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New Application Note Illuminates PDF’s Flexible Options for Custom Metadata

October 2025 by PDF Association staff

The PDF Association has released a new Application Note titled “Including Custom Metadata Structures in PDF.”

This document addresses the need for organizations to use custom metadata beyond standard XMP schemas in their PDF workflows. It provides guidance on designing custom metadata schemas, embedding them interoperably, best practices for versioning and extensibility, and strategies for exposing metadata to applications and tools.

The document’s objective is to enhance interoperability and efficiency by allowing custom metadata to travel seamlessly within PDF documents, eliminating the need for separate “sidecar files.”

The Note is now available on the PDF Association website.

The PDF Association has released a new Application Note titled “Including Custom Metadata Structures in PDF.”

This document addresses the need for organizations to use custom metadata beyond standard XMP schemas in their PDF workflows. It provides guidance on designing custom metadata schemas, embedding them interoperably, best practices for versioning and extensibility, and strategies for exposing metadata to applications and tools.

The document’s objective is to enhance interoperability and efficiency by allowing custom metadata to travel seamlessly within PDF documents, eliminating the need for separate “sidecar files.”

The Note is now available on the PDF Association website.

PDF on GAAD: because it’s the content you keep

May 2022 by Duff Johnson
Article


Tagged PDF is becoming increasingly common. On #GAAD 2022, PDF/UA’s ISO Project Leader takes stock of the progress and highlights what remains.

Duff Johnson
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May 2022 by Peter Wyatt
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The PDF Association has updated IANA’s MIME media types registry for FDF, XFDF, PRC and U3D.

Article

April 2022 by Global Graphics Software
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Martin Bailey reflects on the history of PDF/X and its impact on production printing and the exchange of documents in … Read more

Article

April 2022 by Peter Wyatt
Peter Wyatt
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Non-rectangular links are coming to PDF 2.0! This article offers some background to link technology in PDF and discusses the … Read more

Article

April 2022 by Peter Wyatt
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With the publication of ISO/TS 24064 PDF 2.0 now supports three 3D formats: U3D, PRC and STEP.

Article

April 2022 by Thomas Zellmann
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This post provides a quick overview of PDF/UA that explains what PDF/UA is, why it should be used, what is … Read more

Article

March 2022 by PDF Association staff
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Members and non-members alike are welcome to submit proposals to present at the world’s premiere PDF technology event this September!

PDF Association news

March 2022 by Dov Isaacs (Dov Isaacs)
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Dov Isaacs discusses the issues and opportunities that the print publishing industry faces and how the PDF/X standard can help … Read more

Article

March 2022 by Dov Isaacs (Dov Isaacs)
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In this part of the ‘Twenty Years of PDF/X’ series, Dov Isaacs discusses the success and adoption of the PDF/X … Read more

Article

March 2022 by Dov Isaacs (Dov Isaacs)
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In this part of ‘Twenty Years of PDF/X’, Dov Isaacs explores how PDF/X tamed PostScript and its impact on the … Read more

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March 2022 by Dov Isaacs (Dov Isaacs)
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This is the first of a four part series of articles examining the path leading to today’s PDF/X standards.

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