pdfFactory Pro

Apart from transforming into a standard PDF file any document that you can send to your printer, and from rearranging, rotating, combining, and protecting them easily, the Pro version of pdfFactory will let you add letterheads, bookmarks, watermarks, headers, footers, and notes, as well as fill in forms, crop pages, and even create a table of contents automatically.

The program’s main window won’t open until you send a document to the pdfFactory Pro virtual printer. Once processed, you’ll be presented with the resulting file in an interface that looks like an exact replica of that of the standard version but with a few more icons in the taskbar. All the basic functionality is common to both tools, such as the thumbnail view, the possibility of rearranging the document, of removing and inserting pages, of rotating them, or its encryption and password protection options. Anything else is exclusive to the Pro version.

Such as the possibility of inserting new text, notes, watermarks, and bookmarks to the new PDF file, or the option to highlight specific messages or sections of the document, and of inserting multiple signatures in it. Likewise, you can fill in forms, add page numbering, and create and insert your preferred letterhead following your preferences.

Though still far from the comprehensive functionality that Adobe Acrobat Pro DC offers to its subscribers, pdfFactory Pro’s features are still worth a try. Not all users require that much functionality anyway, and not many of them can afford to pay Acrobat’s subscription price without making their wallet weep. For all of them, a compact and professional tool such as pdfFactory Pro may well be all they need, as it provides them with just the functions they need for just a fraction of Acrobat’s price tag.