A PDF file, short for Portable Document Format, is a type of file format developed by Adobe Systems in 1993. It was created to simplify and standardize the sharing of electronic documents. Before PDFs, it was difficult to exchange documents between different computers because they often used different software types, versions, or operating systems. This could result in unexpected changes to the document’s layout when it was opened on another computer.
With PDFs, this problem is largely eliminated. They can be easily shared and viewed on different computers without the need for matching or converting software. This makes them a popular choice for sharing documents that need to be viewed and printed exactly as they appear in the original file.
How PDF Files Simplify the Exchange of Documents?
Before the introduction of PDF files, sharing documents between different computers or systems was a cumbersome process. Imagine a scenario where a company uses a Macintosh computer with a specific software to create a document. Now, they want to share this document with a partner company that uses a Windows computer with a different software. To do so, they would need to convert the document to a format compatible with the Windows software, which often resulted in changes to the layout or appearance of the document.
With the introduction of PDF files, this process became much simpler. The document could be saved as a PDF file, which preserved its layout and appearance, and then easily shared with the partner company. The recipient could then open and view the document on their Windows computer without any issues, making the exchange of documents much more efficient and hassle-free.
Why Do Commercial Printers Love PDF?
Commercial printers prefer working with PDF files for several reasons:
- High Resolution: PDFs can be created as high-resolution files, ensuring crisp and clear printed output.
- Preserved Layout: PDFs capture and “set” the original document layout, preserving fonts, images, and other design elements in place, which allows for accurate reproduction.
- Ease of Sharing: PDFs are easy to email to clients and can be used as electronic proofs, speeding up the approval process and allowing orders to proceed faster.
- Standardization: PDFs help standardize the submission process, as not every person submitting documents for printing is a trained graphic designer or uses professional design software.
- Streamlined Process: PDFs streamline the document-sharing process, making it easier, quicker, and cheaper to exchange layout files. This minimizes errors, increases customer satisfaction, and saves time and money on reprints.
Overall, PDF files are widely used in the printing industry because they simplify the process of document sharing, ensure accurate reproduction, and reduce the chance of errors.
If you have any questions about printing, feel free to reach out to us at 718-928-6888 or submit our quote request form. We’re here to assist you in any way we can.
Take care!
Jeff @ New York Printing Center
