Free PDF Creation for Cusomers?

[zcto7]

A big problem we have is getting customers to send in decent PDFs. Unless they are using programs that can export directly, they are lost. Is there a free solution that will create a PDF (preferably a PDF/X1a) without a lot of hassle? The closest I have found is Bullzip, but was wasn't sure if there is a better solution.

 

[TigerPress]

CutePDF

CutePDF

I've used CutePDF with lots of success. I even use it internally in some cases.

 

[Keith]

I use CutePDF after I saw it recommended in American Printer. There are other free PDF programs out there- doPDF, PrimoPDF, and PDF995. I doubt any of these programs make PDFs to prepress standard but I'm all digital so it doesn't matter a whole lot to me. I use CutePDF to for Word and Publisher files that people send me so I can use my imposition program. You have to be careful, I may be using it wrong, but I have a hell of a time making custom sizes. And sometime, it will have trouble embedding fonts. I even had text just disappear! But ultimately, I find it almost indispensable.

 

[Stephen Marsh]

We prefer for clients to make the PDF, so that they are responsible for font embedding etc.

If they are using MS Office 2007 products, we encourage them to use the following add-on:

Download details: 2007 Microsoft Office Add-in: Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS

Although, not bullet proof or a PDF/X standard, this does make more acceptable PDF files in many cases (they do need extra work for being press ready, as MS Office is of course RGB based).


Regards,

Stephen Marsh

 

[JimDummer]

we have a solution that is free to the end user called PDF2U.

If you would like to take a look at it - our demo site is PrintVia (MyOrderDesk Demo Site) you can learn more about it at Web-to-Print Storefronts from PagePath Technologies or feel free to give me a call at 630-689-4115

Jim Dummer
PagePath Technologies

 

[almaink]

The best on line free PDF creator there is
Free Online PDF Converter, Batch Convert to PDF or Image, Doc Converter, PDF Printer.
Only restriction is file has to under 1 meg.

 

[DanB]

We provide a customized version of a product called PDF Redirect to our customers. You can find the standard versions at PDF reDirect - The free PDF Creator alternative to pdf995, cutepdf and freepdf.

We had a customized version made to ensure that the customers could only select options we wanted them to be able to select making sure that the PDF is made to our specs. The whole deal was rather inexpensive.

 

[Stephen Marsh]

I can't vouch for these various solutions (unavailable fonts, font embedding, resolution, compression etc), some are local installs and others are on-line:

PDF Converter - Convert to PDF free with doPDF

Create PDF Online Free — PrimoPDF

http://www.globalgraphics.com/en/gdoc/gdoc-creator#gCreator

Doc2PDF Online - Convert Documents (Word, MS Publisher, Excel) to PDF for Free

EDIT:

http://www.primopdf.com/index.aspx

http://www.primopdf.com/online.aspx

http://www.nitropdf.com/free/hammer/index.htm (PDF editor)