On the Internet we can find all kinds of PDF readers, both from known and unknown companies. Some options are simpler, and others have several tools that we will not need repeatedly. If we are only going to require a simple, light and minimalist application, this option that we are going to see next can be very interesting.
Features of Slim PDF Reader
We’re talking about a PDF reader that stands out above all for its great lightnesssince it is able to occupy up to six times less than other competing options, since the weight of its installation file is only 15 MB. This means that it assumes that it occupies one tenth of what Adobe Reader needs to work.
It has a user interface that supports both light and dark themes and an experience of simplified display. Add to that a full range of advanced and customizable annotation tools. And it is that beyond opening and viewing PDF documents, this program allows you to add comments and annotations, fill in interactive forms and validate digital signatures.
With Slim PDF Reader we have the possibility of being able to open several documents simultaneously and keep them visible in different windows. It also has the ability to capture and extract content, rotate pages, view two pages at once, and zoom in or out. Moreover, we can easily locate the text we need using its integrated search function.
Free download and installation
Slim PDF Reader is an application that we are going to be able to download free from the developer’s website. He is cross-platform, which guarantees full compatibility with any desktop operating system such as Windows, Linux or macOS. Its InstallSlimPDFReader.exe installation file is only 15 MB, it is 100% safe and free from Bloatware. Once installed, it will occupy a total of 47 MB on our hard drive. The installation is done simply and very quickly thanks to its wizard and in just a few clicks.
How to use Slim PDF Reader
Once we launch the app, its main menu appears with a minimalist interface, with dark mode enabled by default. This is entirely in English and there is no possibility of being able to convert it into Spanish, which can be a small handicap for users who do not want to waste time trying to translate its various sections.
In the the top part we find its toolbar entirely composed of buttons, from which to add files, select text, copy it, print it or take a screenshot. In the lower part It also has another small bar from which you can perform common actions while viewing a PDF, such as changing the page, rotating it or zooming it. We also find a search bar from which we can find any part of the text that we need to find.
To be able to add any document, we just have to drag and drop it directly on its interface or use the Open button located at the top left of the screen, which will allow us to select the file in a window in which the file explorer appears. . We’ll be able to add as many documents as needed and each will be added in another tab within its interface, you can therefore switch from one to the other quickly.
Preview and annotations
Once added, we can check how its content is placed in the center of the interface. To the rightshows us a column with a Overview of its various pages accessible with a single click. Whereas on the right side another column is enabled for your section Remarks (Annotations) where we find various options.
For example, we find the function Add a post it, which allows us to add a collage with a comment. This sticker can be personalized with its icon so that it has a symbol for properties, comments, help, note, etc. In this way, it helps us to know the type of content that we can find. We can change this from the section Properties (Properties). Just below we can add the comment we want to add to this sticker and move the icon to any part of the document where we want to insert it.
Add hyperlinks and stamp
We also have the possibility of insert hyperlink, by tapping the clip-shaped button (Add Link). The next button allows us add stamp (Add stamp) to our PDF, either as confidential or as departmental, enter other options that we can find in the drop-down menu that appears on the screen.
Another option we find is to highlight a section of the document (highlights) so that we can add additional information. Likewise, we have other common sections such as underline, attach file, strikethrough, and add caret.
Insert watermark
Finally, another important section is the possibility of insert watermark (Watermark). By clicking on this button, a new window appears for its configuration. Here we will be able to insert a logo to the mark and add a text on which to configure its font, size and color. We will also be able to configure its appearance such as opacity and rotation angle. Likewise, we can indicate if we want it to occupy the whole page or just a percentage of it. On the left side we will see a preview of the final result, so at all times we will see the changes we are making instantly.
Conclusions and alternatives
As we can see, Slim PDF Reader is an interesting option if we are looking for a simple, minimalist and free PDF document reader that takes up little space on our hard drive.
Despite the fact that its interface is in English, it is easy to use since the icons of its various buttons and options are quite graphic, although they cannot be arranged. Although it occupies very little space on the hard disk, the truth is that when loading heavy documents and containing many images and graphics, the program uses quite a high memory.
In addition, it has fewer functions than other similar programs, so it will also depend on whether we are really going to need it.
In case it does not meet our expectations, know that we can find other free programs on the Internet that we can use as alternatives and it can be very interesting for us to know them.
- Foxit Reader: elegant, free and stands out for the possibility of customizing its user interface.
- PDF-XChange Viewer – viewer with free PDF editing functions. Moreover, it has a portable version.
- Nitro Reader Free: in addition to viewing PDF documents, it has its own converter and allows documents to be signed or shared with other users.
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