How to create an interactive PDF.

What you’ll learn.

• What is an interactive PDF?

• How to make an interactive PDF with Adobe Acrobat.

• What are the benefits of interactive PDFs?

• When to use or create an interactive PDF?

• Top tips for making your own interactive PDFs.

What is an interactive PDF?

Interactive PDFs are digital documents with interactive elements that users can engage with by clicking, watching, or listening. These additions can be helpful for learning or for expressing data or information in a visually compelling way. Whether you’re sharing a document with colleagues or a worksheet with students, interactive elements are a helpful way to share data and boost engagement.

Here are some example components that interactive PDFs may include:

1. Links. An interactive PDF could include hyperlinks, which direct users to a website, video, or social media channel when clicked.
2. Buttons. Interactive PDFs can have buttons that perform certain actions, such as opening a piece of multimedia content, taking you to a website, or taking you to a specific page.
3. Videos. Including video content in your interactive PDF can be a helpful visual learning aid, and offer users information about your brand, product, or service.
4. GIFs. You can add GIFs to a PDF for a light-hearted touch in what could be a heavy document. It’s a great way to engage your readers and break things up. They can also be helpful to include as a form of animated infographic.
5. Fillable forms. Interactive PDFs can include forms when you need a user to provide details, answer questions, or sign the document.

Interactive PDFs come in many varieties, each with their own benefits. So, how do you use them in your own documents?

How to make an interactive PDF with Adobe Acrobat.

Creating an interactive PDF with Adobe Acrobat couldn’t be simpler. Go from plain document to interactive PDF in just six steps:

1. Open a PDF editor – we’ll be using Adobe Acrobat.
2. Open your existing PDF if you’re editing it or create a new one.
3. Add the interactive element you want. Here’s how:
   • Links: Navigate to Edit PDF > Link > Add/Edit Web or Document Link.
   • Buttons: Follow the process above, then click the Menu button.
   • Videos or GIFs: Select Tools > Rich Media > Add Video > Insert Video, then choose to insert your video or  GIF file.
   • Fillable fields: Select Tools > Prepare Form. This can be convenient for things such as signatures.
   • Checkboxes: Click on Prepare Form and then choose Checkbox.
4. Look at the final PDF by clicking on Tools > Print Production > Output Preview, and don’t forget to check each interactive feature is functioning as intended.
5. Once you’re done editing, it’s time to export your PDF. Navigate to File > Export, and then select PDF Format.
6. Once you’re done, it’s time to save or share your file.

What are the benefits of interactive PDFs?

Interactive PDFs offer a range of benefits (and they’re just a lot of fun).

• Increase user engagement. Thanks to clickable elements and multimedia, interactive PDFs can catch a user’s attention and encourage them to engage with your documents.

• Enhance learning. You can design fun and engaging learning experiences with built-in links, videos, or interactable graphics. Add context, provide examples, and help people of different learning styles better engage with your content.

• Increase visual appeal. Interactive and creative design elements can give life to your PDF, creating a more visually compelling document for readers to play with.

When to use or create an interactive PDF?

Interactive PDFs have a range of use cases. Here are some ideas:

• E-learning. Interactive PDFs are a great e-learning companion. Use them as digital workbooks that contain lecture videos or interactive multimedia to engage students and help them learn.

• Sales and marketing. Encourage readers to learn about your products by including interactive elements in your marketing documents. This can be a great way to get across information incrementally, without bogging your document down. Add in some links to your website or product tutorials, and away you go.

• Business documents. Breathe some life into those stuffy business documents by adding interactive elements such as pop-out graphics for datasets, links to surveys, or testimonial videos.

• Showcase your work. Got a portfolio you want to show off? Whether you’re a student or a career creative, interactive PDFs are a great option. Add links to online galleries, add videos of your processes, and wow your audience with a uniquely interactive document.

Top tips for making your own interactive PDFs.

Making your own interactive PDFs is about more than just adding videos and buttons; there’s a bit of nuance if you want to get the most out of them.

Here are our top tips when making your own interactive PDFs:

• Moderation. Don’t overwhelm the content (or your audience) with too many interactive elements. This could distract from the intention of your document or make the file difficult to navigate.

• Compatibility. Before you embed any video files, make sure you convert them to a compatible format. You don’t want to find that a video doesn’t load when it’s needed.

• Plan. Consider your goals and an appropriate layout before adding interactive elements to your PDF. This should help you to focus your interactive elements and ensure they have a better payoff.

• Test. Before sending your interactive PDF, test all interactive features – ideally on multiple devices and various PDF viewers. This will ensure the PDF is functioning correctly in all scenarios.

• Optimise. If file size is a concern for you, due to a lot of embedded media, you could link to an online-hosted video file instead. This could reduce the total size of your document.

FAQs.

How do you export an interactive PDF?

It’s easy to export an interactive PDF in most design software.

Once your document is ready, look for the Export option, usually in the File menu. For Adobe PDFs, ensure you export your file as Adobe PDF (Interactive) in the Save As or Format dropdown. Ensure all the features you want are checked in the dialogue box, and away you go.

If it doesn’t look right, you can always double-check the compression, image quality, and resolution to ensure they’re optimal for digital viewing.

What is the best interactive PDF software?

The best interactive PDF software depends on your needs, but Adobe Acrobat Pro is the industry standard – which you’d expect from the people who created the PDF format. If you want a comprehensive list of interactive features, then Adobe Acrobat could be ideal for you.

Is there an alternative to an interactive PDF?

Yes, although each comes with its own pros and cons, and may not be as widely used as a PDF.

Options include digital flipbooks, HTML5 web pages, and dedicated publishing platforms.

You could consider dedicated presentation software too. Anything that allows you to add hyperlinks, animations, videos, and so on could work as a viable alternative.

Can you create an interactive PDF for free?

Yes, you can create an interactive PDF for free using tools like Adobe Acrobat, although some features may be limited. Try a free trial today. Alternatively, other online tools may exist, which could then be converted into the PDF format.

Can you add a video to a PDF to make it interactive?

Yes, you can either add a button to link to a third-party video or embed the video into your PDF. In Adobe Acrobat, go to Tools > Rich Media > Add Video > Insert Video.

Just like that, you’ve got awesome video content that can be played digitally, right from your PDF.

More useful resources.

Creating interactive PDFs is one thing that Adobe can do for you. Check out more useful resources and level up your PDF game.

• How to Flatten a PDF.

• Convert PDFs to Google Docs.

• How to Make a PDF Editable.

• How to Translate a PDF.