A virtual printer that can assist you in creating PDF files out of any document, embed fonts, insert or delete pages and then send the output via email.
- pdfFactory
- Version :9.11
- License :Demo
- OS :Windows All
- Publisher :Fineprint
pdfFactory is a tool that allows you to create PDF files from any application that can print. It acts as a virtual printer, enabling you to “print” any document to PDF. The free version of pdfFactory offers essential features, while the pdfFactory Pro version includes advanced features such as merging PDFs, adding security, and more. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to use pdfFactory:
1. Installing pdfFactory
Before you can use pdfFactory, you need to install it on your computer.
- Step 1: Download pdfFactory
- Go to the official pdfFactory website: https://www.fineprint.com.
- Download the free version of pdfFactory.
- Step 2: Install the Software
- Open the downloaded installation file and follow the instructions to install pdfFactory on your computer.
- After installation, pdfFactory will appear as a printer on your system.
2. Using pdfFactory to Create a PDF File
Once pdfFactory is installed, you can use it as a virtual printer to convert any document into a PDF.
- Step 1: Open the Document
- Open the document you want to convert into a PDF (it can be a Word document, Excel file, webpage, or any printable content).
- Step 2: Print the Document
- Go to File > Print (or press Ctrl + P) within the application.
- Select pdfFactory from the list of available printers.
- Step 3: Choose Print Settings
- After selecting pdfFactory as the printer, the pdfFactory dialog window will open, allowing you to adjust various settings before saving the document as a PDF.
- Pages per Sheet: Select how many pages you want to print on a single sheet.
- Paper Size: Choose the paper size (e.g., A4, Letter).
- Orientation: Choose between Portrait or Landscape.
- Margins: Adjust the margins if needed.
- After selecting pdfFactory as the printer, the pdfFactory dialog window will open, allowing you to adjust various settings before saving the document as a PDF.
- Step 4: Save the PDF
- Once you’ve adjusted your settings, click Save PDF.
- Choose where to save your PDF file and give it a name.
- Click Save to complete the process.
3. Previewing and Managing the PDF Creation
When you select pdfFactory as your printer, you will see a preview of the document that is being created.
- Step 1: View the Document Preview
- The pdfFactory dialog will display a preview of your document. You can zoom in, zoom out, and navigate between pages to see how your document will appear when converted into a PDF.
- Step 2: Edit the Document (Optional)
- In the pdfFactory dialog, you can make some basic edits before saving the PDF, such as:
- Delete Pages: If there are any unwanted pages in the document, you can delete them.
- Reorder Pages: Rearrange the order of pages in the preview.
- In the pdfFactory dialog, you can make some basic edits before saving the PDF, such as:
- Step 3: Customize the Output
- You can configure options like:
- Compression: Control the file size of the PDF by adjusting compression settings.
- Page Layout: Change the page layout (e.g., single page per sheet or multiple pages on one sheet).
- You can configure options like:
4. Combining Multiple Documents into One PDF (Pro Version)
If you are using pdfFactory Pro, you can merge multiple documents into a single PDF. Here’s how:
- Step 1: Print the First Document
- Open the first document you want to combine, and select pdfFactory as the printer.
- Step 2: Combine with Another Document
- After printing the first document, when the pdfFactory dialog appears, select the option Combine with Existing Document.
- Print additional documents to add them to the same PDF file.
- All the documents will be combined into a single PDF file.
- Step 3: Save the Combined PDF
- Once you’ve printed all the documents you need, click Save PDF to save the combined PDF file.
5. Password Protecting and Adding Security (Pro Version)
If you’re using pdfFactory Pro, you can set security options such as password protection and encryption for your PDFs.
- Step 1: Open the Security Settings
- In the pdfFactory dialog, navigate to the Security tab.
- Step 2: Set a Password
- Choose to set a password for opening the PDF file.
- You can also restrict permissions, such as preventing copying, printing, or editing the PDF.
- Step 3: Save the Secure PDF
- Once the security settings are configured, click Save PDF to create the password-protected PDF.
6. Adding Watermarks (Pro Version)
In pdfFactory Pro, you can add watermarks to your PDFs:
- Step 1: Open the Watermark Settings
- In the pdfFactory Pro dialog, go to the Watermark tab.
- Step 2: Choose a Watermark
- You can add a text watermark (e.g., “Confidential”) or an image watermark (e.g., your company logo).
- Step 3: Apply the Watermark
- Customize the watermark’s position, transparency, and size.
- Click Apply to add the watermark to your document.
- Step 4: Save the Watermarked PDF
- Once you are satisfied with the watermark, click Save PDF to save the file.
7. Compressing PDF Files (Pro Version)
To reduce the size of the PDF file created by pdfFactory, you can use compression settings (available in pdfFactory Pro):
- Step 1: Open the Compression Settings
- In the pdfFactory dialog, navigate to the Compression tab.
- Step 2: Adjust Compression Settings
- Choose the level of compression (low, medium, or high) depending on how much you want to reduce the file size.
- Reducing image quality and using more compression will result in a smaller file size, but it may affect the appearance of images in the PDF.
- Step 3: Save the Compressed PDF
- Once the settings are configured, click Save PDF to create a compressed version of your document.
8. Creating PDFs from the Windows Print Dialog
You can create PDFs from any application that supports printing via the Windows Print dialog:
- Step 1: Open the Document
- Open the document you want to convert to a PDF.
- Step 2: Print the Document
- Go to File > Print (or press Ctrl + P) in your application.
- Select pdfFactory as your printer.
- The pdfFactory dialog will appear, allowing you to customize settings before saving the PDF.
- Step 3: Save the PDF
- After adjusting settings, click Save PDF to save the document as a PDF file.
9. Using pdfFactory’s Print History and Queue (Pro Version)
If you have previously printed several documents to pdfFactory, you can access and manage your print history and print queue (available in pdfFactory Pro):
- Step 1: Access the Print History
- Click the pdfFactory icon in the system tray (bottom-right of your screen).
- From the menu, select View Print History.
- Step 2: Reprint or Modify Documents
- You can open previously printed PDFs, reprint them, or adjust settings and save them again.
10. Viewing and Editing PDFs in pdfFactory
While pdfFactory offers basic editing features, you can use the built-in PDF viewer to:
- Open a PDF: Open any PDF that you created using pdfFactory.
- View and Zoom: Use the built-in viewer to zoom in or out of the document.
- Delete Pages: If you need to delete pages, you can remove them directly in the viewer (available in pdfFactory Pro).
- Reorder Pages: You can also reorder pages in the PDF using the drag-and-drop feature.
Conclusion
pdfFactory is a simple and effective tool for creating PDF files from any printable document. It allows you to adjust various settings such as layout, security, and watermarking. pdfFactory Pro offers additional features like combining multiple documents into one PDF, setting passwords, adding watermarks, and compressing files. By following the steps above, you can easily create, customize, and manage your PDFs with pdfFactory.