Resources » Working With PDFs (Basics) »
In this post, you’ll learn 3 ways to create a PDF. This post aims to answer searches for how to create a PDF, how to make a PDF, how to turn something into a PDF, how to generate a PDF or how to build a PDF. Who knew there were so many ways to ask the same question?
About PDFs and PDF Makers
If you browse the internet and download a document, chances are you’ve run into a portable document format, or PDF. They’re the best document format for sharing information through the web. But why is this?
When we create and share information in the form of a document, there’s a lot more than just words that are put on the page. Text size, font, margins, bolding, and photos and graphics are examples of extra information that a document may have.
The problem is that not every document editor agrees how documents should be formatted. Microsoft Word may have different font size settings than Google Docs, and the document will completely differ between these programs. This may not be a problem for you, but if you want to share a document with someone else, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be seeing the same document editor as you.
Enter the PDF: A document format that will always look the same for whoever opens it across any device. PDFs are excellent ways to share information, as the formatting settings remain the same across every device.
This all sounds great, but you’re still wondering: How do I make a PDF?
In this how-to article, we’ll be covering some of the various ways you can make PDFs.
3 Easy Ways to Make a File into a PDF
1. Save as …
Did you know you can use most standard document editors to make PDFs? In this method, you save your document not as a .doc, .xls or .ppt, but as a .pdf. This is handy because you can create a PDF version of a document that you’re already creating in an editor.
This method is covered in our article: How Do You Create PDF Files? Note that you can’t just change the extension of a file from, for example, .doc to .pdf; the originating program (Microsoft Word) has to have a built-in function that will allow you to Save as and select PDF.
2. Print to …
You can create a PDF using the print function from most document creation apps and web browsers. The short version is that if you have a document or web page open, you can press Ctrl + P to print that page or document. Select the destination “Save as PDF” and you’ll create a PDF from that webpage.
In the above image, we used a Mac to print from Microsoft Word. If you’re using a Windows PC or different version of Word, your print function may look different. The idea is similar across most commonly used apps; select Print, find the PDF option (Print to PDF, Save as PDF) and follow the on-screen prompts.
3. Convert …
If you’ve got a Word, Excel or PowerPoint document, and you want to change it to a PDF, you can convert it by simply clicking and dragging it to PDF.Live’s online file converter. You can try it for free. It’s web-based, so no software downloads are needed.
To make a PDF from another file, like an Excel or PowerPoint file for free online, check out PDF.Live’s free-to-try PDF conversion services.
With the online PDF maker, you simply drag and drop your DOC, XLS, JPG or PPT into the tool, and PDF.Live will convert that file into a PDF. You’ll then be able to download a PDF of that document. This is handy for when you don’t have the capability to open that file right now and need a PDF version of it immediately.
PDF.Live’s conversion services don’t require additional software downloads to install or function — it works entirely in your web browser. The PDF.Live is free to try and has many additional capabilities, like an online PDF fax and PDF editor. If you like it, you can check out PDF.Live’s unlimited monthly PDF service options.
There are other free PDF creators out there, such as Adobe Acrobat and Reader. However, these programs won’t give you the same conversion options for free. They also are programs that are installed on your computer — not apps that function in your web browser.
Other Things to Do With a PDF Maker App
We conclude our how-to post by explaining how to make other changes in PDF files for free. PDF.Live offers limited free tasks every day, and for our super-users, we offer an affordable subscription that gives you unlimited PDF tasks and editing abilities.
Making one PDF from several
Looking to make several PDFs into one? Create a single PDF from multiple PDFs with an online PDF merge service. With this tool, simply drag and drop the PDFs that you want to merge into the tool and create a single PDF from those files. Follow the prompts to download your merged PDF.
Edit or change PDFs
Our web-based PDF editor requires no software downloads. Click and drag to the PDF editing tool. Use the editor to reorder the pages or remove pages you don’t want. Change the text, images, formatting, and more. Make small adjustments to a PDF directly from your web browser. Once you’re done editing your PDF, you can download the edited version directly from the web page. If you’re curious about learning more, check out 8 cool things that the PDF.Live editor does.
Sign a PDF
One of the most popular features of our online PDF creator web-based app is the Sign a PDF tool. From any page on PDF.Live’s site, select PDF Editor. Then select Sign PDF. Click and drag your file to the online tool and then follow the prompts. You’ll be able to upload a photo of your signature and place it on a PDF, or you can use a mouse to physically draw your signature.