? PDF stands for Portable Document Format that was created by Adobe, the makers of many excellent applications such as Photoshop, PageMaker, Premiere and many others. This article is here simply as a resource. If by the time you look at some of the links below you still can not create a PDF document, let me know. There are so many free or low cost applications available today that it is very easy to create your own PDF documents. Whether you are planning to put your newsletters online or convert your existing documents for archiving purposes, the resources you need are listed in this article.
I have sorted this article into four categories:
Software companies that offer a free PDF version of their programs.
Software companies that offer a PDF version of their programs to purchase.
Online PDF Creators - Websites where you can convert your documents to PDF online.
Useful documents and resources that talk about working with PDF documents:
PDF Applications for Free. Note: Most of the companies that offer a free application also offer more advanced versions at a fee. Most of these programs are still relatively low cost and well worth purchasing.
http://www.cutepdf.com - FREE for personal and commercial use! No watermarks! No Popup Web Ads! This is a great and easy application to use.
http://www.pdf995.com/ - The pdf995 suite of products - Pdf995, PdfEdit995, and Signature995 - is a complete solution for your document publishing needs. It provides ease of use, flexibility in format, and industry-standard security- and all at no cost to you.
http://www.pdfdesk.com - Easy PDF Creator offers an easy and less expensive way of creating high-quality PDF documents out of almost any windows application.
http://www.primopdf.com/ - Convert to PDF from any application by simply 'printing' to the Primo PDF printer - it couldn't be easier! Within minutes, you can create high-quality PDF by converting from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and virtually any other printable file type.
http://www.gohtm.com/ - PDF Online (formerly known as goBCL / goHTM) has been providing quick and free online (server side) PDF creation service.
http://www.pdfpdf.com/ - PDF4Free and PDF4U products create PDF files from any Windows application running on Windows. The PDF creation products install themselves as print drivers; all you have to do is to click "Print" from your application to create PDF files.
PDF Applications to Purchase. Each application has their strengths.
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/main.html - Adobe.com - The original Acrobat software developer. You can order their products from all over the internet or directly from TFF.
http://www.nitropdf.com/Professional/index.asp - For just $99, Nitro PDF Professional gives you full control over PDF documents, including commenting, form-filling and authoring, digital signatures, text editing, one-click creation from Microsoft � Office and more.
http://www.neevia.com/products/
docuPrinter LT - Let's you print your documents to PDF.
docuPrinter Pro - Converts to documents to PDF and EPS, PostScript, TEXT, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, BMP and more formats
http://www.win2pdf.com/ - Includes multiple variations of the converter and a Batch2PDF to convert entire directories of .doc, .html, .txt and .rtf files to PDF files using Microsoft Word.
http://www.investintech.com/ - Includes various different PDF creators and converts into and out of PDF into and out of Microsoft Word and more.
http://www.go2pdf.com/ - Virtual PDF Printer simplifies the process of creating PDF document. Usually PDF documents are created by specific PDF composer software. However, it might be time-consuming compared with the alternative approach, which creates PDF documents from other file formats.
http://www.visagesoft.com/ - The PDF Wizard - Expert PDF makes it really easy to convert any document into high quality PDF files. One click and you are done!
http://www.scansoft.com/pdfconverter/create/ - PDF Create! is the fast, reliable and affordable way to turn all of your PC documents, drawings and images into industry-standard PDF files.
http://www.alientools.com/ - PDF Generator is an easy way to create PDF file, it works as a virtual printer. When you want convert documents to PDF, just choose the PDF Generator to print the files.
http://www.clicktoconvert.com - Click to Convert provides the quickest, easiest and most affordable way to create and share PDF or HTML files from virtually any document or application.
http://www.fineprint.com/ - PDF Factory Pro is for those who need secure PDF (legal documents, corporate information, etc.) and other advanced features.
http://pdf.iteksoft.com/index.php - Works just like printing to a printer. Also has a security functionality that is useful.
Online PDF Creators:
http://createpdf.adobe.com/?v=AHP
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_onlinetools.html
Useful documents and resources that talk about working with PDF documents:
http://www.espere.org/pdffile.htm
http://www.boosman.com/blog/archives/2003/07/the_birth_of_ac.html - A little story behind the history of Acrobat.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/guides/guide-display/-/8CRL1NDS3G4P/102-3209507-9532942 - Amazon link to a few resources.
http://desktoppub.about.com/od/pdftutorials/ - PDF Tutorials.