How and when to use a virtual PDF printer

A virtual PDF printer can be an alternative tool for those who want to generate PDF documents by printing instead of exporting. As an example, 2D drawings often need to be documented (and possibly delivered) in PDF format, which is easily and quickly done in IRONCAD through the export function in the 2D drawing, which usually produces the sharpest lines and the smallest file size. However, some programs lack the function to export to PDF or you need to adapt the way the PDF document is created in various ways.

Let's take a closer look at what a virtual PDF printer is and how it can be integrated with IRONCAD or used with other programs as well.

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What is a virtual PDF printer and how is it used in IRONCAD?

A virtual PDF printer is a piece of software that allows you to create PDF documents from any Windows application that allows you to print. It basically works like a "regular" printer connected to your computer, but instead of producing a physical printout, it converts the content into a PDF document that is saved on your computer.

The process is both simple and user-friendly: by simply selecting "print" and choosing the virtual PDF printer as the target printer, the desired PDF document is generated and saved on your computer. It's as simple as that!

1. Open your 2D drawing and press Print.
2. Select the desired PDF printer, in this case we use Microsoft Print to PDF (see below for examples of different printers).
3. Make your settings.
4. Press OK and then choose where you want to save the file.
5. Done!
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Using a PDF printer for other software applications

Let's not limit ourselves to just IRONCAD. The concept of a virtual PDF printer is not exclusive to a specific software. Many other programs used in different industries can also benefit from this feature. Whether it is CAD programs, text editing tools or other creative applications (such as Photoshop or Illustrator etc.), a virtual PDF printer can be a reliable option when it comes to quickly and smoothly converting different file types into a PDF document.

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Examples of different PDF printers and where to find them

Most current versions of Windows now have a built-in virtual PDF printer called Microsoft Print To PDF. Below are some examples if you do not have access to it or if you are looking for other (completely free and/or open source) alternatives.

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1. PDFCreator: A very popular virtual PDF printer that also supports conversion to other formats such as PNG, JPG, TIFF and more. PDFCreator is based on open source code and is available for Windows.
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2. CutePDF: Available in two versions, a free version and a commercial version with additional features. The basic free version allows you to create PDF documents via printing, while the commercial version additionally offers the possibility to edit and merge PDF files.
   
3. CUPS-PDF: This virtual PDF printer is designed for Unix-based systems such as Linux and macOS. It integrates with CUPS(Common Unix Printing System) and allows users to create PDF documents by sending print jobs to the virtual printer.
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4. Bullzip PDF Printer: There are lots of options and settings for this virtual PDF printer. Therefore it is very well suited for e.g. mass export of PDF documents.
   
5. Ghostscript/GhostPCL: A comprehensive PostScript and PDF interpreter that can be used to create PDF documents. GhostPCL is a part of the Ghostscript project and focuses on converting other formats to PDF, such as PCL(Printer Command Language) to PDF.
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6. DoPDF: An easy-to-use and free virtual PDF printer for Windows.

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ATTENTION! We at Solidmakarna use several of these software programs ourselves in various contexts and have received tips on several of them from you users, but unfortunately we cannot take responsibility for or provide support for how they are used.