PDFforge.org is an open source project dedicated to forging PDFs. Because it is open source, you’re able to look at the source to ensure that there’s no spyware in it. You can also add to the software, or take away features that aren’t needed. One of their projects, PDFCreator is a great, free way to create PDFs from almost any Windows app. Here are some of the key features:
- Create PDFs from any program that is able to print
- Security: Encrypt PDFs and protect them from being opened, printed, etc.
- Send generated files via email
- Create more than just PDFs- PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP, PCX, PS, EPS
- AutoSave files to folders and filenames based on Tags
- Merge multiple files into one PDF
- Easy Install: Just say what you want and everything is installed
- Terminal Server: PDFCreator also runs on Terminal Servers without problems
Being able to create more than just PDFs is a great feature to have. There are plenty of people who are unfamiliar with a PDF, or may not have a PDF reader. In those instances, it would be easy to create an image instead. The other feature that really stands out is the capability to print from any program that has the print option. The screenshot above demonstrates the available features when saving a file in PDFCreator.
PDFCreator is from pdfforge and uses Ghostscript which is available as a General Public License. To download PDFCreator, click here.
Using this in conjunction with Foxit Reader gives you a great PDF experience.
This is one of the first programs I install, and a great use for it (other than to make PDFs for distribution) is with programs that have no print preview or limited printing features.
Instead of wasting ink and paper on experimentation, you can print to the virtual PDF “printer” and check out the results right there. If you like what you see, you can just print from your PDF viewer directly and/or try out more printing options available from Reader or Foxit.
Is this program compatible with Vista RTM?
Or use OpenOffice.org?
This is a great program but…..my only gripes are: 1) NO bookmarking and 2) I’ve always had trouble with font substitutions with this – never seems to print out right with Arial and Helvetica etc.
I will definitely try this. Thanks Ryan!
Not sure, I have only tried it on XP and besides for that I only have Vista RC2.
True, but for those people who only use Microsoft Office this is a slightly better solution than installing a whole other Office Suite.
In my experience the font substitutions are always pretty decent, and I can’t complain when it is free.
Well, you’re welcome, but what did I do?
Ashley is the one who wrote the article. 
You can also convert documents to pdf using Google Docs.
[labnol.blogspot.com]
@The Slasher
Text formatted with any of the heading styles will become a bookmark in the pdf, Google Docs generates.
@javasharp,
It’s Ashley who’s posted this. Don’t go thanking Ryan
I prefer PDF Redirect. It’s not open-source, but it’s freeware and doesn’t show any advertisements (unlike PDF995). Those of you who get confused by all these Ghostscript and 128 bit options will certainly like the easy-to-use interface.
Screenshot: [img208.imageshack.us]
Website: [exp-systems.com] (make sure that you choose the free version)
That PDF Redirect looks pretty amazing. I’ll have to give it a shot and we might write something up about it. Nice find!
My mistake
Ryan, Please forward that ‘thanks’ to Ashley
Got it
I’m just sneaking posts in a little more often now.