Ghent Workgroup (GWG) announces the release of Ghent PDF Output Suite 5.0 for testing and adjusting PDF output workflows with color management in order to be fully compliant with PDF/X-4. Ghent PDF Output Suite 5.0 helps determine whether workflows are behaving as expected, and identify errors in a fast and easy way. It is distributed as a series of PDF patches that can be applied by end users of graphic arts equipment as well as developers of applications handling PDF files. Each patch is numbered and contains tests for one specific property. The patches can be used individually but most patches can also be grouped together. Therefore the most important part of the Ghent PDF Output Suite 5.0 package is a six page PDF with an amalgamation of 48 patches ready to start testing immediately.

Stephan Jaeggi, PrePress-Consulting Switzerland and chair of the Process Control Subcommittee, was the driving force behind the taskforce of Ghent PDF Output Suite 5.0, alongside Didier Haazen, VIGC Belgium, and Peter Kleinhieder, Calibrate Austria. “The Ghent PDF Output Suite is designed to address the complexities of digital prepress files and output settings having a significant effect on the end result of printed materials. We are all very excited about this new version. It is the first release that supports testing of output workflows with color management by adding ICC-based test patches. The test pages are easy to use, requiring little time with great benefits to the user. Eventually it helps improve the output quality big time, and adds value to the overall throughput.”

David Zwang, Chairman, Ghent Workgroup, comments: "The patches test real world issues that can be found in a production environment. The patches have been built to easily and unambiguously reveal normally subtle, and sometimes missed, problems. By using the Ghent PDF Output Suite 5.0 to test the parameters and settings in applications and RIPs, you can verify or adjust files or settings to produce optimal results when running PDF/X files.” In version 5.0 additional patches have been added to test ICC-based objects allowed in PDF/X-4 (ISO 15930-7) to test device independent workflows. The Ghent Workgroup has abstained from using ICC based blending spaces in isolated transparency groups for this release since their processing is not clearly defined in PDF 1.6, on which PDF/X-4 is based, creating confusion in RIP implementations.

Patches from the Ghent PDF Output Suite V4.0 are also included in the package which is now divided into three categories: CMYK: test patches using Device CMYK color only; SPOT: test patches using Device CMYK and a spot color; CMS: test patches using ICCbased colors and testing color management. Ghent Workgroup has asked vendor members that provide PDF workflow systems to create their individual setup instructions for a successful processing of Ghent PDF Output Suite 5.0. These will help users in setting up the correct paramaters for their PDF workflow and processing other PDF/X-4 files.

The following vendors have released their settings: AGFA Apogee Prepress 9.2; EFI Fiery proServer and Fiery XF (wide format); ESKO Software Platform; KODAK PrinergyWorkflow; OCE PRISMAsync print server. Other vendors will follow soon. Also Ghent PDF Output Suite will be regularly updated with new patches and revision of existing ones. Therefore the documentation of each patch is included in each individual patch.