builtright3 Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Good morning from wonderful Michigan! I'm looking for a program that I can use to markup PDF's and other documents like a plan checker would do for corrections or as I have seen some of you do to help other on the forum. I have "Adobe DC" but the markup capabilities are limited and the windows "snipping tool" isn't near advanced enough. Does anyone have suggestions for me for what I'm looking for? Some of these programs out their like "eCopy" can be very expensive and I don"t mind spending some money but I don't want it to break the bank account either. Any help or direction would be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKitchenAbode Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 You may wish to check out PDF-Viewer, it's free and has a wide range of markup tools. Have used it for several decades and it works well. It will also allow you to password the PDF doc so others can't alter your changes or you can convert the PDF doc into an image. Probably about as many tools as you will be able to get for free, they also have a paid for version that offers even more features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwdozier Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Check out Bluebeam Revu (https://www.bluebeam.com/) Very afordable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNestor Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Bluebeam if you are on a PC. Incredible program...I wish there was a MAC version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builtright3 Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 46 minutes ago, TheKitchenAbode said: You may wish to check out PDF-Viewer, it's free and has a wide range of markup tools. Have used it for several decades and it works well. It will also allow you to password the PDF doc so others can't alter your changes or you can convert the PDF doc into an image. Probably about as many tools as you will be able to get for free, they also have a paid for version that offers even more features. Can you be a little more specific on the name of it? Several different types or Viewers come up in a search Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builtright3 Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 4 minutes ago, rwdozier said: Check out Bluebeam Revu (https://www.bluebeam.com/) Very afordable. 2 minutes ago, SNestor said: Bluebeam if you are on a PC. Incredible program...I wish there was a MAC version. Checking it out now. Thank You Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKitchenAbode Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 1 minute ago, builtright3 said: Can you be a little more specific on the name of it? Several different types or Viewers come up in a search Here's a link to it. You can also check out other available programs in the SnapFiles site. They have a section for free and paid for software. This site is good and have used it for many years, the only thing to watch for is that some freeware will want to install some other software. SnapFiles usually notes this in the description so you can make sure to uncheck the option when installing. https://www.snapfiles.com/get/pdfxchangeviewer.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builtright3 Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 12 minutes ago, rwdozier said: Check out Bluebeam Revu (https://www.bluebeam.com/) Very afordable. Bob, Can you give me an Idea for cost of this program? Looks like I have to subscribe to find out. I just need to know if this is something that is affordable first and I'm not over buying. It looks like it is a very powerful program. Thank You Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNestor Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 @builtright3 - looks like you can purchase for 349.00. Well worth the price. I clicked on "store" and it took me to this page... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builtright3 Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 3 minutes ago, TheKitchenAbode said: Here's a link to it. You can also check out other available programs in the SnapFiles site. They have a section for free and paid for software. This site is good and have used it for many years, the only thing to watch for is that some freeware will want to install some other software. SnapFiles usually notes this in the description so you can make sure to uncheck the option when installing. https://www.snapfiles.com/get/pdfxchangeviewer.html Thank you! This and the other program so far recommended are great but are so far apart from each other for what they can do. I have my research cut out for me. I'm not even sure what I want or need until I research it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builtright3 Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 1 minute ago, SNestor said: @builtright3 - looks like you can purchase for 349.00. Well worth the price. I clicked on "store" and it took me to this page... Thank you, I didn't see that. That's a little costly but might be worth it. I will try the free trial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNestor Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 @builtright3 - Bluebeam has a YouTube page...you should watch some of the videos. Bluebeam is a tool designed for construction and PDF's. I used it for 2 years without any training...and was amazed at what it could do. And...I never scratched the surface. Here is a link to their Youtube page: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwdozier Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Revu Standard has met my needs for several years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkMc Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Been using Bluebeam PDF Revu standard for 10 years. Upgraded twice may again. The included Studio cloud is handy. Closest alternative is PDF Exchange, cheaper but missing some tools. