IronPDF vs `GrapeCity` PDF: A .NET PDF Library Comparison

What PDF Manipulation Capabilities Are Available?

GrapeCityPDF creates PDFs for basic or complex business needs in .NET Standard apps. You can load, change, and save PDFs from any source. IronPDF offers complete PDF editing including merging/splitting PDFs, adding/removing pages, and rotating pages.

Can I Convert PDFs to Images?

GrapeCityPDF saves PDFs as images without quality loss using minimal code. IronPDF provides the rasterize PDF to images feature supporting PNG, JPEG, and TIFF formats.

Does GrapeCity Include a PDF Viewer Component?

GrapeCity Documents PDF Viewer is a lightweight client-side viewer supporting standard PDF features. For .NET MAUI developers, IronPDF offers PDF viewing in MAUI applications with navigation and search functionality.

What Types of Features Are Supported?

GrapeCityPDF creates complex PDFs with text, graphics, photos, annotations, and outlines. IronPDF extends these with digital signatures, form creation/filling, watermarking, and metadata management.

How Do I Install GrapeCity PDF?

Two installation methods exist. For containerized deployment, IronPDF offers Docker support and remote container operation for flexible generation:

1. Download the zipped source files.
2. Extract files to a directory.
3. Go to to that directory.
4. Execute run.cmd to build samples, start SupportApi service, and open http://localhost:3003.
5. See readme.MD for details.

How Do I Install the WinForms Edition?

Follow these steps for WinForms Edition installation:

• Download C1ControlPanel from GrapeCity's ComponentOne.
• Open ControlPanel with ComponentOneC1ControlPanel.exe (close Visual Studio).
• Log in with registered email/password.
• For new users:
  • Register and create account.
  • Verify email address.
  • Activate via verification link.
  • Proceed as anonymous user if preferred.
• Select Install in WinForms Edition tile. Install all editions via All Editions checkbox.

`GrapeCity`'s `ComponentOne` offers multiple edition options tailored to different development platforms and frameworks, each with the option to install sample projects

• Click Install to view License Agreement. Accept after review.
• Accept License Agreement to see Settings page. Verify directory path and begin installation.

`ComponentOne` installation configuration screen with privacy and data collection options

• Installer displays progress during control installation. Cannot cancel during this process.
• "Installation Success" screen appears when complete. Shows currently installed version.

The `WinForms` Edition installer interface displays a simple download progress bar and installation option for a suite of 65+ smart and effective UI controls designed for rapid Windows Forms development.

The `ComponentOne` installation interface displays a successful installation message for version 20183.1.338, featuring navigation tabs for Products, Activities, License, and Support

How Do I Create PDFs with GrapeCity?

The following code demonstrates basic GrapeCity PDF creation. For advanced features like HTML-to-PDF with JavaScript, responsive CSS, or custom headers/footers, IronPDF provides complete solutions:

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Text;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Common;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Drawing;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Pdf;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Pdf.Structure;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Pdf.MarkedContent;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Pdf.Graphics;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Pdf.Annotations;
using GCTEXT = GrapeCity.Documents.Text;
using GCDRAW = GrapeCity.Documents.Drawing;
namespace GcPdfWeb.Samples.Basics
{
    // This sample shows how to create a PDF/A-3u compliant document.
    public class PdfA
    {
        public void CreatePDF(Stream stream)
        {
            var doc = new GcPdfDocument();
            var date = new DateTime(1961, 4, 12, 6, 7, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);

            // Mark the document as PDF/A-3u conformant:
            doc.ConformanceLevel = PdfAConformanceLevel.PdfA3u;

            var fnt = GCTEXT.Font.FromFile(Path.Combine("Resources", "Fonts", "arial.ttf"));
            var gap = 36;

            // PDF/A-3a requires all content to be tagged so create and populate StructElement when rendering:
            StructElement sePart = new StructElement("Part");
            doc.StructTreeRoot.Children.Add(sePart);

