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ClaroPDF

ClaroPDF is an accessible, reading and study PDF tool for all. Annotate, mark up and save PDF files which are then still fully compatible with Adobe Reader and other popular PDF apps. Have accessible text PDF files read back to you with a human quality voice & synchronised highlighting.

Help Page / Manual:  https://www.clarosoftware.com/help/claropdf/

Needs and Challenges Addressed:

  • Confidence
  • Spelling and mechanics
  • Organization of thoughts and concepts
  • Grammar
  • Focus and concentration

AGES

4-8, 9-12, 13-17, 18+

TOOL TYPE

Software

COMPATIBILITY

Android, Chromebook, iPhone/iPod/iPad, Mac, Windows

PRICE

$1-20

Speech, Productivity and Accessibility:


Alongside the full range of iOS system voices, ClaroPDF Pro lets you download up to 4 high-quality voices of your choosing, in the languages of your choice. A ‘Speak in Background’ option lets you listen to a PDF while viewing another app – great for proofreading accessible text PDF files while you’re working in other apps. The ‘Speak on tap’ (either from the tapped sentence or the page’s first sentence) and ‘Stop on tap’ options make speech easy to control. Over 40 additional high quality voices are available in 27 different languages through low cost In-App purchase, so you can easily customise ClaroPDF’s voice. The voices are all built into the app, so an Internet connection is not needed to speak text.


ClaroPDF allows the background colour of the PDF to be changed, to enhance readability. ClaroPDF fully supports VoiceOver. Image PDF files cannot be spoken by ClaroPDF voices, but can be fully viewed and annotated with ClaroPDF.


Annotations, Notes and Comments:


ClaroPDF includes a powerful Annotation toolbar that lets you add notes and other comments. These are fully interchangeable with Adobe Reader and most other popular PDF apps, so your ClaroPDF comments will still be there if you open the PDF on another device. Annotations created in another PDF app can also be viewed and edited.


Annotation features include: highlight; underscore; strikeout; notes; free text (type straight into the PDF); free line draw (with many colours, opacity and thickness control); shapes (circle, square, line – with many colours, opacity and thickness control); images (you can even insert photos from your iPad camera or photo library into the PDF file).


Photo to PDF:


You can convert photos and other images to fully accessible text PDF files that can be spoken, searched, copied and highlighted. 5000 pages can be converted using the 5000 included credits. Further credit can be purchased in app. Find out more about this feature in our Exploring Photo to PDF article.


Convert to Text PDF:


As well as converting photos, you can also convert any PDF file in ClaroPDF into a fully accessible Text PDF file. Along with making these PDF files speakable, it will also compress them, reducing file size.


Smart Zoom:


On double-tap, ClaroPDF will identify the tapped text block and perform an intelligent zoom on it, just like in Safari. This reduces how much you have to adjust the zoom manually.


Full-Text Search & Navigation:


Search will highlight all found results in your document and let you jump to each one in turn. ClaroPDF shows each page of a multi-page PDF document as a thumbnail, allowing for faster scrolling of long documents. The thumbnails automatically hide when not needed.


Managing PDF Files:


PDF files can be opened in ClaroPDF from all other apps, including Mail and Safari. All opened PDF files will be placed in the ClaroPDF Documents List for later viewing. You can also open files from Dropbox, Google Drive, or import files via iTunes. PDF files can be saved into ClaroPDF’s Documents, Dropbox or Google Drive, sent by email, or opened in other apps that support PDF files. The ClaroPDF Documents List is fully customisable, allowing you to organise your PDF files and folders.


Sync with iCloud:


You can sync ClaroPDF with your iCloud account. This lets you store and synchronise your PDF files and annotations across multiple devices. Sync with iCloud can also act as a document backup so you can keep your documents safe.


Save as PDF app extension:


Save as PDF lets you convert text, images and webpages to PDF files from Safari and almost any other app that handles text, images or webpages. When converted, these new PDF files will appear in your documents list inside ClaroPDF.


Included Text to Speech Voices:


You can download any four of our high quality text to speech voices when you install ClaroPDF. CereProc Heather is also available in-app for free. Once you have downloaded your included voices, other Nuance Expressive and Acapela voices are available to purchase in-app. See our voices page for a full list and samples of voices available to download and purchase.


Switch Accessibility:


ClaroPDF responds to switch or Bluetooth keyboard commands:

1 (~1) Start speech

2 (~2) Stop speech

3 (~3) Turn to previous page

4 (~4) Turn to next page


Full screen mode:


Allows the full document to be seen without toolbars in view. Ideal for smaller screens!


Store Links:

iOS - https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/id633997623

Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.clarosoftware.claropdf (Free)