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Processing PDF files

Pixometry supports processing of images inside PDF files

Pixometry extracts the individual images out of the PDF and processes them individually. After processing of all individual images is completed (they might even go through Inspector approval) the PDF gets updated with the new images and end up in the output folder of the flow.

There are a few very important points to make about PDF processing in Pixometry:

  • Pixometry supports only unflattened PDF‘s!! In other words, with the transparencies intact. For example, PDF/x-4 (Ghent workgroup specification) usually keeps the transparencies intact. Pixometry must be able to extract complete images, it cannot handle tiled images! If you get PDF files from customers and you do not know whether they are flattened or not, do not process them through Pixometry or carefully check the result before using the processed PDF. Unfortunately it is not possible to recognise these PDF‘s, so they will be processed, but with potentially bad results, such as seeing edges between the tiles of an image.

  • There may also be images constructed out of multiple parts, for example if part of an image (i.e. a person) needs to be over a title and the rest underneath the title. See image below.

  • Pixometry processes only the images inside the PDF. Pixometry does nothing with the vector elements. Therefore it cannot be used to color-convert and re-purpose the PDF in its entirety. It can be used to color-convert and resample the images inside the PDF.

  • There are a number of settings for processing PDF files. Please read the PDF settings.

  • Even if the PDF is not flattened, it is still a good idea to check the end-result before use.