            TextLayout tl = null;
            // Add 3 pages with sample content tagged according to PDF/A rules:
            for (int pageNo = 1; pageNo <= 3; ++pageNo)
            {
                // add page
                var page = doc.Pages.Add();
                var g = page.Graphics;
                float y = 72;
                if (doc.Pages.Count == 1)
                {
                    // Create paragraph element:
                    var seParagraph = new StructElement("P") { DefaultPage = page };
                    // Add it to Part element:
                    sePart.Children.Add(seParagraph);

                    tl = g.CreateTextLayout();
                    tl.MarginAll = 72;
                    tl.MaxWidth = page.Size.Width;

                    tl.DefaultFormat.Font = fnt;
                    tl.DefaultFormat.FontBold = true;
                    tl.DefaultFormat.FontSize = 20;
                    tl.Append("PDF/A-3A Document");

                    // PerformLayout is done automatically in a new TextLayout or after a Clear():
                    //tl.PerformLayout(true);

                    // Draw TextLayout within tagged content:
                    g.BeginMarkedContent(new TagMcid("P", 0));
                    g.DrawTextLayout(tl, PointF.Empty);
                    g.EndMarkedContent();

                    y = tl.ContentRectangle.Bottom + gap;

                    seParagraph.ContentItems.Add(new McidContentItemLink(0));
                }

                // Add some sample paragraphs tagged according to PDF/A rules:
                for (int i = 1; i <= 3; ++i)
                {
                    // Create paragraph element:
                    var seParagraph = new StructElement("P") { DefaultPage = page };
                    // Add it to Part element:
                    sePart.Children.Add(seParagraph);

                    var sb = new StringBuilder();
                    sb.Append(string.Format("Paragraph {0} on page {1}: ", i, pageNo));
                    sb.Append(Common.Util.LoremIpsum(1, 2, 4, 5, 10));
                    var para = sb.ToString();

                    tl.Clear();
                    tl.DefaultFormat.FontSize = 14;
                    tl.DefaultFormat.FontBold = false;
                    tl.MarginTop = y;
                    tl.Append(para);

                    // Draw TextLayout within tagged content:
                    g.BeginMarkedContent(new TagMcid("P", i));
                    g.DrawTextLayout(tl, PointF.Empty);
                    g.EndMarkedContent();

                    y += tl.ContentHeight + gap;

                    // Add content item to paragraph StructElement:
                    seParagraph.ContentItems.Add(new McidContentItemLink(i));

                    // PDF/A-3 allows embedding files into document, but they should be associated with some document element
                    // add embedded file associated with seParagraph:
                    var ef1 = EmbeddedFileStream.FromBytes(doc, Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(para));
                    // ModificationDate and MimeType should be specified in case of PDF/A:
                    ef1.ModificationDate = date;
                    ef1.MimeType = "text/plain";
                    var fn = string.Format("Page{0}_Paragraph{1}.txt", pageNo, i);
                    var fs1 = FileSpecification.FromEmbeddedStream(fn, ef1);
                    // UnicodeFile.FileName should be specified for PDF/A compliance:
                    fs1.UnicodeFile.FileName = fs1.File.FileName;
                    // Relationship should be specified in case of PDF/A:
                    fs1.Relationship = AFRelationship.Unspecified;
                    doc.EmbeddedFiles.Add(fn, fs1);
                    seParagraph.AssociatedFiles.Add(fs1);
                }
            }

            // PDF/A-3 allows transparency drawing in PDF file, add some:
            var gpage = doc.Pages [0].Graphics;
            gpage.FillRectangle(new RectangleF(20, 20, 200, 200), Color.FromArgb(40, Color.Red));

            // PDF/A-3 allows using FormXObjects, add one with transparency:
            var r = new RectangleF(0, 0, 144, 72);
            var fxo = new FormXObject(doc, r);
            var gfxo = fxo.Graphics;
            gfxo.FillRectangle(r, Color.FromArgb(40, Color.Violet));
            TextFormat tf = new TextFormat()
            {
                Font = fnt,
                FontSize = 16,
                ForeColor = Color.FromArgb(100, Color.Black),
            };
            gfxo.DrawString("FormXObject", tf, r, TextAlignment.Center, ParagraphAlignment.Center);
            gfxo.DrawRectangle(r, Color.Blue, 3);
            gpage.DrawForm(fxo, new RectangleF(300, 250, r.Width, r.Height), null, ImageAlign.ScaleImage);

