Building PDF Pro: A PySide6 PDF Reader with Annotations, Image Extraction, Night Mode, and Local AI Summaries

Description and use

PDF Pro is a cross‑platform PDF reader built with Python that offers tabbed viewing, annotations, image extraction, night mode, and plans for local AI summarization using Ollama.

Problem

Users need a desktop PDF reader that supports study‑oriented features such as annotations, image extraction, night mode, and local AI summarization without relying on external services.

Outcome

PDF Pro delivers a feature‑rich, cross‑platform PDF reader with persistent annotations, image extraction, night mode, and a roadmap to local AI summarization, improving study workflows without external dependencies.

Workflow

• Open PDF(s) in tabs
• Navigate pages via controls, thumbnails, or page number
• Search text and navigate results
• Select text and annotate (highlight/underline/strike)
• Add bookmarks and notes in side panels
• Toggle night mode
• Use Snapshot tool to capture screen region
• Extract embedded images from page
• Plan to use Ollama for local summarization

Evidence

The reader supports multiple open documents using tabs.

Source

I added a Night mode toggle for reading PDFs in darker environments.

Source

The next major feature is local PDF summarization using Ollama.

Source