PDF Association publishes PDF/VT Application Notes showcasing the benefits for variable data print streams
ArticleJanuary 19, 2016
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Berlin, Germany. The benefits of using PDF/VT to deliver variable data print streams within or across print sites are among the topics addressed in a new set of Application Notes about PDF/VT published today by the PDF Association's PDF/VT Competence Centre.
The ISO PDF/VT standard's VT stands for variable and transactional data - is designed for high-volume digital printing environments where it assists in delivering the throughput required. PDF/VT provides a modern replacement both for AFP (e.g. for bills and statements) and for PPML and vendor-proprietary formats in graphic arts.
The PDF/VT Application Notes have been published to foster greater awareness of the benefits of using PDF/VT, and to demonstrate how to make the highest quality and most efficient PDF/VT files to achieve the required visual appearance of a job. These Application Notes were produced at the request of the International Standards Organization, the body that first developed the PDF/VT standard in 2010, and are available for download free of charge from https://pdfa.org/publication/pdfvt-application-notes/.
Martin Bailey, the chair of the PDF/VT Competence Centre, Global Graphics Software's CTO, and the UK's principal representative on the ISO 16612 (PDF/VT) committee, said, "These Application Notes supplement the technical specifications in the PDF/VT standard, and explore more fully topics that aid implementers of PDF/VT workflow tools. These Notes will be valuable to anyone developing software to read and write PDF/VT files, including vendors of composition tools, RIPs, digital front-ends and imposition tools as well as those specializing in print workflow integration. It is our hope that the Notes also promote awareness of the PDF/VT standard more widely, so that more stakeholders throughout the print ecosystem understand PDF/VT and benefit from the efficiencies PDF/VT can deliver."
Large sections of the guide are taken from Do PDF/VT Right published in 2014 last year by Global Graphics Software. Christoph Oeters (Sofha), Paul Jones (Teclyn bv) and Tim Donahue also made extensive contributions.
Christoph Oeters, CTO at SOFHA says, "We at SOFHA are very glad to see these application notes published. PDF/VT is a major step forward in making PDF extremely powerful for variable and transactional data printing applications. The Notes contain very useful insights for developers and other technically interested persons. The document provides clear directions on how PDF/VT files can be optimized while retaining the expected print quality and other information. The Notes focus especially on how document part metadata (DPM) can be applied and leveraged for VDP specific production workflows. It's for sure that these Application Notes will support the use of PDF/VT and will strengthen the development of dedicated solutions for variable data printing."
Paul Jones from Teclyn bv comments, "The release of the PDF/VT application notes is a crucial step in the adoption of PDF/VT for variable data printing. The application notes will help application developers to generate efficient and correct PDF/VT enabling their customers to also adopt a PDF workflow for variable data printing. The adoption of PDF/VT will allow the industry to finally move towards a reliable, vendor neutral, exchange of variable data jobs simplifying the process of variable data printing significantly."
Tim Donahue, technical consultant, U.S. expert on PDF/VT and chairman of the ISO TC130 PDF/VT committee comments, "The PDF/VT Application Notes provide important guidance to PDF/VT solution developers and architects, and shed light on how PDF/VT can be used to streamline business collaboration and production workflows surrounding the production of full colour, high value variable document print. It includes insight on the use of PDF/VT's unique extensions to PDF that enable workflow independence, late stage printer targeting and important recommendations on how to best optimize PDF/VT to take advantage of the efficiencies supported by the latest PDF RIP technology. This is invaluable guidance, especially as the graphical sophistication of VDP applications continue to increase alongside the rapidly evolving improvements in the productivity and output quality of today's production digital printers."
The Application Notes supplement ISO 16612-2:2010 Graphic technology – Variable data exchange Part 2: Using PDF/X-4 and PDF/X-5 (PDF/ VT-1 and PDF/VT-2). The document assumes that readers are familiar with the PDF/VT standard, as well as the PDF [1] and PDF/X [2], [3], [4] and [5] data formats.
Where to obtain the PDF/VT standard The PDF/VT standard may be purchased from: ISO: http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=46428
APTech (formerly NPES): https://printtechnologies.org/programs/standards-workroom/purchase-standards/ The standard can also be bought from most National Standards bodies in other countries
About the PDF Association
First established as the PDF/A Competence Center in 2006, today, the PDF Association is an international organization promoting awareness and adoption of open standards in digital document applications using PDF technology.
The association facilitates education, networking and communication, and the sharing of expertise and experience with interested parties worldwide. The current membership includes over 100 enterprises and numerous individual subject-matter experts from more than 20 countries.
The management board includes industry leaders from Adlib Information Systems Inc., Adobe Systems Inc., callas software GmbH, Datalogics Inc., DocuSign Inc., intarsys consulting GmbH, levigo solutions GmbH, LuraTech Europe GmbH, Nitro Software Inc. and Satz-Rechen-Zentrum (SRZ). The association's chairman is Olaf Drümmer, CEO of callas software GmbH. Peter Duff, President and CEO of Adlib Software, is the association's vice-chairman.
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