Adobe Acrobat Pro DC: Features and Review

Key Advantages

• Text indexing for quick document search
• Cloud-based commenting and approval workflows
• Full editing capabilities in mobile applications
• Convert photos taken on a mobile phone into polished PDF files on the desktop

Acrobat Pro DC brings many of the collaboration conveniences that Microsoft Office, Google Docs and Apple's iWork suite introduced for word processing and spreadsheets. With an Acrobat subscription or a full Creative Cloud subscription, teams can annotate a shared PDF from the desktop app, mobile app or any web browser via Adobe Document Cloud.

Everything You Need to Know About Adobe Acrobat Pro

While the more affordable Acrobat Standard edition covers most essential features, the Pro version includes capabilities you should not overlook. One standout feature is the ability to compare two copies of the same PDF and instantly highlight every difference.

Acrobat Pro also lets you edit PDFs on a tablet, scan images from your phone and convert them into professional-quality PDFs, and ensure documents conform to international data-retention standards.

The desktop application retains its familiar layout with a cleaner design and improved navigation. New features make it easier to browse multiple PDFs and access files from cloud services such as Google Drive. You can purchase a permanent licence for Acrobat Pro DC 2020 or the newer Acrobat Pro DC 2022 from Licendi.

Adobe developed the PDF format and later published the specification as a public standard. Acrobat has always set the benchmark for other PDF tools and remains the best general-purpose PDF editor available, though specialised alternatives exist for certain tasks.

New Features

The latest Acrobat desktop application streamlines document signing and distribution. A dedicated Adobe Sign tool in the toolbar simplifies uploading documents and sending signature requests. Recipients can sign through Adobe's cloud service without needing an Adobe account.

The cloud service also embeds a certificate into the signed PDF, so any subsequent changes to the document trigger a warning that it has been altered. These sharing and signing features make Acrobat a clear favourite for many businesses.

The Acrobat Pro DC Experience

Over the years, Acrobat has accumulated so many features that some are easy to overlook. One capability unique to Acrobat is the ability to create a font from a scanned document and use that font when adding or revising text in the PDF.

This means you can scan a printed document set in a typeface that has not been used for a century, make the text searchable and selectable via OCR, and then edit the content using the original font. Acrobat even supports animated presentation-style transitions between PDF pages. For tips on other creative Adobe tools, see our post on what is new in Adobe Photoshop in 2022.

Interface and Navigation

Acrobat uses a familiar interface with a left sidebar displaying page thumbnails, bookmarks and attachments. Right-clicking on page thumbnails gives you access to functions such as page numbering, allowing you to match the PDF page numbers to those of a scanned document.

For example, if you have scanned pages 25 to 45 of a book, you can set the Acrobat page numbers accordingly rather than starting from 1. This feature is more intuitive in Acrobat than in any other PDF application.

If you share PDFs or upload them to Adobe Document Cloud, you can access them on any device through the web interface at documentcloud.adobe.com. The main screen offers tools for loading, creating, combining and managing PDFs. You can also export PDFs to Office formats, rearrange pages by dragging thumbnails, and much more.

The desktop version provides the widest range of tools, including cutting, optimising and indexing options, all easily accessible from the improved home screen.

PDF Editing

Acrobat's editing capabilities are built on Adobe's deep typographic expertise. When editing text, you can adjust word and letter spacing so that adding or removing words does not affect the overall page layout.

The application also offers an impressive range of security and privacy options, including encryption, redaction and digital signatures.

How Much Does Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Cost?

You can purchase a permanent licence for Adobe Acrobat Pro DC from Licendi. Browse our full range of Adobe Acrobat licences to find the edition that suits your needs.

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