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DzinEye Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 @builtright3 Haven't tried Bluebeam, but it sounds good. Like Graham, I've used PDF Xchange Pro for many many years and never felt it lacking.https://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-pro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builtright3 Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 53 minutes ago, DzinEye said: @builtright3 Haven't tried Bluebeam, but it sounds good. Like Graham, I've used PDF Xchange Pro for many many years and never felt it lacking.https://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-pro Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNestor Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 @builtright3 - I'll just say this about Bluebeam. It isn't just a PDF annotation/markup software...it has been designed for construction use. It has tools you will relate to and know how to use. See if you can get a trial version...give it a shot. It's an amazing piece of software. That said, If all you need is a markup program to add some text notes, arrows and some other simple text to a PDF...then yes, something less expensive would be a smart move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builtright3 Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 33 minutes ago, SNestor said: @builtright3 - I'll just say this about Bluebeam. It isn't just a PDF annotation/markup software...it has been designed for construction use. It has tools you will relate to and know how to use. See if you can get a trial version...give it a shot. It's an amazing piece of software. That said, If all you need is a markup program to add some text notes, arrows and some other simple text to a PDF...then yes, something less expensive would be a smart move. I'm going to download it later tonight and take it for a trial run. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneDavis Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 I just recently installed the free app Greenshot, after having a problem with Techsmith's Jing which I had been using for years. No .pdfs though. This is an image in .png format. I am just getting into it, but text must be in boxes to be added, which I was used to from Jing. I like the obfuscate tool, which I used here to show you. Also attached is a .png of a .pdf layout page I did using Greenshot .png clips taken from a Sketchup file, to convey truss envelopes to the truss engineer for a job being started now. They imported into Chief nicely and resized just as I wanted them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kMoquin Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 I use DC. For more robust editing I use a vector graphics program called Inkscape. It's drawback is importing one page at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgardner Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 On 7/20/2020 at 8:26 AM, rwdozier said: Check out Bluebeam Revu (https://www.bluebeam.com/) Very afordable. I definitely recommend bluebeam revu. Very capable and has lots of great tools specific to commercial and residential architecture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgardner Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 On 7/20/2020 at 8:28 AM, SNestor said: Bluebeam if you are on a PC. Incredible program...I wish there was a MAC version. There is an older mac version which is still supported until the end of the year. They will make you sign an end of life acknowledgment agreement and I think they dropped the price to $149 if I remember right. It actually works identically to the PC version and the main developer told me there plan was to unofficially support it until there web version comes out which at that time their plan is to drop the desktop versions for all platforms. Well worth it to me. Especially if you do some construction estimating/take-off work like I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HumbleChief Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 Been using Foxit for a very long time. Have no idea how it compares to BlueBeam, which I don't consider 'reasonably priced', but it has served me for years for my perhaps simple PDF needs. https://www.foxitsoftware.com/shopping/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNestor Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 15 hours ago, HumbleChief said: Been using Foxit for a very long time. Have no idea how it compares to BlueBeam, which I don't consider 'reasonably priced', but it has served me for years for my perhaps simple PDF needs. https://www.foxitsoftware.com/shopping/ Reasonable depends. A simple PDF markup software cannot compare to the abilities in Bluebeam. And - BB has tools directly related to construction built into the program. I would agree that for most of us it might be overkill...but if you can afford it - it’s a great program. When I was using it I was working for a large production home builder where efficiency outweighed the expense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HumbleChief Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 9 minutes ago, SNestor said: Reasonable depends. A simple PDF markup software cannot compare to the abilities in Bluebeam. And - BB has tools directly related to construction built into the program. I would agree that for most of us it might be overkill...but if you can afford it - it’s a great program. When I was using it I was working for a large production home builder where efficiency outweighed the expense. Of course, if I worked for a large production home builder it might make sense but for my usage 'overkill' and I would not suggest what might be good for an individual user. It's also been a very long time since I shopped for PDF software and again would not suggest that Foxit will work for anyone else, or even that it's good in any objective manner, just another option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now