ISO 19593-1:2018

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 19593-1
First edition
2018-07
Graphic technology — Use of PDF
to associate processing steps and
content data —
Part 1:
Processing steps for packaging and
labels
Technologie graphique — Utilisation du PDF pour associer les étapes
de traitement et les données de contenu —
Partie 1: Étapes de traitement 2016
Reference number
©
ISO 2018
© ISO 2018
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Notations. 2
5 Conformance . 2
6 Storing processing-steps data in PDF — generic requirements . 3
6.1 Processing-step optional content groups . 3
6.2 Processing-step OCG metadata . 3
6.3 Colouring and positioning of processing-step objects . 4
6.3.1 Introduction . 4
6.3.2 Colouring and positioning of processing-step objects in off-bleed areas . 4
6.3.3 Colouring and positioning of processing-step objects allowed to overlap
with print content . 4
6.4 Limitations on processing-step PDF objects describing paths and surfaces . 5
6.5 Evaluating processing steps . 5
6.5.1 Introduction . 5
6.5.2 Processing steps describing paths . 6
6.5.3 Processing steps describing a surface . 6
7 Storing processing-steps data in PDF — packaging and labels requirements .6
7.1 Groups of processing-step OCGs . 6
7.1.1 Structural data (CAD) . 6
7.1.2 Braille . 7
7.1.3 Legend . 8
7.1.4 Dimensions . 8
7.1.5 Positions . 9
7.1.6 White . 9
7.1.7 Varnish . 9
7.2 Values for GTS_ProcStepsGroup .10
7.3 Values for GTS_ProcStepsType .10
7.3.1 Structural processing step group .10
7.3.2 Positions processing step group .11
7.3.3 Other processing step groups .12
7.4 Colouring and positioning of processing-step objects .12
7.4.1 Surface of the printed product .12
7.4.2 Colouring and positioning of processing-step objects in off-bleed areas .12
7.4.3 Colouring and positioning of processing-step objects allowed to overlap
with print content .13
7.4.4 Colouring and positioning of custom processing-step objects .13
7.5 Limitations on processing-step PDF objects .13
7.6 Evaluating processing steps .13
7.6.1 Processing steps describing paths .13
7.6.2 Processing steps describing surfaces .13
7.6.3 Other processing steps .14
8 Example of a processing-step OCG .14
Bibliography .15
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
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electrotechnical standardization.
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described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 130, Graphic technology.
A list of all parts in the ISO 19593 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
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iv © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Introduction
It is common practice in the packaging segment, and other segments of the printing industry, to work
with PDF files that contain PDF graphics objects to be used for printing and additional PDF graphics
objects and metadata to be used for other steps in the production of the final product. These non-
printing PDF objects and metadata correspond to additional processing steps, for example die cutting
or creasing. In this way a PDF file can serve as a container for all production data, printing and non-
printing, of a printed product, such as a package or a label.
These processing-steps data are used in various steps of the production chain:
— a graphic designer may use them to correctly position graphical elements;
— a quality controller may use them to verify correctness of the design before producing the printed
element;
— a system performing layout of the printed products on a substrate may use them to determine an
optimal layout with minimal waste of substrate;
— they can be used to manufacture tools for production;
— they can be used directly by digitally controlled finishing devices.
In a typical example workflow:
a) all PDF graphics objects are rendered for proofing and viewing purposes;
b) in the final production printing only PDF graphics objects intended for printing are used and the
PDF graphics objects intended to describe additional processing steps are ignored;
c) in a finishing step of the final production workflow the PDF graphics objects intended for printing
are ignored while a set of PDF graphics objects corresponding with this processing step are used.
Without an established standard, multiple ad hoc methods are used to store such data in a PDF file
depending on the application used to generate the PDF file and the preferences of the user. For example,
in a PDF file the cut line can be stored in a layer called “CAD” using a contour with a stroke in spot
colourant “coupe”, or the cut line can be stored in the same layer as the graphics and represented as a
contour with a stroke in spot colourant “cut”.
The use of multiple ad hoc methods leads to problems of interoperability between companies and
systems. When a PDF file is sent from one participant in the packaging supply chain to another, the
recipient needs to know how processing-steps data are stored in the PDF file and his or her workflow
(often automated) must be able to handle the particular mechanisms used by the sender. When the
recipient receives files from multiple senders that all use different mechanisms, this becomes complex
and error-prone. For example, if a converter has configured RIPs to ignore separations with spot
colourant “cut” in incoming PDF files and the recipient subsequently receives a PDF file with a spot
colourant “coupe”, he or she risks wasting a printing plate or, even worse, erroneously printing the die
line on the package.
This document defines standardized mechanisms to store graphics objects and metadata corresponding
to processing steps in a PDF file. These mechanisms are intended to be generic and applicable not only
to packaging and label production but also to other segments of the
...