PDF is one of the most widely used document formats today. Created in 1991 and launched a couple of years later by Adobe , one of the most important firms in the world of digital formats, this document has become a clear reflection of what innovation can do to change the world.
Previously, activities such as the sale of products, project proposals, to name a few, were carried out by visiting potential clients, showing them a catalog or a physical document, in which the proposal was presented. However, with the advancement of technologies, and the need of the human being to perform several tasks at the same time, the habit of visiting clients, is staying in the past, being replaced by the sending by email of documents, catalogs , proposals and projects , among others.
This is where the PDF format has a leading role , since it can contain various elements that allow you to perfectly explain and expose a point in question. To create quality PDF documents it is necessary to know how to manipulate, manage and edit them at pleasure. In this guide you will know everything you need to know about this format, especially what are the best software to edit them easily, quickly and for free .
Index:
Uses and types of documents in PDF format
The format has evolved to such an extent that currently there are different types of this , which are designed to support different elements or for different purposes. That said, we can identify the following types of PDF:
PDFx
This is the standard format designed for documents that will later be printed on paper. This has a particularity and is that it eliminates all those leftover elements that cannot or do not need to be printed. That is, if you insert a 1000 px image, but only 70% of it can be viewed , the excess is removed to make the final file less heavy.
High Quality PDF
This is similar to the previous one, only that does not remove the remaining elements , in fact it does the opposite. If in a document you insert an image of 600 px cropped to 300 px, the original image will be saved in case the person who receives it wishes to enlarge it.
PDFx-1
This is a variation of the first format explained. This is exclusive for paper prints , so it only retains the information necessary for content to be printed in CMKY colors .
PDFx-3
Another variant of the first of this list. The difference is that it also retains information in RGB so that it can be displayed perfectly on screens.
PDFx-4
Same as above but has support to support images in PNG format and other files with transparency.
PDF only image
It is a variant that only supports images reproduced in bitmap .
Electronic PDF forms
This type of PDF supports the use of electronic forms that can be filled out online, making the document more interactive. Very used by official websites for sending official documents.
* Previously, a PDF could only be created or edited with an Adobe program . Any of these allowed you to convert your creations into a document of this format, but things have changed now . There is a wide range of programs capable of fulfilling this task perfectly, many of them can be used online and others will need to be downloaded to our devices.
Summary of all recommended PDF file programs and editors:
- Adobe Acrobat
- PDF Element
- Nitro Pro
- Foxid Phantom PDF
- AbleWord
- PDF Element App
- PDF Max
- PDF Editor Text
- PDF File Editor
- PDFEscape
- PDF Buddy
- DocHub
- I lovePDF
List of the best programs and applications for editing PDF files for Windows and Mac computers
The best alternatives to edit PDF documents are in Windows and MacOS . On these desktop devices you can find a wide variety of programs that will allow you to make your files in this format much more interesting. The best are undoubtedly the following:
Adobe Acrobat
As expected, many consider the Adobe Acrobat as the best PDF editor as it is developed by the same creative firm of the format, allowing you to do everything possible with your documents . In this platform you can add all kinds of elements to make your files more dynamic and visually attractive; you can add hyperlinks, text boxes, electronic forms and much more.
If you want to create an ebook or a presentation, this is the best possible option. The only drawback is that its cost is high, but the power of the software is worth every euro paid.
PDF Element
An alternative to the main editor that perfectly meets what is needed to edit quality PDF. Its main advantage is its value for money , since it allows you to do everything the Acrobat but with a much lower cost. Its interface is very easy to use, allowing you to create interactive documents without being an expert in the subject.
Nitro Pro
This is a very powerful PFD editor that will allow you to create, merge and edit all kinds of documents in this format. In addition, you can add all the elements you need and configure the file according to the type of PDF you need. It has OCR technology for you to perfectly edit scanned documents. When downloading you can choose between two versions; Personal and business. Each one has its own characteristics that fit the needs of each user.
Foxid Phantom PDF
An editor with an interface very similar to the typical Microsoft Word Office . Here you can do practically everything with your document; from creating, merging and dividing files, to sharing everything you create and converting other formats to PDF. In general, it is one of the most complete options available to the user, with OCR technology to identify scanned documents.
AbleWord
A basic but very useful editor . It is basically a word processor that allows you to export everything you do to PDF format. Supports images, interactive tables, electronic forms and hyperlinks . It is not very popular, but it is an excellent alternative if you are looking for a free PDF editing and creation software.
List of the best PDFS editing applications for Android and iOS
If yours are mobile devices , you can rest assured that there is a wide variety of applications that will allow you to edit your PDFs perfectly with several special functions that have nothing to envy editors of computer. The best are:
PDF Element App
This is the mobile version of the editor that we mentioned earlier. In this type of devices it retains many of its main functions, with some limitations that you can eliminate if you export your documents to the desktop version, which you can do perfectly. You can scan documents encoded in QR code and edit them, as well as create your own PDF from scratch.
PDF Max
Possibly the best editor on the list , rivaling even the desktop Acrobat. In addition to all the basic functions that these types of programs must have, it has other special functions that make it a unique application throughout the rule. Highlights its text reflux that allows you to read PDF without having to adjust the screen zoom ; automatically choose the ideal frame so you can have a proper vision.
Similarly, you can extract individual pages from a complete document and use the text-to-speech engine to listen to everything written on it, making your ebooks authentic audio books . It also has several autocomplete options, so that the electronic forms you need are filled automatically with the data that the application has stored on you.
PDF Editor Text
A fairly basic and free editor that perfectly meets what you need to make superficial editions of PDF documents . The drawback is that this only allows you to edit text, you will not be able to add images or other elements such as interactive forms, although you can insert hyperlinks.
PDF File Editor
This is another basic issue, although it has a couple of special functions such as placing watermarks on your documents or protecting them with a password. However, it lacks other more powerful features such as the insertion of images or electronic forms. In addition, it is simply an editor, you will not be able to create files from scratch.
List of free and online PDF document editors
Finally there are free online tools to edit your PDFs . Unlike an installable program or application, these platforms have quite limited functions, although according to your needs they may perfectly fulfill what you need. The best options are:
PDFEscape
An online editor very easy to use thanks to its simple interface that will allow you to create electronic forms. Apart from that there is not much else to say, besides being able to insert text since it does not support images or other elements, which makes the documents you create here flat and not very dynamic.
PDF Buddy
This is a more powerful editor that allows you to add images, signatures and correct the content of each document. In addition to this, you can combine PDF files , as well as split them if necessary . The only disadvantage is that the quality of the images and graphic elements that you add are quite low.
DocHub
It’s another good online alternative to edit PDF that allows you to insert images, watermarks and other graphic elements with acceptable quality. Without doubt the best of this list of online publishers.
iLovePDF
iLovePDF is one of the most famous online editing tools used by millions of users. Easy allows you to join, divide, compress files of this nature even pass and convert other Word or JPG documents to open them in PDF.
