PDF/X

The PDF/X standards series was developed for the use of PDF for digital print templates. In the printing industry, the most important standards are PDF/X-1a for the output of CMYK plus spot colour, PDF/X-3 and PDF/X-4, which additionally allows device-independent colour spaces such as RGB or CIELAB and transparencies.

Defined requirements

PDF/X files must meet certain requirements, such as embedded fonts and image data, page size information, trapping status and the integration of output profiles. PDF/X Plus refers to procedures, e.g. certified PDF, which place requirements on print documents that go beyond the PDF/X standard.

PDF, PDF/X and PDF/X Plus