A PDF reader and a PDF viewer are the same things, and they are usually the only tools you need to interact with a PDF, but there is so much more you can do with the format with the right PDF editor or fine reader. The Portable Document Format was developed to create and share documents across various platforms, operating systems, and devices without losing any of the formatting and details of the original. But the format has evolved in terms of what it can do and what we can do with PDFs. Apart from revolutionizing the way we share and store information, PDFs can also be optimized in other ways to enhance your content and engage your audience. This blog will take you through the basics of PDFs, and the different ways they can be used to share text, images, and other visual elements without worrying about compatibility issues.
What is a PDF?
The PDF, or Portable Document Format, was developed by Adobe, who later created Adobe Acrobat, the world’s first PDF reader/PDF viewer/PDF opener. PDFs were created to allow documents to be shared and viewed across different devices and platforms, regardless of the software or operating system used. PDFs proved useful for preserving the original layout, fonts, images, and formatting of a document, ensuring that it appears the same on the recipient’s device as it does on the sender’s device.
One of the best things about PDFs is that they are platform-independent and do not require the original software that was used to create the document. This means that anyone with a PDF reader or PDF viewer can open and view the content, making it a widely accessible format for documents, forms, and presentations. But the uses and applications of PDFs have only increased with time.
Now, everyone from individuals to large businesses, uses PDFs for creating fillable forms that can be completed and submitted electronically, automating document workflows, collating and organizing information from various sources, and ensuring these documents, and the information contained within, are secure. PDFs are commonly used for contracts, agreements, and other legal or business documents so security features are essential to keep document integrity and security
H2 – How to Optimize PDFs?
Optimizing PDFs can mean different things to different people. But it usually means doing things common to the format, such as reducing the file size, removing unnecessary elements, or even splitting the PDF into smaller parts to make it more digestible. You can typically use PDF editors to do these things since even the best PDF viewer does not allow you to make significant formatting changes to a PDF.
But these changes usually do not affect the content or text of the PDF; just the elements that will make it either smaller, faster-loading, and more accessible. When optimizing a PDF, you want to be able to create a more efficient document without sacrificing visual quality or the integrity of the information. Depending on the purpose of the PDF, and the capabilities of your PDF file reader, you can use different optimization techniques to reduce the file size, while maintaining readability and visual appeal.
H2 – How to Create Interactive and User-Friendly PDFs?
If you optimize a PDF, it’s usually to make it more user-friendly and easily navigable for general audiences. But apart from making changes to the file size, or improving the resolution of images and graphs, what are the ways to make the content more appealing and interactive?
Fortunately, many Google PDF viewers, and Google PDF readers, can help you make changes, at least to the text. You can do this by first opening your PDF with Google Drive and converting it into a Google Doc.
This lets you add or remove text, change the font size or color, and add headings or a Table of Contents to make the entire text more navigable. You can also add hyperlinks to any outside sources, or insert infographics that display information in a more visually appealing way. However, with the PDF viewer Android, you can only edit the text, but no other elements such as tables, or graphs. You also can’t add or remove pages, which the best PDF reader also cannot do
H2 – What is the Best PDF Reader?
Some of the best PDF readers also have editing and other optimization features, so the best PDF reader is one that also lets you make significant changes to your files. You can use PDF editors such as Adobe, Small PDF, and Lumin PDF to create fillable forms that allow users to input information directly into the PDF, which is useful for surveys, feedback forms, and applications that require user interaction.
You can also use these tools to enhance PDFs with visual elements such as videos, audio clips, or interactive images. This will give your readers a more immersive experience and, hopefully, make them engage more with the content, which other file or text formats cannot. Additionally, PDF editors like Adobe Acrobat Pro and online platforms offer “Fill & Sign” features to complete forms and sign documents digitally. You can optimize them for searchability and insert interactive elements that your readers will remember, something that is harder to do with other document formats.
