Interactive PDF Examples

Most people associate PDF documents with text and graphics, but it’s important to realize that these files are simply electronic data stored on our computers. This means that an electronic PDF document no longer consists just of text and graphics. Thanks to the development of smart technology and multimedia, our documents can be interactive, containing multimedia content like sounds, videos, GIF animations and other interactive elements.

Unfortunately, the problem with interactive PDFs is that they don’t always work and they might not look nice on modern computers and devices. Multimedia PDFs were quite popular in the 00s, but they had a key flaw: they relied heavily on Adobe Flash technology.

Many interactive PDFs included rich media elements like video, music, and sound in Flash SWF format. However, the introduction of smartphones and tablets, almost none of which supported Flash, and many of new PDF readers, meant that interactive PDFs had to work in a new way.

And this new way is flipbook maker that lets you create interactive pdfs which look great on any device, have interactive content incorporated in them, and have all the interactive elements you would require, like the example below:

MAKE YOUR OWN

Read on to learn what is an interactive document, how to create an interactive pdf, or how to transform an Adobe Acrobat PDF file into a beautiful interactive PDF with Publuu.

What does PDF stand for?

What is an interactive PDF?

An interactive PDF is a digital document that allows users to interact with its elements. It can include interactive elements such as hyperlinks, forms, buttons or videos, and photo galleries. It provides an easier way for readers to navigate through the document and access the information they need quickly.

Additionally, interactive PDFs can be used for creating digital documents that are more engaging and visually appealing than standard PDFs that were only allowed to contain hyperlinks and plain photos. With interactive PDFs, you can create documents that are more user-friendly and engaging than ever before.

What does an interactive PDF look like?

PDF files, or portable document format, contain fonts and images within them. This means that they should look the same on any computer, whether it has these fonts or images on its hard drive. Usually, it’s easy to convert a document into a PDF version, but to edit a PDF file once it’s created, you often might need specialized software, like Adobe InDesign.

An interactive PDF file is a PDF document that contains a variety of multimedia content, such as hyperlinks, audio and video files, animated GIF files, clickable buttons, and fillable forms. Often, these interactive elements need to be hosted online so it is necessary to create a URL link to your PDF file. Once you create one, you can easily share your interactive PDF via a link, which is way more convenient nowadays since you can’t share the traditional PDF file on every platform, or the file itself may not be responsive on every device.

An interactive PDF combines the PDF format’s reliability and security with the interaction provided by other computer files. Publuu online flipbook software lets you create a beautiful PDF that’s responsive and has many useful multimedia features.

A good example of an interactive pdf is a fillable tax form: you enter the data into the document and the PDF – interactive thanks to various scripts – calculates the tax for you.

PDFs can also contain other interactive content: for instance, embedded videos and image galleries. A comic book published as an interactive document can have links to character profiles, animated video panels, or music to put the reader in the right mood.

The easiest way to create interactive PDF

Click on the graphic below to see it working

Interactive PDF Examples

There are many ways to make a PDF interactive – we have prepared a short list of an example interactive PDFs that have fantastic multimedia features thanks to Publuu. Our advanced flipbook maker software can help you create the PDF booklet of your dreams.

Click on the graphic below to see it working

This promotional booklet example uses many features in a distinctive way. The use of GIFs is used to enhance the curves of the car model and give it an overall more vivid look. When interacting with the photo gallery hotspots, you can glance at the masterfully-crafted design of the car. By giving the booklet a more, clean and defined look, you can have your readers engage with its dynamic style of it and possibly have them excited to go on their test- drive.

Click on the graphic below to see it working

Portfolios are a specific form of presenting your craft. They are also a great way to showcase your already existing work. Depending on what are you a specialist in, the portfolio may vary. The interactive PDF example above of an architect’s portfolio showcase of work because of its minimal design. Important projects are displayed on each page, the aesthetic and pure, eye-pleasing design can be kept intact, whereas the more detailed images are included in the image gallery hotspots.

Click on the graphic below to see it working

Interactive PDF files have a great advantage when it comes to publications and documents that are large by volume. Instead of going through all the pages or searching for specific terms, you can now just click the topic you are looking for in the interactive table of contents. Besides the faster navigation throughout the interactive PDF, you can easily get in touch with the author just by interacting with their email address or any other data that could be included.

