Getting the hang of PDFs

After Johann Gutenberg’s invention of movable type in the 1400s, printing technology changed slowly — until the computer came along.

In the last 10 years, the digital revolution has altered the face of printing. Gone, in many cases, are blue lines, hard-copy proofs and the time-consuming process of sending these files via snail or express mail to all the eyes that need to see them.

Now with the help of PDFs — portable document files — editors, graphic arts departments and all the editorial decision-makers can send entire files filled with text and graphics over the Internet and complete in hours…