Read this tutorial through once completely before you do anything. There are some choices that require information contained later. First, some explanation about the types of files and their background.You can come back later if you need any links.
Acrobat Reader
An Acrobat file is a portable document, containing text and graphics, and with a specific file format that can be read on your screen by the Acrobat Reader which is available to anyone for free at the Adobe Systems site from this link:
Acrobat Reader 5.0.5 with Search and Accessibility - English for Windows 95, 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000, and XP 10.0 MB
Anyone with an Acrobat Reader installed on their computer can read (but not create or modify) your file, also called a PDF. To create and modify from any program that prints, you need Acrobat Exchange and Distiller.
What is a PDF or Acrobat file?
PDF means Portable Document File because there is a reader for many different computer platforms: PC, Macintosh, Unix, Linux, Palm, Solaris, etc., which makes a document of this kind portable between these very different operating systems. For example, you can create a pdf on a PC and read it on a Macintosh and vice-versa, the file extension of a PDF on a PC or Unix computer would be literally ".PDF" as in: "MYFILE.PDF". On a Macintosh, the extension can be used but is not necessary because the Mac operating system doesn't care about extensions.
Another reason these files are portable is that the creator of the file can make it very small or large by the creator, depending on the intended use of the file. This filesize is determined by settings during creation that determine if and how different elements, such as graphics and text are compressed. More downsizing or compression naturally means LESS visual quality. All three of the PDFs for the following applications can be made by adjusting settings while creating the PDF.
A large PDF file can contain high resolution information intended for use by a professional 4-color printing shop along with instructions for the trapping, printing, cutting, and packaging of the final printed product. There is no need for compression or downsampling of anything in this file.
A medium size PDF file can be viewed on the screen and also printed to a desktop printer. There may be some downsampling of the graphics and compression of the text.
A small PDF file can be placed on a web page, intended to be read only on the screen of a monitor but not printed. In this file, All graphics and text are compressed to their limit.
How is a PDF File Created?
First, let me say that some people like Windows Explorer and others like My Computer to find their files and navigate to their desired directory on their computer. For the purposes of this tutorial, I will say to open a file window and navigate... Or, use any available browse button. Whatever works for you, use your own chosen method of doing this. I assume you know how to do this. If you do not, then bone up on your Windows navigation skills before you try this. No insult to anyone is intended here, since this is written for a wide audience. If this gives you trouble dude, get a Dell.
To create PDFs, you first need to get a copy of Adobe Acrobat Exchange which includes Exchange and Distiller programs along with the Adobe Postscript Printer installer.
Install Acrobat Exchange
Install the universal Adobe Postscript Printer driver which is also available at: http://download.adobe.com/pub/adobe/printdrivers/win/1.x/winsteng.exe
A PDF is created by the following process:
- Create the source document in ANY application you want such as InDesign, Quark, PageMaker, Powerpoint, Word, or HTML (web page). Even Outlook. In short, ANYTHING that will print to the standard Windows printers.
- Print the document to a special printer driver you installed on your system earlier, called the Adobe Postscript Printer. When you print, it makes a file (also called the Postscript file) instead of coming out of your printer. This file may have the extension .PRN or .PS. Make sure you know WHERE it is going by looking for a file window or browse button; (and using it) this file can usually be found in the same directory as the file you are printing, but check it out or you may lose it.
- Open Acrobat Distiller and choose the Job Option you want from the list. Either Web, Print, or Press (You can also save custom settings, but that is getting ahead)
- Find your .PRN or .PS Postscript file in a drive/directory using a file window then drag and drop the file into your Acrobat Distiller window.
- Watch as the Acrobat icon spins and turns your Postscript file into a PDF. Find the finished PDF in the same drive/directory as you found the Postscript file.
- Open your new PDF in Acrobat Exchange by double clicking on it from Windows Explorer.
If you lost your file back in # 2, then try looking in your MY Documents folder or in the folder where Acrobat is installed and continue.
Alternates:
- Photoshop will allow you to save a bitmap directly as a PDF.
- Illustrator will allow you to save a drawing directly as a PDF.
- Neither of these two programs support multiple pages.
Disclaimer: This tutorial is intended purely to instruct computer users. All legitimate rights are reserved by the publishers of the computer software programs or the manufacturers listed herein. Some references to such listed companies are intended as purely satire and as such are protected by the U.S. Constitution as free speech. No actual Holsteins or Wolverines were used while writing this tutorial, yackity schmackity, yadda yadda, and mumbo jumbo. Also, get up and stretch every 20 minutes so you don't get mouse jockey's disease. All rights to THIS tutorial are reserved ©Copyright 2002 Jeffrey W. Sheets, and may not be reproduced in part or in whole without the express written permission of the author. mailto:sheetsj@smartnouveau.com. Direct links to this document are not permitted without written permission. To direct web users to this document, use the url http://www.smartnouveau.com and let them browse my site for it.
