PDF / FlashPaper Verses HTML

Why would you use FlashPaper or PDF?

A - Keep text from being re-edited
B - Keep multi-page document layout with images intact
C - Use to create and distribute forms

HTML has one problem when mixing images with text and when the HTML is more than one page, the layout is unpredictable. Depending on the browser setting and the operating system's screen ratio for each viewer, the screen and print layout will most certainly take a turn for the bad. However, the use of tables and creating a separate print version can minimize these problems.

All for the exception of being able to select text, FlashPaper and PDF is like a fax. There is no text resizing nor word or paragraph wraping. It is written in stone.

Why I do not like PDF or FlashPaper
I see little difference between the new PDF and FlashPaper now that Adobe own both technologies. In order to resize text, the text must be vector. The algorithm creates subtle halftones on these fonts called "anti-aliasing." Look close up and you will see pixels that are not black nor white, the are middle tones created to try to fill in where you see curves. The results is a blurry and thicker image or font. Fonts under 10 becomes even more blurry.

Anti-alias allows the object to stay relatively intact during a zoom at the expense of that same object not having clean edges. The non -clean edges is something the real world does not have. Therefore the eye and brain are always trying to resolve these differences. This phenomena may cause changes in the brain in how it perceives the real world.

By contrast, pixel fonts are clear - they have distinct clean edges. Flash allows the use of pixel fonts, however if pixel fonts are used, you will not be able to magnify or zoom. The is true for both PDF, PowerPoint, FlashPaper, Flash or for products which use pixels/anti-alias for font rendering.

The HTML advantage HTML is quite different, pixel fonts may resize and word wrapping adjust on-the-fly without the need of anti-aliasing. PDF, Flashpaper is similar to a fax - you may zoom in and out like using a magnifier but unfortunately, the line lengths do not adapt or re-wrap. So HTML is still more flexible with built in intelligence and allows the client to view the page in the zoom level and the font type most pleasing.

Summary Appended on: 3/7/2009

If PDF also allowed the option (like Flash does) to use pixel fonts in addition to anti-alias rendered fonts, then PDF would have a much cleaner look. If the PDF were able to auto wrap the pixel fonts then it would be the best of both worlds. You would have the smart word wrapping of HTML and would have the security of PDF. To keep imagery and text locked to one another, wrapping would be disabled.

Article by: Rick Blanc