This category covers PDF editors, optical character recognition (OCR) tools, graphic design and photo editing software, diagramming applications and a small number of music production titles. It suits office teams, designers and anyone who needs to create, convert or edit documents. Leading brands in our range include Kofax, Adobe, Microsoft, Corel and ABBYY.
How to choose design, PDF and creative software
Task first. PDF editing, scanned-document conversion, vector illustration, photo retouching and diagramming are handled by different programmes. A PDF editor will not replace a layout or illustration tool, so write down the three or four jobs you do most often before comparing products.
Licence type and number of users. Software is generally sold either as a subscription that runs for a set period or as a perpetual licence bought once. Business packs often cover several users, so check how many seats a licence includes and whether it can be moved to a new computer.
Operating system and hardware. Check that the version supports your Windows or macOS release. Photo and illustration programmes also benefit from plenty of RAM and a capable graphics card, while a PDF editor or an OCR tool runs comfortably on an ordinary office PC.
New licence or upgrade. An upgrade licence usually requires a qualifying earlier version, whereas a full licence does not. Confirm which one the product page describes, particularly if you are moving to a newer release of a programme you already own.
Brands in our range
- Kofax: known for Power PDF and OmniPage, which are used for creating, editing and converting PDF files and scanned documents in offices. This brand accounts for the largest share of our range.
- Adobe: the developer of Acrobat, Photoshop and Illustrator, which are widely used for PDF work, photo editing and vector graphics.
- Microsoft: best known for Windows and Office, and in this category for business tools such as Visio, used to draw flowcharts and technical diagrams.
- Corel: the company behind CorelDRAW for vector illustration and layout, and PaintShop Pro for photo editing.
- ABBYY: specialises in OCR, and its FineReader software turns scanned pages and image-based PDFs into searchable, editable text.
- Image-Line: makes FL Studio, a digital audio workstation for composing and producing music.
Kofax products are also listed under the INDY name in our range.
Frequently asked questions
Which software can edit PDF files?
Dedicated PDF editors such as Adobe Acrobat and Kofax Power PDF let you change text, reorder pages, add signatures and merge documents. Free viewers usually only open and print files. If you work with PDFs daily, a full editor saves a good deal of time.
What does OCR software do?
OCR software reads the text in a scan or photo and converts it into editable, searchable text. It is useful for digitising paper records, contracts and invoices. Programmes such as ABBYY FineReader and OmniPage are built for this purpose.
Is a subscription or a perpetual licence better?
It depends on how long you will use the software and how often you want new features. A perpetual licence is bought once and suits stable, long-term use, while a subscription includes updates for as long as it is active. Compare the total cost over the period you expect to use the programme.
Will the software run on my computer?
Check the supported operating system, the amount of RAM and the free storage space listed for the version you are buying. Photo and illustration tools need more resources than PDF or OCR software. If your computer is older, choose a version that lists your system as supported.