Click on the graphic below to see it working

Traditional cookbooks are still up and most likely will never be out of date. If you prefer more modern solutions of publicity and choose the option that will best fit your budget, you can create a stunning cookbook of yours in a form of an interactive PDF! The example of one above gathers a modern cuisine with a modern way of sharing your art. You can effortlessly add short stories about the origins of your restaurant and display hotspots with images of your dishes or even recipes in a form of short videos.

Interactive PDF Ideas

Add links to your interactive pdf

Your interactive PDF can include links to document pages, external Web sites, e-mail addresses, or external files. Clicking on a link takes the reader to a location you specify – thanks to Publuu you can create an interactive table of contents, add a link to products in your catalog, or encourage users to visit your social media profile.

You can create hyperlinks in a program like Adobe InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, or Microsoft Publisher. However, Publuu lets you add links to regular PDFs once they are published online, and the whole process is greatly simplified. You can see a link in form of an animated hotspot (top left) in example below.

Buttons

Adobe InDesign and MS Publisher allow you to place buttons that perform specific actions. For example, you can create a button that opens a new tab or takes you to another page. In these programs, you can create shapes that, when clicked, allow you to perform the indicated actions.

Interactive PDF made with Publuu allows you to create hotspots anywhere, hidden as an image or text, like in example below

Videos in interactive PDF documents

When it comes to interactive PDF content, video is typically the preferred interactive medium.

Because of the Covid-19 epidemic, videos are among the most popular interactive content online – and it’s easy to use them in your marketing efforts. Product videos can emphasize your products or services, and instructional video resources such as manuals and instructions in PDF format can be uploaded to create the online user manual. You can integrate videos in Publuu flipbook maker as pop-ups or embed them directly into the text.

Online photo galleries

Thanks to interactive galleries, you will present more details on what your PDF has to offer. Easily present your products, crew, employees, your portfolio or include additional information. Publuu offers the functionality of embedding additional galleries in your interactive PDF.

When you click on a pop-up image in the PDF flipbook online, it expands to full size, presenting a collection of high-resolution images you uploaded. You can also embed

Lead capture form

Often an interactive PDF is an opportunity to contact your customers. If you want to get customers their contact information, it’s often best to ask for it. You can add a lead capture form to Publuu flipbooks to solicit personal information from potential customers.

For example, you can place the form on the fifth page of an interesting ebook, so that the payment for access to the remaining 11 pages is to leave contact information. Or you can put this form at the end to ask for data if the topic interests the reader and they want more information. Interactive customer forms are an interesting solution that can be used in many ways.

Why PDFs need an update?

Do interactive PDFs work on mobile devices?

Digital publishing poses one of the most difficult challenges since you have less control over how your publication will look once it reaches your readers. In contrast to print, where you know your magazine will appear the same to everyone, the design and behavior of your interactive content may vary depending on the reader’s device or pdf reader.

Mobile devices don’t work with Adobe Flash which for a long time was used to embed interactive content in PDF. Mobile versions of PDF reading apps, like Adobe Reader might not include all the interactive features you want to include, and might not display videos.

That’s why if you want to make your PDF interactive, Publuu is the best choice for online publishing. With our online flipbook maker, you can convert your document into a beautiful HTML 5 document that can be opened in the internet browser of any mobile smart device. Then you can add interactive elements to the flipbook you publish online.

What does not work in PDF?

Summary

An interactive pdf can cause technical problems, especially after the depreciation of Flash; while you can still add links and buttons to your files in Adobe InDesign, other elements might not display correctly. Instead of creating multimedia functions, you can provide your readers with an interactive flipbook that can be viewed on any device.

You might also be interested in:
PDF Video – A Short Guide on How to Make it
How to create a URL link for a PDF document
PDF Design – The Best Software to Create a Professional PDF

Jakub Haplicznik Copywriter View profile

SEO geek. Likes to be up to date with everything connected to Google. Fan of distorted guitars, video games, and cheesy movies.