Comments on: The history of PDF

By: BSchuhle

BSchuhle — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:49:33 +0000

Thanks for this very informative article. I was in the printing/pre-press business back in the ’90s when PDF first came on the scene, so it was interesting to get a behind-the-scenes look at its development. In addition to Common Ground and the other cited potential competitors to PDF, the name “Timbuktu” sticks in my mind as one of that group. Am I “mis-remembering” here? Some might find it of interest that, even though I was a Mac PageMaker and Freehand user for many years, for the past five or six years I’ve been using a Windows-based DTP application called Serif PagePlus, one of whose most significant advantages is its uncanny ability to parse PDF files into editable PagePlus objects and text frames (assuming, of course, that the PDF text is not scanned images — it doesn’t do OCR) for extensive editing or re-purposing of PDF content. I’ve not used any recent versions of Acrobat Professional, but from what I can gather, PP put AP to shame in this regard. A very hand tool to have in one’s “kit”.

By: benedick

benedick — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:22:55 +0000

is the pdf printer a separate technology from the distiller?

By: Minhluan

Minhluan — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:42:52 +0000

This absolutely helpful. Thanks!

By: Laurens

Laurens — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:47:40 +0000

I don’t quite understand the question. PDF is a file format, Acrobat is the software to create or process such files. I assume that you are curious whether PDF was a commercial success for Adobe? Since it is impossible to make money off a file format, Adobe has never had any direct revenue from PDF. But the popularity of PDF has enabled them to sell tons of Acrobat licenses. There have been quarters where it was their most profitable product range. By controlling the PDF standard and tailoring their software to use its full capabilities, Adobe has managed to make InDesign the most popular design application on the market. The limited PDF support in QuarkXPress is one of the reasons that product has lost marketshare. So has PDF been good for Adobe’s revenue: Yes, it definately has.

By: Leon Michelow

Leon Michelow — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:05:59 +0000

Is there any indication that PDF was ever a commercial success for Acrobat. I´m looking for a discussion on its business model.
Thanks

By: Mark Debattista

Mark Debattista — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:31:40 +0000

I’m looking for file extension libraries, if you can help. Thanks.