Term: PDF printer
Definition:
A PDF printer is a computer program installed as a virtual PDF printer driver that prints to a PDF file from any document that supports this feature. To make the conversion possible, the application that created the original document must be installed too, as the whole conversion would be done in a similar way to printing a document to a normal paper printer. For example, printing to a PDF document from a .ppt file (presentation created with Microsoft PowerPoint) would be done by opening the document in Microsoft PowerPoint, going to File->Print, selecting as a printer the virtual PDF printer (i.e. novaPDF) and clicking on Print. The PDF printing would take place and the PDF document saved in the desired location. Depending on their requirements for printing to PDF files, PDF printers can be divided in two major categories:
- Depending on 3rd party programs. This category contains PDF printers that require installing a 3rd party set of programs such as Ghostscript, or a framework such as .NET, in order to print to the PDF files. A major disadvantage of these PDF printers is the fact that their setup programs don’t contain the Ghostscript or .NET package, so even if you have the setup for the PDF printer itself, you would need an internet connection to download the 3rd party program too.
- Independent from 3rd party programs. This category contains PDF printers that do not require any 3rd party programs in order to print to PDF documents. This is a benefit for the user as only downloading the PDF printer and installing it is enough to be able to print to PDF files. An example of a PDF printer independent from 3rd party programs is novaPDF
Depending on their usage, PDF printers can be:
- Desktop PDF printers. This is a typical PDF printer and used mostly by regular users or in small businesses. A desktop PDF printer is installed on a single computer and can print to PDF files only from/to that specific computer (it cannot be used through a network). An example of a desktop PDF printer is novaPDF Desktop.
- Server PDF printers. A server PDF printer allows being installed on a single computer in a large network, and being shared as a network PDF printer for other computers in the same network, being used via a Remote Desktop Connection, Terminal Servers or through Citrix clients. These server-based PDF printer solutions are more expensive than the desktop ones, but overall in large companies the cost per user is much lower. novaPDF Server is an example of a server PDF printer.
Related terms: pdf creator, pdf writer, pdf converter, pdf maker, pdf generator
novaPDF is a PDF creator that allows creating PDF files (with or without encryption) from any Windows application that supports printing. If you don't have novaPDF installed, use the
Download page to download and install it. To see a tutorial on how you can use novaPDF to create PDF files read
Create PDF files with novaPDF.