            // PDF/A-3 allows using embedded files, but each embedded file must be associated with a document's element:
            EmbeddedFileStream ef = EmbeddedFileStream.FromFile(doc, Path.Combine("Resources", "WordDocs", "ProcurementLetter.docx"));
            // ModificationDate and MimeType should be specified for EmbeddedFile in PDF/A:
            ef.ModificationDate = date;
            ef.MimeType = "application/msword";
            var fs = FileSpecification.FromEmbeddedFile(ef);
            fs.UnicodeFile.FileName = fs.File.FileName;
            fs.Relationship = AFRelationship.Unspecified;
            doc.EmbeddedFiles.Add("ProcurementLetter.docx", fs);
            // Associate embedded file with the document:
            doc.AssociatedFiles.Add(fs);

            // Add an attachment associated with an annotation:
            var sa = new StampAnnotation()
            {
                UserName = "Minerva",
                Font = fnt,
                Rect = new RectangleF(300, 36, 220, 72),
            };
            sa.Flags |= AnnotationFlags.Print;
            // Use a FormXObject to represent the stamp annotation:
            var stampFxo = new FormXObject(doc, new RectangleF(PointF.Empty, sa.Rect.Size));
            var gstampFxo = stampFxo.Graphics;
            gstampFxo.FillRectangle(stampFxo.Bounds, Color.FromArgb(40, Color.Green));
            gstampFxo.DrawString("Stamp Annotation\nassociated with minerva.jpg", tf, stampFxo.Bounds, TextAlignment.Center, ParagraphAlignment.Center);
            gstampFxo.DrawRectangle(stampFxo.Bounds, Color.Green, 3);
            //
            sa.AppearanceStreams.Normal.Default = stampFxo;
            doc.Pages [0].Annotations.Add(sa);
            ef = EmbeddedFileStream.FromFile(doc, Path.Combine("Resources", "Images", "minerva.jpg"));
            ef.ModificationDate = date;
            ef.MimeType = "image/jpeg";
            fs = FileSpecification.FromEmbeddedFile(ef);
            fs.UnicodeFile.FileName = fs.File.FileName;
            fs.Relationship = AFRelationship.Unspecified;
            doc.EmbeddedFiles.Add("minerva.jpg", fs);
            sa.AssociatedFiles.Add(fs);

            // Mark the document as conforming to Tagged PDF conventions (required for PDF/A):
            doc.MarkInfo.Marked = true;

            // Metadata.CreatorTool and DocumentInfo.Creator should be the same for a PDF/A document:
            doc.Metadata.CreatorTool = doc.DocumentInfo.Creator;
            // A title should be specified for PDF/A document:
            doc.Metadata.Title = "GcPdf Document";
            doc.ViewerPreferences.DisplayDocTitle = true;

            // Done:
            doc.Save(stream);
        }
    }
}

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Text;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Common;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Drawing;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Pdf;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Pdf.Structure;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Pdf.MarkedContent;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Pdf.Graphics;
using GrapeCity.Documents.Pdf.Annotations;
using GCTEXT = GrapeCity.Documents.Text;
using GCDRAW = GrapeCity.Documents.Drawing;
namespace GcPdfWeb.Samples.Basics
{
    // This sample shows how to create a PDF/A-3u compliant document.
    public class PdfA
    {
        public void CreatePDF(Stream stream)
        {
            var doc = new GcPdfDocument();
            var date = new DateTime(1961, 4, 12, 6, 7, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);

            // Mark the document as PDF/A-3u conformant:
            doc.ConformanceLevel = PdfAConformanceLevel.PdfA3u;

            var fnt = GCTEXT.Font.FromFile(Path.Combine("Resources", "Fonts", "arial.ttf"));
            var gap = 36;

            // PDF/A-3a requires all content to be tagged so create and populate StructElement when rendering:
            StructElement sePart = new StructElement("Part");
            doc.StructTreeRoot.Children.Add(sePart);

            TextLayout tl = null;
            // Add 3 pages with sample content tagged according to PDF/A rules:
            for (int pageNo = 1; pageNo <= 3; ++pageNo)
            {
                // add page
                var page = doc.Pages.Add();
                var g = page.Graphics;
                float y = 72;
                if (doc.Pages.Count == 1)
                {
                    // Create paragraph element:
                    var seParagraph = new StructElement("P") { DefaultPage = page };
                    // Add it to Part element:
                    sePart.Children.Add(seParagraph);

                    tl = g.CreateTextLayout();
                    tl.MarginAll = 72;
                    tl.MaxWidth = page.Size.Width;

                    tl.DefaultFormat.Font = fnt;
                    tl.DefaultFormat.FontBold = true;
                    tl.DefaultFormat.FontSize = 20;
                    tl.Append("PDF/A-3A Document");

