The PDF file format has become a standard within technology, as has the JPG, PNG, DOC, DMG, EXE ..., being practically the only format used when sending documents electronically. The acronym PDF stands for Portable Document Format, it was initially developed by Adobe Systems (the same creator of Photoshop) to become an open format in 2008.
This type of file contains any type of information, be it text, images, graphics, sounds and even videos. Now that we are clear that PDF is a file format, we must know how we can create it. If you want to know how to create a PDF document in a fast and simple way, below we show you all the steps to follow.
Despite being an open format for more than a decade, it has not been until approximately 5 years, when all operating systems and browsers have offered native compatibility with this format, since previously we were forced to download the official application from Adobe, or from third parties, to be able to read them.
We were also forced to download third-party applications in order to create these types of documents. Fortunately, over the years, the main developers of operating systems and applications have integrated into their applications the possibility of create documents in this format natively.
Once we have created the file in this format, depending on the application that we have used to create it, we can block or unlock a PDF file adding a series of protections so that it does not modify without the permission of the owner or so that third parties who cannot access the content without knowing the password.
Create PDF documents on Windows
Microsoft tried to make its own XPS format an industry standard at the same time as Adobe with PDF, but as I explained above, there could only be one left and that was the one created by Adobe, although the XPS format that Microsoft offered us, offered a higher file compression rate, a problem that we are when it comes to creating files in PDF format when it comes to images.
The easiest method to create a PDF from a file is through printing. Windows 10, installs by default a printer named Microsoft Print to PDF, a printer that, as its name indicates, allows us to print / convert a document to PDF in a simple and fast way.
To create the document in PDF format, first we must have installed the application with which the document was createdWhether it is Word, Excel, PowerPoint for documents or an image viewer compatible with that format for photographs. Next, we just have to click on the Print option and select the printer Microsoft Print to PDF.
Once we have selected the printer, we just have to click on Print and select the directory where we want to store the file that we are going to create in PDF format and click on Save. Easy right?
Create PDF documents on Mac
Creating a PDF document on Mac is a different process from what we can find on Windows, since the file conversion is not done through a printer. Although the process is not complicated, it does depend on the type of file that we want to convert. If it is about images there is no problem since this process can be done directly from the application Preview, the native macOS application with which we can do practically everything.
If we want to convert photos / images to PDF format, we must open them with the Preview app, all of them together, since otherwise a single PDF file will be created for each image instead of grouping them all in the same file. Preview is the default application to open images on macOS, so you just have to click on any image file to run it.
- Once we have opened the images in the Preview application, we just have to click on File> Export as PDF
- Then we select the folder where we want to store the file resulting from the conversion and click on Save.
Create a PDF document on iOS
Apple's mobile platform, iOS, also allows us to create documents in PDF format, although it depends on the application we use to do it. In order to create text documents, spreadsheets or presentations, the application with which we open it must be compatible with AirPrint technology. If so, when we click on the Print option, It will allow us to save the document in PDF format.
If you don't support AirPrint technology, we will have to make use of third-party applications. One of the best that we can find in the App Store is Printer Pro by Readdle. Once we have installed it, we just have to click on the Share button of the application in which we are and select the extension of the same name.
If we have a printer compatible with AirPrint, this will be shown together with the one installed by the application that allows us to create documents in PDF format.
From Safari for iOS, we can save save the content displayed in the browser in PDF format natively and without having to use third-party applications.
Create a PDF document on Android
Android does allow us to create a PDF file from any application without having to resort to third-party applications, although as usual, we can find them in the Play Store. The process to convert a file into PDF format is very simple, we just have to follow these steps:
- First of all, once we have opened the application, click on the option Share.
- Next, click on Print.
- Next, click on Select printer and set Save in PDF as printer.
Create a Word, Excel, and PowerPoint PDF document
If what we want is to convert a text document, spreadsheet or presentation created by some of the applications that are part of Office, it is not necessary to resort to third-party applications and it does not matter exactly the operating system in which we are creating or open the document, since all of them, both Word and Excel and PowerPoint, allow us to create documents in PDF format from the application application by following these steps:
To save the document in PDF format, we just have to click on File> Save As and in File format select PDF, we establish the folder where we want to store it and click on Export.
Create a Pages, Numbers, or Keynote document to PDF
As with the Office suite, if we want to create a document in Pages, Numbers or Keynote to later convert it to PDF, we can do it directly from the application itself. We just have to open the document in question. Then click on Export to> PDF and we set the path where we want to store the file.