21st Century Print Workflows: Upcoming PDF 2.0-Based PDF/X Standards and the Case for Migration to PDF/X-4 Now


FTA Membernar logo

FTA Membernar logo

December 10
11 a.m. ET
Dov Isaacs

21st Century Print Workflows: Upcoming PDF 2.0-Based PDF/X Standards and the Case for Migration to PDF/X-4 Now

Print is anything but dead! But it has changed quite dramatically. These changes range from the characteristics of what is being printed to how such content is produced. And these changes aren’t just physical. Processes and workflows based on late 1990’s versions of PDF including PDF/X-1a are simply incapable of economically and reliably supporting the graphically rich and complex print products of the 21st century. That’s especially true for packaging, signage, and other print products that are often not using paper pulp-based substrates and conventional CMYK process colors.

ISO 32000-2, PDF 2.0, provides a plethora of new capabilities/features as well as both augmentation and clarification of existing PDF features from ISO 32000-1, PDF 1.7. These features include a number of significant benefits to assist in PDF print workflows. Accordingly, ISO TC130 WG2/TF2 is in the process of publishing the next version of PDF/X, titled PDF/X-6, to be based upon PDF 2.0, incorporating not only the new, updated, and clarified capabilities and features of 2.0, but also addressing limitations of previous PDF/X versions.

Join Dov for this 90-minute Membernar as he discusses the relevant PDF 2.0 features in detail, not just in terms of their relevance to rendering PDF for print—but at least as important—the ramifications for end-to-end PDF print workflows and for all software that generates, processes, or even does “pass-through” of PDF.

Just as importantly, he will make the case for printers to migrate to PDF/X-4-based print workflows now, as a first necessary step toward adoption of PDF/X-6-based print workflows in the future.

Watch This Membernar on MemberConnect

The complete archive of FTA Membernars is available on MemberConnect, the online home of content exclusively for FTA members.

Visit MemberConnect

About Our Presenter

headshot Dov Isaacs

Dov Isaacs, Adobe

Dov Isaacs is a principal scientist and a 30-year veteran at Adobe in San Jose, CA. Currently a member of the Acrobat engineering organization, Dov has responsibility for end-to-end PDF publishing workflow and product interoperability issues within Adobe.
 
Dov also serves as Adobe’s representative to several ISO TC130 committees associated with print industry standards including PDF/X and PDF/VT, for which he serves as the chairperson and co-chairperson, respectively. Additionally, he monitors numerous InDesign, PDF, prepress, and printing email lists and user forums, not only contributing advice and solutions, especially in the areas of printing and PDF workflow, but also using issues raised and problems identified as feedback for Adobe product development. Dov is currently a member of the Industry Advisory Board for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Graphic Communication Department as well as in the past serving as an industry professor at that institution.
 
Previously, Dov founded Adobe’s corporate product interoperability group and also served in other engineering and marketing management positions within the company, including serving seven years as director of quality assurance for Adobe’s PostScript printing and driver products. Prior to Adobe, he served in engineering management positions in the areas of laser printer, office automation systems and computer operating system development.
 
Dov received his Ph.D. in computer science from the Ohio State University as well as an M.B.A. in management systems from Cornell University, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.