FreewareGenius.com: The best freeware virtual PDF printer tools

[mouser]

Here's a very useful roundup at freewaregenius today:

PDF Virtual printers are a convenient way to create PDF files. These programs can save any kind of printable document as a PDF; all you need to do is to select ‘print’ from your favorite program, then select the virtual PDF printer and get a PDF file.

There are many excellent free virtual printers. We have tested 15 of these and selected 10 of them to evaluate and compare. These (in alphabetic order) are: Bullzip PDF Printer, Doro PDF Writer, PDF Printer (PdfSvg), PDF reDirect, PDF24 Creator, PDFCreator, Perfect PDF 7 Master, Primo PDF, Print2PDF Free and qvPDF.

http://www.freewaregenius.com/2011/06/16/the-best-freeware-virtual-pdf-printer-a-comparison/

[Curt]

Nice find, mouser.

Readers should be aware of the author ("Priit L")'s way of thinking: if a program has many options, it will get a lower rating, say 4/5 instead of 5/5, with the reason: "too complex for beginners"!

[Jibz]

I was a little surprised not to see doPDF on the list, but I guess it does not provide some of the "essential features" like merging, watermarking and encryption, which are in the commercial version.

I chose doPDF because it seemed like a professional application, it handled all the fonts and graphics I tried well, and it produced relatively small pdf files -- but as he says

Of course, different people need different functionality so the division between ‘essential’ and ‘optional’ can be debated.

[40hz]

I've used BullZip ever since I dropped PrimoPDF. I've been extremely happy with its performance and output quality. BullZip would be my top choice. 

[hpearce]

I selected the editor's pick to replace dopdf ... but I was surprised it was not listed too

[daddydave]

I may try some of the ones I hadn't heard of.
My favorite PDF Creator feature is that you can pause the print monitor and then combine outputs into a single PDF.



I guess that's what Priit means by print aggregations.

PDFCreator's command line options could also come in handy for someone.

(I either need to train myself not to use Quick Reply, or image attachment needs to be added to that feature. I'm sure it's the former.)

[40hz]

(I either need to train myself not to use Quick Reply, or image attachment needs to be added to that feature. I'm sure it's the former.)

@daddydave - Quick workaround: Compose text in quick reply. When done, hit the Preview button. Add any images in the edit window there.

That's what I usually do.

[daddydave]

(I either need to train myself not to use Quick Reply, or image attachment needs to be added to that feature. I'm sure it's the former.)

@daddydave - Quick workaround: Compose text in quick reply. When done, hit the Preview button. Add any images in the edit window there.

That's what I usually do.

Thanks!

[justice]

Also you don't need acrobat reader to read the pdf files, just have them open in Google Chrome.

[tomos]

I only have experience with a couple:

dopdf is nice and easy to use but often fails (distorts) if vector graphics involved and it's not clear what settings are used (free version).
PDFCreator makes a very good pdf, lots of control over fonts and compression, can handle vector graphics, but options interface is a bit odd (I've gotten used to it though).

I had to laugh at a comment he uses a couple of times (cause it seems a bit meaningless):
"Interface a bit dull "

[40hz]

I had to laugh at a comment he uses a couple of times (cause it seems a bit meaningless):
"Interface a bit dull "

@tomos - thanks for saying that. It struck me as something really odd to expect from a virtual printer utility. Then I thought maybe it was just me until I read your comment. 

[tomos]

@40hz,
maybe we're just dull too ;-)

[hamradio]

I as well use Bullzip PDF Printer.

[y0himba]

Bullzip user here as well, for quite a long time now. 

[lanux128]

there had been some changes since the original review. freewaregenius had brought in doPDF and dropped PrimoPDF.

We updated the PDF Virtual Printer comparison post http://t.co/NKbrBbs. Added doPDF to the mix, took out PrimoPDF b/c of adware components.

https://twitter.com/#!/freewaregenius/status/83276053132488704