Picking a PDF Tool

A few weeks ago we talked about how PDFs are the best file to use when preparing to go to print. Following this, we wanted to take a look at a few of our favorite  PDF tools to help you ready your files to print.

There are many PDF tools out there, and everyone has their own preferences and opinions. This list shows a few of ours, but it is by no means an exhaustive study of what is available or an endorsement of which is best.
Adobe Acrobat Pro and Standard

Many people are familiar with Adobe’s Acrobat Reader tool which allows you to open and read PDFs on different devices. However, when you are actually working with PDFs everyday, you need a more robust tool, and that is either Adobe Acrobat Standard or Pro. Adobe is the original creator and designer of PDFs, so as you might expect their tools allow you to do quite a lot.

You can create, edit, and add to PDFs with Acrobat Standard, and you can also create forms and convert files between PDF and several other formats. Acrobat Pro allows you to do all that and more. Most important for us as a print provider, Acrobat Pro includes a tools specifically for preparing a PDF to print.

Of course, there are many other programs that allow for heavy-duty editing of PDFs, and we know many friends and customers that swear by them. Still, we think Acrobat Pro has the best set of tools for print preparation, and  We run it on a lot of our machines, and for us it is the simplest and most complete tool.

You can find it here.

Windows PDF Tools

For many of our customers though, Acrobat Pro might be more than necessary. In those instances other low-cost and free options might do everything you need. For Windows users, programs such as CutePDF, PrimoPDF, or NitroPDF allow for PDF creation, and also have more advanced versions that include more options. We use NitroPDF on administrative PCs in our office. It is a simple tool for printing administrative forms and related items.

Many of these programs are referred to as pdf printers, this means you can use it like you would a printer from your word processor or other program. Instead of printing to paper from an actual desktop printer, a PDF printer will take your document and create a PDF file.

Mac PDF Tools

For Mac users, the built in Preview application is among the best PDF tools. It includes basic tools for editing PDFs, and is also integrated throughout the operating system to allow you to create PDFs from almost any program. It’s also a very light weight program, which means it opens files quickly and easily.

We find that each of these applications has differences that appeal to different people. Luckily, each has a free version available for download, or in the case of Acrobat, free-trial periods, so it is easy enough to download and try, so you can find  the PDF tools that fit your workflow best.

cutpasteandprint Printing, graphic design, binding, and promotional product specialists in Huntingdon Valley, PA. We proudly serve the Bucks and Montgomery County areas with superior quality, great customer service, and a commitment to getting you and your the best possible printed materials. Our services include: Digital Printing, Offset Printing, Graphic Design, Promotional Items, Bindery, and Copying.