                    // PerformLayout is done automatically in a new TextLayout or after a Clear():
                    //tl.PerformLayout(true);

                    // Draw TextLayout within tagged content:
                    g.BeginMarkedContent(new TagMcid("P", 0));
                    g.DrawTextLayout(tl, PointF.Empty);
                    g.EndMarkedContent();

                    y = tl.ContentRectangle.Bottom + gap;

                    seParagraph.ContentItems.Add(new McidContentItemLink(0));
                }

                // Add some sample paragraphs tagged according to PDF/A rules:
                for (int i = 1; i <= 3; ++i)
                {
                    // Create paragraph element:
                    var seParagraph = new StructElement("P") { DefaultPage = page };
                    // Add it to Part element:
                    sePart.Children.Add(seParagraph);

                    var sb = new StringBuilder();
                    sb.Append(string.Format("Paragraph {0} on page {1}: ", i, pageNo));
                    sb.Append(Common.Util.LoremIpsum(1, 2, 4, 5, 10));
                    var para = sb.ToString();

                    tl.Clear();
                    tl.DefaultFormat.FontSize = 14;
                    tl.DefaultFormat.FontBold = false;
                    tl.MarginTop = y;
                    tl.Append(para);

                    // Draw TextLayout within tagged content:
                    g.BeginMarkedContent(new TagMcid("P", i));
                    g.DrawTextLayout(tl, PointF.Empty);
                    g.EndMarkedContent();

                    y += tl.ContentHeight + gap;

                    // Add content item to paragraph StructElement:
                    seParagraph.ContentItems.Add(new McidContentItemLink(i));

                    // PDF/A-3 allows embedding files into document, but they should be associated with some document element
                    // add embedded file associated with seParagraph:
                    var ef1 = EmbeddedFileStream.FromBytes(doc, Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(para));
                    // ModificationDate and MimeType should be specified in case of PDF/A:
                    ef1.ModificationDate = date;
                    ef1.MimeType = "text/plain";
                    var fn = string.Format("Page{0}_Paragraph{1}.txt", pageNo, i);
                    var fs1 = FileSpecification.FromEmbeddedStream(fn, ef1);
                    // UnicodeFile.FileName should be specified for PDF/A compliance:
                    fs1.UnicodeFile.FileName = fs1.File.FileName;
                    // Relationship should be specified in case of PDF/A:
                    fs1.Relationship = AFRelationship.Unspecified;
                    doc.EmbeddedFiles.Add(fn, fs1);
                    seParagraph.AssociatedFiles.Add(fs1);
                }
            }

            // PDF/A-3 allows transparency drawing in PDF file, add some:
            var gpage = doc.Pages [0].Graphics;
            gpage.FillRectangle(new RectangleF(20, 20, 200, 200), Color.FromArgb(40, Color.Red));

            // PDF/A-3 allows using FormXObjects, add one with transparency:
            var r = new RectangleF(0, 0, 144, 72);
            var fxo = new FormXObject(doc, r);
            var gfxo = fxo.Graphics;
            gfxo.FillRectangle(r, Color.FromArgb(40, Color.Violet));
            TextFormat tf = new TextFormat()
            {
                Font = fnt,
                FontSize = 16,
                ForeColor = Color.FromArgb(100, Color.Black),
            };
            gfxo.DrawString("FormXObject", tf, r, TextAlignment.Center, ParagraphAlignment.Center);
            gfxo.DrawRectangle(r, Color.Blue, 3);
            gpage.DrawForm(fxo, new RectangleF(300, 250, r.Width, r.Height), null, ImageAlign.ScaleImage);

