Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file type that encapsulates all features of the document (content, fonts, color information, etc.) within the file itself. This creates a file that is device and software independent allowing for the file to look the same when accessed on any machine. Also, PDF files require less memory than TIFF files without loss of quality. Adobe Systems provides a viewer for PDF files at no charge so you are able to access images on any terminal with the click of a button. ScanSmart, LLC has seen a general shift towards PDF imaging systems over the past.