PDF-XChange Printer Standard: Complete Setup & Quick GuidePDF-XChange Printer Standard is a virtual printer driver that lets you create high-quality PDF files from any Windows application that can print. It’s part of the broader PDF-XChange family from Tracker Software and focuses on a streamlined, reliable way to produce searchable, compact PDFs with configurable output settings. This guide walks you through installation, setup, common workflows, output optimization, security features, and troubleshooting tips so you can get the most from the product.
What is PDF-XChange Printer Standard?
PDF-XChange Printer Standard acts like a printer on your system. When you choose it from an application’s Print dialog, instead of sending pages to a physical printer, it generates a PDF file. The driver supports a wide range of input content (text, images, vector graphics) and offers control over image compression, fonts, color handling, metadata, and PDF version compatibility.
Key benefits
- Converts from any printable application (Word processors, browsers, CAD viewers, etc.).
- Produces smaller files through configurable compression.
- Supports searchable PDFs when combined with OCR features in the broader PDF-XChange suite.
- Offers secure output with password protection and permissions (depending on edition).
- Integrates into automated workflows via command-line options and printer settings.
System requirements and compatibility
Before installing, verify system compatibility:
- Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 (both 32-bit and 64-bit) — check the vendor page for the latest supported builds.
- Minimum disk space: small footprint for the printer driver itself but allow space for temporary files and final PDFs.
- Administrative privileges are usually required to install printer drivers.
Note: PDF-XChange also offers separate products (Editor, Lite, Standard, Pro features). Make sure you select the edition that includes the Printer Standard component.
Installation: step-by-step
- Download
- Obtain the installer from Tracker Software’s official site or authorized distributor. Avoid third-party sources to ensure authenticity.
- Run installer
- Right-click and choose “Run as administrator” if UAC prompts appear.
- Choose components
- During setup, select the PDF-XChange Printer Standard component. Other components (Editor, SDKs) are optional.
- Configure default options (optional)
- The installer may present basic options like setting the driver as default or creating desktop shortcuts.
- Finish and reboot (if prompted)
- Windows may request a restart to complete driver installation.
After installation, the virtual printer will appear in Control Panel > Devices and Printers (or Settings > Printers & Scanners).
Basic workflow: create a PDF in three clicks
- From any application, choose File > Print.
- Select “PDF-XChange Printer Standard” from the list of printers.
- Click Print (or OK), then choose a filename and destination for the PDF when prompted.
The driver will render the printed pages as a PDF file using the configured settings.
Printer preferences and essential settings
Open Devices and Printers, right-click the PDF-XChange Printer Standard icon, and choose Printing Preferences. Key settings to review:
- Output folder & file naming: set a default folder and whether to prompt for filename.
- PDF compatibility/version: choose a PDF version (e.g., PDF 1.4, 1.5) for compatibility with older viewers.
- Compression and image settings: balance file size and quality by adjusting JPEG compression and downsampling.
- Font embedding: choose whether to embed fonts (recommended for preserving layout) or subset fonts to reduce size.
- Color handling: options for RGB vs CMYK output, useful for print workflows.
- Security settings: set default encryption or permissions if available in your edition.
- Watermark/header-footer: apply default watermarks or page numbering at print-time if supported.
Save presets for different workflows (web distribution, archival, print press).
Advanced options
- Post-processing scripts: if you need automated file renaming, moving, or further processing, combine the printer output with a small script or a file-watching tool that acts on newly created PDFs.
- Command-line/silent printing: some deployments require silent or automated PDF creation from server tasks or batch jobs. Check the product documentation for command-line parameters or SDK hooks.
- Printer pooling and network deployment: deploy the driver across multiple machines with group policy or software distribution tools in enterprise environments.
Creating searchable PDFs (OCR)
By itself, the Printer Standard creates image-based or text-based PDFs depending on the source application. If you need to convert scanned or image-only pages into searchable text, add an OCR step using PDF-XChange Editor (or another OCR tool). Typical workflow:
- Print or scan to PDF using PDF-XChange Printer Standard.
- Open the PDF in PDF-XChange Editor.
- Run OCR, select language and output options (searchable image vs. text-only).
- Save the OCR’d PDF — it’s now searchable and text-selectable.
Security and permissions
Depending on the edition and installed components, PDF-XChange Printer Standard can produce PDFs with security settings:
- Password-protect opening the document (user password).
- Set permissions to restrict printing, copying, or editing (owner password).
- Use encryption strength appropriate for your needs (128-bit/256-bit where supported).
Always test the protected PDF with target viewers to ensure compatibility and that your chosen permissions behave as expected.
Optimizing file size and quality
Tips for smaller PDFs:
- Downsample images to screen resolution (e.g., 150–200 DPI) for distribution-only files; keep higher DPI for print.
- Use JPEG compression for photographs, ZIP/Flate for line-art if supported.
- Subset fonts rather than embedding entire font sets.
- Remove embedded thumbnails and unnecessary metadata.
- Flatten transparencies where appropriate for legacy compatibility and reduced complexity.
For archival or print-ready output, prioritize preserving full resolution and embedding fonts.
Troubleshooting common issues
- Printer not listed: reinstall the driver as administrator; check Windows Print Spooler service is running.
- Output PDF blank or missing images: verify the source application can print correctly and check for driver conflicts; try printing to a different virtual PDF printer to isolate the issue.
- Large file sizes: adjust image compression/downsampling and font embedding settings.
- Permissions not applied: ensure you’re saving with the security options enabled and test with multiple PDF viewers.
- Slow printing: check for complex transparency or very high-resolution images; increase available temp disk space.
If problems persist, consult the official Tracker Software support pages or user forums for updates, patches, and version-specific fixes.
Comparison with alternatives
| Feature | PDF-XChange Printer Standard | Built-in Windows Print to PDF | Other PDF virtual printers (e.g., CutePDF, Bullzip) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Output control (compression, fonts) | High | Limited | Varies (some free with fewer options) |
| Security/permissions | Available in product family | Basic (no permissions) | Varies; some paid options |
| OCR integration | Works with PDF-XChange Editor | No | Depends on product |
| Price | Commercial with trial | Free | Freemium/paid options |
Best practices and tips
- Create multiple printer profiles for specific tasks (web vs print).
- Embed fonts for documents intended for distribution to unknown viewers.
- Use OCR for scanned archives to make content searchable.
- Test security settings across common PDF readers used by your recipients.
- Keep drivers and applications updated to benefit from bug fixes and compatibility improvements.
Where to find documentation and support
Refer to Tracker Software’s official documentation for the latest installation guides, release notes, and admin deployment instructions. Support forums and knowledge-base articles are useful for version-specific troubleshooting and advanced configuration examples.
Closing notes
PDF-XChange Printer Standard is a flexible, configurable virtual printer that fits both casual users who need a reliable way to make PDFs and power users who require detailed control over PDF output. Pair it with the PDF-XChange Editor for OCR and deeper file editing to cover most PDF workflows without leaving the Tracker Software ecosystem.
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