            // PDF/A-3 allows using embedded files, but each embedded file must be associated with a document's element:
            EmbeddedFileStream ef = EmbeddedFileStream.FromFile(doc, Path.Combine("Resources", "WordDocs", "ProcurementLetter.docx"));
            // ModificationDate and MimeType should be specified for EmbeddedFile in PDF/A:
            ef.ModificationDate = date;
            ef.MimeType = "application/msword";
            var fs = FileSpecification.FromEmbeddedFile(ef);
            fs.UnicodeFile.FileName = fs.File.FileName;
            fs.Relationship = AFRelationship.Unspecified;
            doc.EmbeddedFiles.Add("ProcurementLetter.docx", fs);
            // Associate embedded file with the document:
            doc.AssociatedFiles.Add(fs);

            // Add an attachment associated with an annotation:
            var sa = new StampAnnotation()
            {
                UserName = "Minerva",
                Font = fnt,
                Rect = new RectangleF(300, 36, 220, 72),
            };
            sa.Flags |= AnnotationFlags.Print;
            // Use a FormXObject to represent the stamp annotation:
            var stampFxo = new FormXObject(doc, new RectangleF(PointF.Empty, sa.Rect.Size));
            var gstampFxo = stampFxo.Graphics;
            gstampFxo.FillRectangle(stampFxo.Bounds, Color.FromArgb(40, Color.Green));
            gstampFxo.DrawString("Stamp Annotation\nassociated with minerva.jpg", tf, stampFxo.Bounds, TextAlignment.Center, ParagraphAlignment.Center);
            gstampFxo.DrawRectangle(stampFxo.Bounds, Color.Green, 3);
            //
            sa.AppearanceStreams.Normal.Default = stampFxo;
            doc.Pages [0].Annotations.Add(sa);
            ef = EmbeddedFileStream.FromFile(doc, Path.Combine("Resources", "Images", "minerva.jpg"));
            ef.ModificationDate = date;
            ef.MimeType = "image/jpeg";
            fs = FileSpecification.FromEmbeddedFile(ef);
            fs.UnicodeFile.FileName = fs.File.FileName;
            fs.Relationship = AFRelationship.Unspecified;
            doc.EmbeddedFiles.Add("minerva.jpg", fs);
            sa.AssociatedFiles.Add(fs);

            // Mark the document as conforming to Tagged PDF conventions (required for PDF/A):
            doc.MarkInfo.Marked = true;

            // Metadata.CreatorTool and DocumentInfo.Creator should be the same for a PDF/A document:
            doc.Metadata.CreatorTool = doc.DocumentInfo.Creator;
            // A title should be specified for PDF/A document:
            doc.Metadata.Title = "GcPdf Document";
            doc.ViewerPreferences.DisplayDocTitle = true;

            // Done:
            doc.Save(stream);
        }
    }
}

$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

GrapeCityPDF offers limited features compared to IronPDF. IronPDF supports PDF/A compliance, PDF/UA accessibility, custom paper sizes, and advanced rendering options.

How Does IronPDF Support Modern Web Frameworks Like Bootstrap?

Modern PDF generation benefits from visual process representations. This Bootstrap 5 example demonstrates IronPDF's capability to render workflow timelines with cards, badges, and step indicators. For complete framework support, see the Bootstrap & Flexbox troubleshooting guide:

using IronPdf;

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

string workflowTimeline = @"
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <meta charset='utf-8'>
    <link href='___PROTECTED_URL_66___ rel='stylesheet'>
    <style>
        .timeline-item { position: relative; padding-left: 40px; margin-bottom: 30px; }
        .timeline-item::before { content: ''; position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; width: 20px; height: 20px;
            background: #0d6efd; border-radius: 50%; border: 3px solid white; box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px #0d6efd; }
        .timeline-item::after { content: ''; position: absolute; left: 9px; top: 20px; width: 2px; height: calc(100% + 10px);
            background: #dee2e6; }
        .timeline-item:last-child::after { display: none; }
        @media print { .timeline-item { page-break-inside: avoid; } }
    </style>
</head>
<body class='bg-light'>
    <div class='container py-4'>
        <div class='text-center mb-5'>
            <h1 class='display-6 fw-bold'>PDF Generation Workflow</h1>
            <p class='lead text-muted'>From HTML to Professional PDF Documents</p>
        </div>

