Favorite PDF editing tools

[Laurens]

A recent poll here about using Illustrator to edit PDF files inspired me to put up a poll about everyone's favorite PDF editing tools. Even though nobody recommends it, editing PDFs seems to happen quite a lot. My page on how to edit PDF files is the second most popular page on the site with around 1000 daily page views!

The poll will probably be a home run for Adobe Acrobat. I am curious though how many also vote for other tools - or indeed use Adobe Illustrator. Please cast your vote(s) and use this thread to share your PDF-editing wisdom and/or nightmare stories.

[mattbeals]

You neglected to add Callas pdfToolbox to the list.

[gnubler]

Unfortunately, not all of us have the privilege of having Pitstop even though it should be a bundled requirement for any business buying Acrobat Pro, especially in prepress. I use the tools available in Acrobat Pro 9 and if that doesn't work for me then opening in Illustrator is my next option. If it can't be edited with either of those two it gets kicked back to the customer.

[Laurens]

You neglected to add Callas pdfToolbox to the list.

Added - thanks for pointing it out. It is odd that I forgot pdfToolbox even though I meet some of the Callas people from time to time. Real PDF gurus!

[beermonster]

what's a guru? :undecided:

i have oris pdf tuner - which saved me some headaches when we got it - sadly now dropped by CGS. when i say sadly what i mean is it's simply outdated now, and the GUI is mental - it saved us some issues early on so paid for itself

i dont have pitstop either so its acrobat all the way - illy if need be too

[G_Town]

what's a guru? :undecided:

i have oris pdf tuner - which saved me some headaches when we got it - sadly now dropped by CGS. when i say sadly what i mean is it's simply outdated now, and the GUI is mental - it saved us some issues early on so paid for itself

i dont have pitstop either so its acrobat all the way - illy if need be too

guru=pompous ass

Typically someone will call themselves a guru, they should be shot on site.

[gnubler]

guru=pompous ass

Typically someone will call themselves a guru, they should be shot on site.

Agreed. Let's get to work.

[DigiCorn]

I thught all of us smart enough to join this forum would be considered prepress gurus. I guess I thought wrong :-(

[youston]

I thught all of us smart enough to join this forum would be considered prepress gurus. I guess I thought wrong :-(

Perhaps, but 'guru' is a title to be bestowed UPON one BY OTHERS (who are then laughed at and mocked by still others). To give oneself the title is just wankery.

[gnubler]

I thught all of us smart enough to join this forum would be considered prepress gurus. I guess I thought wrong :-(

j

You thught'd wrong.

[almaink]

One thing I use but not listed is InDesign. New text can be added right on top of old copy, then the old stuff deleted in Acrobat, or images can be added. Resizing is also easier in Indy. The only issue I've ever seen doing this is PDF's generated by CS3-5 and placed into an Indy CS2 or earlier file can result in colors lost or dropped or the PDF may fail to export.

[beermonster]

I think Youston is......wankery

[youston]

I think Youston is......wankery

Oh now, come on beer! I've never been a sinner ... never sinned ...  :evil:

[gnubler]

Oh now, come on beer! I've never been a sinner ... never sinned ...  :evil:

That's because you're just a babe. Wait until you turn 13...you have a lot of growing up to do yet.

[beermonster]

I think Youston is.....