Latest PDF Specifications From Ghent Workgroup

Edited by the Printingtalk editorial team May 12, 2004

The Ghent PDF Workgroup has now released its second set of specifications for the use of PDF/X-1a:2001 Plus for graphic arts.

The Ghent PDF Workgroup has now released its second set of specifications for the use of PDF/X-1a:2001 Plus for graphic arts.

Following the first (V1) specifications launched in February 2003, the Ghent PDF Workgroup has issued version 2 specifications.

They are designed for delivering print ready PDF's according to international standards for magazine advertisements (CMYK), newspaper advertisements (CMYK/spot), web offset printing coldset and heatset (newsprint) web offset printing heat set (CMYK or CMYK/spot) and sheet fed offset printing (CMYK, CMYK/spot, CMYK/spot with low resolution images).

The 2004 specifications are an upgrade with updated settings for the support of recent changed spot colour specifications.

They also reflect support for specific PDF/X-1a settings when using Adobe Acrobat Distiller 6.0 and accommodate a minor change in PDF settings and job options in Adobe Acrobat 5 and 6 with respect to gradients and smooth shades.

The revised specifications also feature new checks that restrict PDF 1.5 issues to stay PDF/X-1a compliant when using Acrobat 6.0.

They also include directions on how to create proper Postscript for print ready PDF/X-1a Plus according to the specifications in Quarkxpress 6.1, as well as directions and settings files for Indesign CS Export PDF.

The 2004 specifications and setting files are now available from the Ghent PDF Workgroup website and vendor members of the workgroup in various countries.

Current Vendor Members of the Ghent PDF Workgroup include Adobe Systems, AGFA, Artwork Systems, Creo, Enfocus Software, Esko Graphics, Global Graphics, Pub-Specs and Dainippon Screen.

The Ghent PDF Workgroup was formed in 2002 as an international assembly of industry associations and suppliers from across Europe and the United States.

Its objective is to establish and disseminate process specifications for best practices in graphic arts workflows.

Members comprise graphic arts associations in Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Austria, UK and the United States, as well as observer-status organisations from Sweden, Norway and Germany.