        <div class='timeline-item'>
            <div class='card shadow-sm'>
                <div class='card-body'>
                    <div class='d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center mb-2'>
                        <h4 class='card-title mb-0'>Step 1: Initialize Renderer</h4>
                        <span class='badge bg-primary'>Setup</span>
                    </div>
                    <p class='card-text'>Create ChromePdfRenderer instance with Chrome V8 engine for accurate HTML rendering.</p>
                    <div class='bg-light p-2 rounded'>
                        <code>var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();</code>
                    </div>
                    <div class='mt-2'>
                        <small class='text-muted'>✓ Chrome V8 Engine • ✓ Full CSS3 Support • ✓ JavaScript Ready</small>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class='timeline-item'>
            <div class='card shadow-sm'>
                <div class='card-body'>
                    <div class='d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center mb-2'>
                        <h4 class='card-title mb-0'>Step 2: Prepare HTML Content</h4>
                        <span class='badge bg-info'>Content</span>
                    </div>
                    <p class='card-text'>Design your document using modern HTML5, CSS3 (Flexbox/Grid), and optional JavaScript.</p>
                    <div class='row g-2'>
                        <div class='col-4'><span class='badge bg-success w-100'>HTML5</span></div>
                        <div class='col-4'><span class='badge bg-success w-100'>CSS3</span></div>
                        <div class='col-4'><span class='badge bg-success w-100'>JavaScript</span></div>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class='timeline-item'>
            <div class='card shadow-sm'>
                <div class='card-body'>
                    <div class='d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center mb-2'>
                        <h4 class='card-title mb-0'>Step 3: Render to PDF</h4>
                        <span class='badge bg-warning text-dark'>Processing</span>
                    </div>
                    <p class='card-text'>Convert HTML to PDF with pixel-perfect accuracy and sub-second performance.</p>
                    <div class='bg-light p-2 rounded'>
                        <code>var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);</code>
                    </div>
                    <div class='progress mt-2' style='height: 8px;'>
                        <div class='progress-bar bg-warning' style='width: 100%'></div>
                    </div>
                    <small class='text-muted d-block mt-1'>Average render time: 0.9 seconds</small>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class='timeline-item'>
            <div class='card shadow-sm'>
                <div class='card-body'>
                    <div class='d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center mb-2'>
                        <h4 class='card-title mb-0'>Step 4: Save or Stream</h4>
                        <span class='badge bg-success'>Output</span>
                    </div>
                    <p class='card-text'>Export to file, stream, or byte array for flexible deployment options.</p>
                    <div class='bg-light p-2 rounded'>
                        <code>pdf.SaveAs("document.pdf");</code>
                    </div>
                    <div class='mt-2'>
                        <span class='badge bg-outline-secondary me-1'>File</span>
                        <span class='badge bg-outline-secondary me-1'>Stream</span>
                        <span class='badge bg-outline-secondary'>Byte Array</span>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class='alert alert-info'>
            <strong>Comparison Note:</strong> GrapeCity PDF Viewer focuses on document viewing and annotation, not HTML-to-PDF generation. IronPDF specializes in creating PDFs from modern web content with full Bootstrap and framework support.
        </div>

        <div class='card shadow-sm border-primary'>
            <div class='card-header bg-primary text-white'>
                <h5 class='mb-0'>Key Advantages</h5>
            </div>
            <div class='card-body'>
                <div class='row'>
                    <div class='col-md-6'>
                        <h6 class='text-primary'>IronPDF Strengths</h6>
                        <ul class='small'>
                            <li>Complete HTML-to-PDF workflow</li>
                            <li>Bootstrap 5 framework support</li>
                            <li>Async/await for scalability</li>
                            <li>Cross-platform deployment</li>
                        </ul>
                    </div>
                    <div class='col-md-6'>
                        <h6 class='text-muted'>GrapeCity Focus</h6>
                        <ul class='small'>
                            <li>PDF viewing and annotation</li>
                            <li>UI component for display</li>
                            <li>Limited generation features</li>
                            <li>Viewer-centric approach</li>
                        </ul>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</body>
</html>";

var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(workflowTimeline);
pdf.SaveAs("workflow-timeline.pdf");

using IronPdf;

