Need freeware graphics program for simple layout and save as pdf

[Lehar V. Osvald]

I have some drawings that I've converted to Adobe Illustrator format.
Now I need to lay them out on a page and save them as a pdf file
(Acrobat) for printing at offsite printers. Does anyone know a
freeware program that will import the Illustrator files and save as
pdf, and will the resulting pdf file have the same quality as doing it
in Illustrator?

Alternatively, if the program is small I could print from the program,
so maybe it wouldn't need to be able to save as pdf. Thanks for
suggestions.

 

[Chief Suspect]

Yes ... of course. There exists several freeware PDF printer drivers,
including my favorite called CutePDF. This ingenious little driver is
installed on a computer and is used as a 'printer choice'. That is,
whenever
I have something depicted on-screen whether composed in a paint program,
a word-processor, a spread-sheet .. whatever; I am able to go to the
PRINT option (as any normal function would allow), but then choose
the CutePDF "printer", rather than my default Canon BJ6000. I would
then be presented with the option to give my 'saved' project a NAME.PDF,
which would be saved wherever I specified. This generated .PDF file
is recognized by all .PDF readers, including Acrobat, and depicted
correctly ... complete with font changes, colors, pictures, etc etc etc.
In this manner, one can send a 'complete slideshow' or an all-inclusive
..PDF file attached to email. I love it.
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[Lehar V. Osvald]

Thanks, Chief. I will try it. However, I'm still not sure how I'm
going to lay out my drawings on a page. Will Cute PDF work with Word
97? Word MIGHT be able to do a simple layout. But I don't think Word
97 can import Adobe Illustrator files! Anyone know a freeware page
layout or illustration program that can do this?