The Ghent PDF Workgroup releases Proof of Preflight specification

PDF file integrity can now be verified as a result of The Ghent Workgroup's (GWG) release of the first free ‘Proof of Preflight’ specification.  When implemented in a software solution, this best practice specification offers users the ability to review a PDF file's preflight audit trail, including a digital signature, at any time during the design to print workflow.

This capability provides users the assurance that they can safely accept a PDF file with a Proof of Preflight.  This process verifies which GWG preflight specification was used to preflight the file and also the outcome of the preflight check.

Another key benefit of the GWG Proof of Preflight specification is its ‘open’ design, making it interoperable across different vendor workflows.  GWG designed the digital signature using algorithms which are defined in the PDF 1.7 (or earlier) specification(s), and which are supported in Acrobat as of Acrobat 8. The digital signature complies with all requirements present in the PDF/X-1a and PDF/X-3, and PDF/X-4 standards.