PDFCore Studio processes documents 100% inside your local browser memory using WebAssembly with zero server uploads.
- Local Security: Files never leave your device or enter external networks.
- No Data Caps: Convert, edit, and secure PDFs without file size or page count limits.
- Offline Availability: Runs directly in modern browsers without software installation.
1. What is PDF/A and Why Was It Created?
Standard PDF files are designed for dynamic interactive presentation and may include external font references, JavaScript actions, embedded video, and encryption. However, over decades, external links break, un-embedded fonts disappear, and software changes cause documents to render inconsistently.
PDF/A (ISO 19005) is the internationally recognized ISO standard specifically engineered for long-term digital preservation and electronic archiving. It guarantees that an archived electronic document can be reproduced exactly the same way decades or centuries in the future, regardless of hardware, operating systems, or software revisions.
2. ISO 19005 Conformance Levels (1a, 1b, 2b, 3u)
| PDF/A Standard | Base PDF Version | Key Archival Feature |
|---|---|---|
| PDF/A-1b (ISO 19005-1) | PDF 1.4 | Basic visual preservation; ensures identical visual rendering over time. |
| PDF/A-1a | PDF 1.4 | Accessible structured preservation; includes full semantic structural tags and Unicode text maps. |
| PDF/A-2b (ISO 19005-2) | PDF 1.7 | Adds support for JPEG 2000 images, transparency layers, and embedded PDF/A attachments. |
| PDF/A-3u (ISO 19005-3) | PDF 1.7 | Allows embedding arbitrary external file formats (XML, CSV, CAD files) as raw attachments. |
3. Prohibited Features: JavaScript, Encryption & External Fonts
To guarantee permanent uncorrupted preservation, PDF/A strictly forbids:
- Audio, Video & 3D Content: Interactive media streams that depend on external codecs are prohibited.
- JavaScript & Executable Code: Dynamic scripting is disallowed to prevent security vulnerabilities and inconsistent rendering states.
- Password Encryption: Encrypting an archival document prevents future automated indexation and preservation systems from parsing content.
- External Font Referencing: All font glyph outlines must be 100% embedded inside the PDF file stream.
4. Mandatory Standards: Embedded Color Profiles & Subsets
PDF/A mandates that all color spaces are unambiguously defined using device-independent International Color Consortium (ICC) Output Intent profiles (such as sRGB or ISO Coated v2). This ensures that colors render consistently across all future monitors and digital printing presses.