If you work with PDF documents, chances are that sooner or later you’re going to encounter PDF standards. You might knowingly save a PDF conforming to this or that standard, but you might also use standards without even being aware of it. Why? Because many of the vendors who create software using PDF implement standards for you: saving a PDF file for a specific use from that software likely uses some standard under the hood.

It is, of course, always better to be aware of what you are doing. Using PDF standards correctly is important, and knowledge about the different standards and what they can and will not accomplish for you can make all the difference in getting the result you’re looking for. That’s why Ghent Workgroup thought it might be interesting to create a document that clarifies some of the language you might encounter, demystifies some of the curious statements you might hear and that provides pointers to help you navigate the wonderful world of PDF standards.