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Portable document format (PDF) files
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Using Adobe Acrobat PDF files
Adobe Acrobat is one of the most reliable ways to ensure that someone else can open your document across a broad range of hardware and software and it will look exactly as you intended — with layout, fonts, links, and images intact. Files created with Adobe Acrobat do have some limitations, however.
For example, some fonts will not embed into Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) files, so you should prepare a short test file whenever possible before you invest a great deal of time working with fonts that you may not be able to use in your final PDF file.
You must also remember that PDF files are created using Postscript, so the process used to create a PDF file may result in the same formatting issues that you encounter when using different printer drivers – line endings, page endings and the positions of images on a page may change.
Recent versions of some software, such as CorelDRAW!, have a built-in capability to create PDF files so you don't have to purchase Adobe Acrobat separately. You must, however, purchase and install Adobe Acrobat on your computer if you want to use any of Acrobat's many advanced features.
Whether you use the built-in capabilities of a program like CorelDRAW! or install the full version of Acrobat on your computer, you must choose Acrobat settings to suit your final purpose for your Acrobat file. For example, in Acrobat Distiller you can choose an Acrobat conversion setting of press, print or screen. Choosing the press setting prepares a PDF file suitable for offset printing; choosing the print setting prepares a PDF file suitable for printing on most digital laser printers; and choosing the screen setting prepares a PDF file suitable for viewing on a computer screen — but not suitable for high-quality printout. Many people unknowingly prepare PDF files that are suitable for viewing on the web, but not printing.
Tech Tip: Some people confuse Adobe Acrobat Reader with Adobe Acrobat. Acrobat Reader is free, but it only gives you the ability to open and print Acrobat files — not the ability to create PDF files. The complete software package is named Adobe Acrobat.
For more information about Adobe Acrobat, visit the Adobe Acrobat website.