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ISO standards, test suites, best-practice guides…

The PDF Association publishes a variety of documents and other resources for those interested in leveraging PDF technology, and as of Q4 2021, also sells the ISO standards relating to PDF technology as developed by ISO TC 171 SC 2.

In addition to formal ISO standards many PDF Association publications developed through our publications process are freely available.

PDF Association members may access process documents and drafts of upcoming ISO standards via the Member Area.

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ISO 32000 (PDF)

PDF 2.0

ISO 32000 is the family of ISO standards that defines the core PDF specification for both PDF 1.7 and PDF 2.0.

PDF Association cover for ISO 32000-2 sponsored by Adobe, Apryse and Foxit.


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Best Practice in creating PDF files for variable data printing – Designer Edition

This guide, and its companion for developers (Best Practice in creating PDF files for variable data printing – Developer Edition), are intended to help designers, composition tool operators and software vendors avoid creating inefficient PDF files.

Screen-shot of the document's cover.


Print workflow and metadata

Print workflow and metadata standards are used to communicate the intended appearance, processing steps, or job tickets for printed products through the use of existing PDF features.

Example PDF with processing step optional groups visible (from ISO 19593-1)


ISO 16613 (PDF/VCR)

PDF/VCR enables variable data printing applications using PDF template-based variable content substitution and a framework for in-RIP variable content merging.

ISO 16613-1 Graphic technology - Variable content replacement Part 1 cover page with PDF Association logo


ISO 16612 (PDF/VT)

The ISO 16612 family of standards defines PDF/VT for supporting variable data and high-volume transactional printing. PDF/VT builds on top of PDF/X.

ISO 16612-3 Graphic Technology Variable Exchange using PDF/X-6 PDF/VT-3 cover


ISO 15930 (PDF/X)

The ISO 15930 family of standards define PDF/X, which support the graphic arts and professional printing sectors.

ISO 15930-9 Graphic Technology Prepress digital data exchanged using PDF Part 9: Complete exchange of printing data cover


ISO 19593-1 (PDF Processing Steps)

With PDF Processing Steps standardization, packaging and pro workflow components may be shared language-independent, vendor-neutral way, including specifications for cutting, varnishing, embossing, adding braille and other post-print operations right in the PDF.

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PDF/X in a Nutshell

PDF Assiciation publication about PDF/X. PDF/X was the first ISO standard based on PDF technology. A subset of the PDF specification, PDF/X was designed to constrain PDF files in order to cater to specific use-cases in the print industry.

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PDF/VT Application Notes

The PDF/VT Application Notes discuss topics that aid implementers of PDF/VT workflow tools and demonstrate the various design features of the PDF/VT file format. The document was developed by the PDF/VT Competence Center of the PDF Association, in close cooperation with, …

PDF_VT_Application_Notes


4th International PDF/A Conference Proceedings

Contents What you need to know about PDF/A and PDF/A-2 Legal Certainty Accessibility and Metadata Archives & Libraries Public Administration Business to Consumer The Portable Document Format – developed by Adobe Systems and first published in 1993 – offers a …

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