Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Convert bitmap to PDF

Apr 1, 2006 11:29AM PST

I scanned an award cetificate into my machine and need to be able to type in names, dates, locations, etc. and change fonts, and place them in specific locations on the document. I have a Dell Dimentsion 2400, with Windows XP and a Dell Photo All-in-One Printer 942. When I scan it in, it just automatically becomes a bitmap document, and I cannot add text, or at least I don't know how. Please help

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Try scanning
Apr 2, 2006 9:42AM PDT

Try scanning your document and saving it as a jpeg.

Then after you saved the document, locate it and double click on it.

It should open with a photo imaging software of some type. With the program that opens it, you should be able to do what you are looking for. You do NOT have to save it as a pdf. You only save things as a pdf if you do NOT want them to be changed.


Hope this helps.


Rick

- Collapse -
After Scanning
Apr 2, 2006 1:32PM PDT

and saving the file as an eps, take the eps file into Acrobat distiller.
That will produce a PDF file. With your Acrobat (not reader) open the file.
Go to the text tool and eliminate all the text. You will not be able to change fonts or edit the copy within Acrobat unless you purchase the Pro Edition. About $300 for the software.
Go to file/export the file as an eps to your desktop.
Import the eps to your software program such as Quark or your favorite. Typeset your new copy.
I have given you the basics. To find out more go to Adobe.com

You cannot edit copy with a jpeg or other files such as Tiff, eps or Gif files at all.
Adobe Acrobat is really a neat software program once you learn everything you can do with it.
I am still learning all that the software has to offer. Takes a while.

-Kevin

- Collapse -
OOPS? Sorry Guys
Apr 2, 2006 3:34PM PDT

Wrong instructions from me concerning a scan.
Instructions were for a file generated from a software program, not a scan.
There is a problem with a scan. Eliminate all the text from an eps file and reset all the text in your favorite program such as InDesign or Quark.

-Kevin

- Collapse -
Rick, Send me a PDF file
Apr 2, 2006 1:56PM PDT

I will return the file back to you as a new PDF that is completely changed from the original. Send one that has graphic images as a full color file. That's fun to work with.
A number of years ago one could not alter a PDF. Now it is different if you have Adobe Acrobat. I use V7.
There are many ways to make a PDF file correctly.
Many files are generated incorrectly and I have to open them in Adobe Photoshop V6 and above.
(Many problems with RGB, spot black, not having embedded fonts and much more.)
I then save the file as an EPS for printing.

-Kevin

- Collapse -
This person
Apr 2, 2006 4:56PM PDT

This person might not have the full version of Adobe Acrobat. Most windows programs do NOT give you the full version. They give you Adobe Acrobat Reader. Full version for Windows is a paid product.

Unless the person wants to download a program like Open Office

http://www.openoffice.org/

to be able to edit the PDF file, he will have to use a different program.


Hope this helps.


Rick

- Collapse -
Right on Rick
Apr 3, 2006 5:38AM PDT

Not sure of the cost, I am guessing at $199. Pro version is about $299. From Adobe.com
If the poster has Adobe Reader only, than nothing can be done to edit an Acrobat file. Read-only. PC & Mac.

At work we have to have the full version of Acrobat in order to a save-as, number one, to re-save it to our standards and to generate an EPS file through Pitstop. A lot of info to explain here.
Pitstop is used commercially to generate an EPS suitable for printing. It's also a trouble-shooting program that will fix many problems with a PDF file that was generated incorrectly.
There are countless ways to make a PDF correctly.
And countless ways to make a PDF that is garbage.

Any scanned image can be adjusted in a photo editing program.
Not in Adobe Acrobat.
Delete all the text and reset the copy/text in a graphic program such as InDesign, Pagemaker, Quark etc.

Anyone interested in Adobe Acrobat can down-load a full trial version from http://adobe.com/products/acrobat/adobepdf.html
Check it out.
Rick, your suggestion for PC users using OpenOffice may be a good one. Don't know the program. I use the MacOS.

Hope this helps anyone that wants to use Acrobat.
Acrobat will be used more and more in the years ahead. Truly an awesome program that is used by many on the PC & Mac platforms.

-Kevin