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

string workflowTimeline = @"
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <meta charset='utf-8'>
    <link href='___PROTECTED_URL_66___ rel='stylesheet'>
    <style>
        .timeline-item { position: relative; padding-left: 40px; margin-bottom: 30px; }
        .timeline-item::before { content: ''; position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; width: 20px; height: 20px;
            background: #0d6efd; border-radius: 50%; border: 3px solid white; box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px #0d6efd; }
        .timeline-item::after { content: ''; position: absolute; left: 9px; top: 20px; width: 2px; height: calc(100% + 10px);
            background: #dee2e6; }
        .timeline-item:last-child::after { display: none; }
        @media print { .timeline-item { page-break-inside: avoid; } }
    </style>
</head>
<body class='bg-light'>
    <div class='container py-4'>
        <div class='text-center mb-5'>
            <h1 class='display-6 fw-bold'>PDF Generation Workflow</h1>
            <p class='lead text-muted'>From HTML to Professional PDF Documents</p>
        </div>

        <div class='timeline-item'>
            <div class='card shadow-sm'>
                <div class='card-body'>
                    <div class='d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center mb-2'>
                        <h4 class='card-title mb-0'>Step 1: Initialize Renderer</h4>
                        <span class='badge bg-primary'>Setup</span>
                    </div>
                    <p class='card-text'>Create ChromePdfRenderer instance with Chrome V8 engine for accurate HTML rendering.</p>
                    <div class='bg-light p-2 rounded'>
                        <code>var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();</code>
                    </div>
                    <div class='mt-2'>
                        <small class='text-muted'>✓ Chrome V8 Engine • ✓ Full CSS3 Support • ✓ JavaScript Ready</small>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class='timeline-item'>
            <div class='card shadow-sm'>
                <div class='card-body'>
                    <div class='d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center mb-2'>
                        <h4 class='card-title mb-0'>Step 2: Prepare HTML Content</h4>
                        <span class='badge bg-info'>Content</span>
                    </div>
                    <p class='card-text'>Design your document using modern HTML5, CSS3 (Flexbox/Grid), and optional JavaScript.</p>
                    <div class='row g-2'>
                        <div class='col-4'><span class='badge bg-success w-100'>HTML5</span></div>
                        <div class='col-4'><span class='badge bg-success w-100'>CSS3</span></div>
                        <div class='col-4'><span class='badge bg-success w-100'>JavaScript</span></div>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class='timeline-item'>
            <div class='card shadow-sm'>
                <div class='card-body'>
                    <div class='d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center mb-2'>
                        <h4 class='card-title mb-0'>Step 3: Render to PDF</h4>
                        <span class='badge bg-warning text-dark'>Processing</span>
                    </div>
                    <p class='card-text'>Convert HTML to PDF with pixel-perfect accuracy and sub-second performance.</p>
                    <div class='bg-light p-2 rounded'>
                        <code>var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);</code>
                    </div>
                    <div class='progress mt-2' style='height: 8px;'>
                        <div class='progress-bar bg-warning' style='width: 100%'></div>
                    </div>
                    <small class='text-muted d-block mt-1'>Average render time: 0.9 seconds</small>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class='timeline-item'>
            <div class='card shadow-sm'>
                <div class='card-body'>
                    <div class='d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center mb-2'>
                        <h4 class='card-title mb-0'>Step 4: Save or Stream</h4>
                        <span class='badge bg-success'>Output</span>
                    </div>
                    <p class='card-text'>Export to file, stream, or byte array for flexible deployment options.</p>
                    <div class='bg-light p-2 rounded'>
                        <code>pdf.SaveAs("document.pdf");</code>
                    </div>
                    <div class='mt-2'>
                        <span class='badge bg-outline-secondary me-1'>File</span>
                        <span class='badge bg-outline-secondary me-1'>Stream</span>
                        <span class='badge bg-outline-secondary'>Byte Array</span>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class='alert alert-info'>
            <strong>Comparison Note:</strong> GrapeCity PDF Viewer focuses on document viewing and annotation, not HTML-to-PDF generation. IronPDF specializes in creating PDFs from modern web content with full Bootstrap and framework support.
        </div>

