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ISO 16612

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 16612-2 PDF/VT-1, PDF/VT-2 (PDF 1.6)

Using PDF/X-4 and PDF/X-5 (PDF/VT-1 and PDF/VT-2)

This standard defines the PDF/VT document format and methods to enable reliable document exchange for variable data and transactional (VT) printing. It uses the PDF 1.6, as restricted by PDF/X-4 and PDF/X-5, for the representation of such documents. It allows the specification of document structure and layout, content data, and interaction of graphical objects in a graphics model that supports transparency and both device-dependent and device-independent colour spaces. All elements either are included or provision is made for unique identification of externally supplied graphical content or ICC profiles.

PDF/VT is designed to enable variable data and transactional printing in a variety of environments from desktop printers to digital production presses. This includes hybrid workflows involving both conventional and digital printing.

Additional conformance with PDF/A

Some PDF/VT documents may also conform to PDF/A-2 (ISO 19005-2) or PDF/A-3 (ISO 19005-3). In such cases, these PDF/A standards require the inclusion of XMP Extension Schema for custom XMP metadata not defined in the relevant ISO 19005 part. The PDF Association provides free XMP Extension Schema templates for PDF/VT, PDF/X, other ISO PDF subset standards, and PDF Declarations.