ISO 19005

The primary purpose of ISO 19005 is to define a file format based on PDF, known as PDF/A, which provides a mechanism for representing electronic documents in a manner that preserves their static visual appearance over time, independent of the tools and systems used for creating, storing or rendering the files.

PDF/A defines a framework for representing the logical structure and other semantic information of electronic documents within conforming files. PDF/A also provides a framework for recording the context and history of electronic documents in metadata within conforming files. These goals are accomplished by identifying the set of PDF features that can be used, and restrictions on the form of their use, within conforming PDF/A files. In addition, PDF/A defines a set of requirements that PDF/A compliant processors (viewers) must implement.

ISO 19005-1 (PDF/A-1)

Based on PDF 1.4, PDF/A-1 is the original PDF/A specification published in 2005 and defined two conformance levels:

• PDF/A-1b – Level B (basic) conformance defines a minimal set of requirements for the reliable reproduction of a document’s visual appearance;
• PDF/A-1a – Level A (accessible) conformance extends Level B to include additional features to improve a document’s accessibility and reliable text extraction.

PDF/A-1 does not support transparency.

Purchase PDF/A-1 from the PDF Association, Inc. When doing so, add corrigenda 1 and corrigenda 2 to your cart (these are free).

ISO 19005-2 (PDF/A-2)

Based on PDF 1.7 (ISO 32000-1:2008), PDF/A-2 extends the PDF/A concept to encompass the new features added to PDF between versions 1.4 and 1.7. PDF/A-2 requires that any attached file be either itself a PDF/A file or plain text.

Purchase PDF/A-2 from the PDF Association, Inc.

ISO 19005-3 (PDF/A-3)

PDF/A-3 is identical to PDF/A-2, but permits arbitrary attachments to PDF/A-3 files.

Purchase PDF/A-3 from the PDF Association, Inc.

ISO 19005-4 (PDF/A-4)

PDF/A-4 is based upon ISO 32000-2:2020 (PDF 2.0). It also introduces the new PDF/A-4e conformance level that supports interactive 3D models for engineering workflows. The PDF Association also maintains a list of industry-approved resolutions to identified issues in PDF/A-4.

Purchase PDF/A-4 from the PDF Association, Inc.

Additional PDF/A Resources

For more information, refer to the PDF Association’s Technical Resources.

Comments?

Buy ISO 19005-4
Buy ISO 19005-3
Buy ISO 19005-2
Download PDF/A-1 Cor.2
Download PDF/A-1 Cor.1
Buy ISO 19005-1

PDF/A