        <div class='card shadow-sm border-primary'>
            <div class='card-header bg-primary text-white'>
                <h5 class='mb-0'>Key Advantages</h5>
            </div>
            <div class='card-body'>
                <div class='row'>
                    <div class='col-md-6'>
                        <h6 class='text-primary'>IronPDF Strengths</h6>
                        <ul class='small'>
                            <li>Complete HTML-to-PDF workflow</li>
                            <li>Bootstrap 5 framework support</li>
                            <li>Async/await for scalability</li>
                            <li>Cross-platform deployment</li>
                        </ul>
                    </div>
                    <div class='col-md-6'>
                        <h6 class='text-muted'>GrapeCity Focus</h6>
                        <ul class='small'>
                            <li>PDF viewing and annotation</li>
                            <li>UI component for display</li>
                            <li>Limited generation features</li>
                            <li>Viewer-centric approach</li>
                        </ul>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</body>
</html>";

var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(workflowTimeline);
pdf.SaveAs("workflow-timeline.pdf");

Output: A professional workflow timeline PDF with Bootstrap 5 cards, badges, progress bars, and custom timeline styling. IronPDF accurately renders all positioning, flexbox layouts, and utility classes, demonstrating comprehensive CSS3 support for complex visual designs.

For detailed Bootstrap compatibility, see the Bootstrap & Flexbox CSS Guide. IronPDF supports web fonts and icons for rich typography.

What Is the Lite Package Pricing?

• 1 Developer
• 1 Location
• 1 Project
• Perpetual License

This package allows one developer to use Iron Software in one location for a single application. Licenses are non-transferable outside organizations or agency/client relationships. Excludes OEM redistribution and SaaS use without additional coverage.

Pricing: starts from $799 per year.

What Does the Professional License Include?

• 10 Developers
• 10 Locations
• 10 Projects
• Perpetual License

This license allows ten developers to use Iron Software in up to ten locations. You can use it in unlimited websites, intranet applications, or desktop software. Licenses are non-transferable outside organizations. Excludes OEM redistribution and SaaS use without additional coverage. Integrates with up to 10 projects.

Pricing: Starts from $1,199 per year.

What Are the Benefits of an Unlimited License?

• Unlimited Developers
• Unlimited Locations
• Unlimited Projects
• Perpetual License

Enables unlimited developers in one organization to use Iron Software in unlimited locations. Use in unlimited applications. Licenses are non-transferable outside organizations. Excludes OEM redistribution and SaaS use without additional coverage.

Pricing: Starts from $2999 per year.

Royalty-Free Redistribution: This allows you to distribute the Iron Software as part of several differently packaged commercial products (without having to pay royalties) based on the number of projects covered by the base license. This will allow the deployment of Iron Software within SaaS software services, which is based on the number of projects covered by the base license.

Pricing: Starts from $1599 per year.

IronPDF offers three license tiers with the Professional license highlighted as 'Most Popular', featuring 10 developers, 10 locations, and 10 projects for $999

What Does the Documents for PDF License Include?

• Includes 1 Developer License
• 1 Distribution Location

Includes one developer license and one distribution location without support and maintenance.

Pricing: Starts from $1,199 per year.

What Is Documents for PDF Unlimited?

• Includes 1 Developer License
• Unlimited Distribution Locations

Includes one developer license with unlimited distribution locations. No support and maintenance. GrapeCity doesn't support SaaS and OEM.

Pricing: Starts from $2799 per year.

What Does Documents for PDF Team Unlimited Offer?

• Includes 5 Developer Licenses
• Unlimited Distribution Locations

Includes five developer licenses with unlimited distribution locations. No support and maintenance. GrapeCity doesn't support SaaS and OEM.

Pricing: Starts from $5799 per year.

`GrapeCity`'s Documents for PDF pricing structure offers three tiers to accommodate different development team sizes and distribution needs.

IronPDF Lite One-Developer package includes 1-year support for $799. GrapeCity Documents for PDF One-Developer package costs $1,199 without support. IronPDF Professional Package includes 10 developers with one-year support for $1,199. GrapeCity offers only a 5-developer package for $5799. For more information about IronPDF licensing options, visit the official licensing page.

IronPDF Lite and Professional packages include SaaS service, OEM, and 5-year support options. The Lite one-developer package with five years support, SaaS, and OEM costs $2897. GrapeCity doesn't offer SaaS, OEM, or 5-year support. The Iron Professional 10-developer package with 5-year support, SaaS, and OEM costs $3397. GrapeCity lacks a 10-developer option. Learn about license extensions and upgrade options for long-term support.