PDF files are the standard for user manuals, presentations, brochures, pamphlets, and even electronic scrapbooks. But the cost of making one gets pricey, especially if you don’t need the vast suite of features offered by pro packages. Our favorite alternative is PrimoPDF, which gives you the basics of PDF files authoring, including options for protecting your document.

PrimoPDF gives you one-button PDF generation from any Windows program that has a print feature. When you “print” to PrimoPDF, you see a dialog box showing the options for generating the PDF file. After the PrimoPDF creates the file, it’s opened, allowing you to immediate inspect the results.

PrimoPDF gives you the power to create documents for all kinds of purposes, from web-content and eBooks, to high-resolution “pre-press” proofs. The protection features of PrimoPDF allow you to password protect the document, to disable copying text, prevent using OCR, or even to disable printing.

The PDF files generated by PrimoPDF are readable by any PDF reader. PrimoPDF even allows you to output using Asian character sets and typefaces other than the Windows native True Type fonts.

It’s not as powerful as pro software. For example, the free conversion reduces graphics to 256 colors and they become low res. But when a simple PDF file is all you need, PrimoPDF does the job.

Comments are closed.