How do I edit a PDF like in Word?

This is a question I often get asked. 

Can it be done? The simple answer is NO! Well OK, thats not entirely true, but lets look at the issue. 

PDFs are a compressed form of document that can come from one of MANY sources. Depending on the source file (input), how the PDF is generated (output) ultimately answers the question. That said, there are some tools out there that COULD allow you to edit SOME content in SOME PDFs, if they were made using SOME, not all of the many file types, and saved with SOME of the right settings. 

To understand what can and can’t be edited, lets look at how a professional builds the files you might want to edit.

Most pros use either Adobe InDesign or Quark Xpress as a Layout application for documents. A layout usually consist of text place in the layout program, logo/chart in vectorized formats from Illutrator and images in raster format (photos) from Photoshop. All organized on a single pages or several pages. Once a layout is prepared, a PostScript document can be generated (PostScript file or Encasulated PostScript file -EPS). Then, using Acrobat Distiller, selecting one of the various compression setting – a PDF can be generated. If it’s to sent by e-mail, then it’s highly compressed (low quality) to reduce file size. If it’s for a PrePress department it might be a pressReady or PDF/X format. 

Editing a PDF

OK, so you’ve got a PDF, don’t have the source files, but you want to edit it.

Here is what a professional might do, with the right tools in hand.

Open in Adobe Acrobat Pro, export a page(s) as Encasulated PostScript (EPS) and open with: 

A.) Illustrator

With Adobe Illustrator you can open almost any PDF. You may be able to edit text. You will need the fonts used in the document. 

Pro = You get text in a more or less editable format. if it’s not rasterrized or converted to outlines (drawn shapes)

Con = Items (embeded images) can become damaged, loose resolution, some text gets converted to outlines making it hard to replace. You require the correct font to keep the document text formatted. There are also output issues. If the PDF was highly compressed the image will remain poor quality.

B.) Photoshop

With Adobe Photoshop you can open almost any PDF. You won’t be able to edit text. You’re file becomes a photo.

Pro = You can make a smaller version of the file or take elements out for other uses.

Con = Rasterizing the entire image may create poor image quality, nothing is really editable, you may need typefaces for correct rasterizing.

C.) Word

It’s all you have, don’t have illustrator or Photoshop.

There are some options:

PDF to word is a website that allows you to upload a PDF, they convert to word, they send back to you by email.

Pro = This CAN work on some files – not on every file though. You can at least get non rasterized text out of the PDF to re-layout in a word processor.

Con = formatting will likely change. images may or may not show in your file. A re-generated PDF will only be usable for viewing.

Other solutions – just SOME of the applications out there.

nitropdf offers “nitro PDF pro” which may allow you to open a PDF and edit the text. see the list of feature here. The price is listed as $99.00

docudesk offers “deskUNPDF” PDF converter. it comes in various flavors ranging from the simple Essentials plus for $79 to the single user License of DeskUNPDF. 

There is also Infix PDF Editor 1.1 – google to find a link – it’s listed as $99,00.

The Source – by Bell?

Big buyout

Totally “out of the blue” Bell has announced plans to buy the consumer electronics retail chain The Source – formerly by Circut City. The deal should be finalized by later this year. Insiders tell me the price was around considerably less than the 334 million payed by Circut City just 4 years ago. At first this might seem a strange fit, not when you consider the sources exclusive Roger distribution of cell phones and cable boxes. “(The) acquisition supports Bell’s strategic imperatives to accelerate wireless and leverage momentum in services like Bell TV, Bell Internet and Bell Home Phone,” said George Cope, president and CEO of Bell and BCE. The Source plans to carry all of Bell’s consumer services at its more than 750 stores across Canada, and continue to operate as a consumer electronics store. – The Source was formerly known as Radio Shack in Canada. – Bell shares closed down 2.54 per cent Monday at $24.20.

Oil Bad

Canada, considered by many to be the “great, clean north” is just not so anymore. This thanks to the blight of the TarSand. Why can’t we breakaway from the ignition engine. To learn more watch this incredible work from my friends at Vice. This was brought to mind by a more recent National Geographics article. Canadian Oil Sands –
Once considered too expensive, as well as too damaging to the land, exploitation of Alberta’s oil sands is now a gamble worth billions. National Geographic discovers the Tar Sands… these pictures are truly remarkable, the article too
 

OSX on Netbooks – Why not the best OS?

Since early developers prevs of OSX Tiger people have been all over running the best OS on a PC. When Apple announced it was moving to Intel – that was it. Time to give it a try. Thing is almost nothing worked out of the box, in other words – a Windows experience – who wants that. Lately that has changed, and since other vendors are using the same chipset and similar parts, there are fewer reasons to pay the “Apple Tax”. Now with cheap netbooks – why not give it a try.

PC netbooks available at locally (Montreal)
Acer AspireOne (Linux) $325
MSI Wind $500
HP 2133 Netbook $700

Links you’ll need
http://windosx.wikispaces.com/

http://forums.msiwind.net/mac-f32/first-post-updated-leopard-installer-disc-for-msi-wind-t857.html

Update – Now Dell
http://gizmodo.com/5156903/how-to-hackintosh-a-dell-mini-9-into-the-ultimate-os-x-netbook

CRTC shows it’s ignorance – again

According to the CRTC we (canadians) don’t watch, listen to, surf, enough canadian content. So they plan to weigh in! They’re already involved in the packet shaping habbits of the ISPs (see here) and regulate the radio and TV airwaves. Do they REALLY think you can enforce Canadian content law on the internets?? How would you say – force someone to view Canadian webpages? Google Canada with CanCon results comes up first? YouTube Canada? What if it’s hosted abroad, what if content from abroad is hosted here?

The plan

So I spend 90% of my time thinking about and creating design/print media. (much to the annoyance of those around me) Let’s face it – there is more to life than design blogs/sites, nerding out on the latest apple product (yah Fanboy) or the newest font from some obscure foundry. I hope to share my finds, and some of my experience. Of course there is ONE more thing I do enjoy – and thats food! If one of my brothers hadn’t become a chef, then I probably would have. That said – I’m a vegetarian. So this site will also reflect that.  I hope I can keep at this! C u in the comments

A simple beginning

So a basic blog post to test out the system.

I’ve planned to blog for years. Lets see if THIS works.