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Free PDF Workflow Effectiveness Tests Available from World's Pre-Eminent PDF Experts at the Ghent PDF Workgroup Includes Ghent Output Suite Updates and Eight New Patches

Tests the Ability of Workflows to Correctly Handle PDF Files in Production

Ghent Output Suite & Latest Specifications Available for Download Free at www.gwg.org

Ghent, Belgium - April 3, 2007 - The Ghent PDF Workgroup (GWG) today announces availability of the new Ghent Output Suite, designed to help professionals determine whether PDF workflows are handling PDF files as expected. GWG is the fast-growing international association making it easy to produce and exchange reliable digital documents for use throughout the publishing workflow. To download the free Ghent Output Suite visit: www.gwg.org.

The newest series in the Ghent Output Suite version 2.0 covers the most common issues relating to PDF for print workflows, and consists of 8 new PDF patches resulting in a total of 19 PDF test patches in all, along with revised manuals and individual readme files for each patch. GWG has also made some minor adjustments to some of the existing patches and documentation in order to make them clearer and easier to understand.

Stephan Jaeggi, Technical Officer for the Ghent PDF Workgroup, cites an example of a successful Ghent Output Suite application: "The Ghent PDF Output Suite patches are being used for the test pages from PDFX-ready, the Swiss organization that supports its membership with certification. By sending in prints of the certification pages, a print shop can prove that their workflow can handle PDF/X files correctly. In a short period, 42 companies have already received a PDFX-ready Output Certification."

The Ghent Output Suite is also designed to aid developers of applications that handle PDF files. In a recent graphic arts exhibition, Pascale Ginguené, Marketing Officer for GWG, conducted tests of various RIPs and proofers using the Ghent Output Suite. It was revealed that some of the solutions didn't handle all the production scenarios correctly. Subsequently, one of the vendors whose solution Ginguené tested utilized the Ghent Output Suite to re-test and pinpoint potential issues, and consequently modify its workflow solution for the benefit of its customers.

About the Ghent Output Suite

The Test Suite is distributed as a series of PDF patches. Each patch is numbered and contains several related tests. The patches can be used on their own but the intention of the Suite is that the patches be grouped together (as PDF files would normally be grouped together within a workflow). The reason for this is that it is likely that some problems will only appear when certain patches are processed together. It is also likely that application settings and RIP settings will have a significant effect on the results.All the issues tested by these patches are real world issues that can be found in a production environment; however, these patches do not reflect normal production files and the results may, in some cases, appear extreme. The patches have been carefully constructed to allow effects that are normally too subtle to be seen clearly and unambiguously; and this should be taken into account when evaluating the results of any tests based on these patches. On a technical note, all patches conform to either the PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-3 ISO standard; they do not always conform to the Ghent PDF Workgroup specifications.

It is likely that this Suite will be updated, new patches will be added, and existing patches will be revised. For this reason the documentation for each individual patch is distributed along with the patch. It is advised that users check regularly for updates to the Suite on the Ghent PDF Workgroup website at www.gwg.org.

Samples of Ghent Output Patch Evaluations

Ghent Output Suite International Participants

The following GWG committee members participated in the creation and testing of the latest series in the Ghent Output Suite under the direction of the Process Control subcommittee chairman, Andy Psarianos of FE Burman Limited, U.K.:

Martin Bailey, Global Graphics, United Kingdom; Peter Claes, Sagamgraphic, Belgium; Elli Cloots, Gradual Software, Belgium; Olaf Drummer, Callas GMBH, Germany; Didier Haazen, Flemish Innovation Center for Graphic Communication, Belgium; Dov Isaacs, Adobe Systems Incorporated, United States; Stephan Jaeggi, PrePress-Consulting, Switzerland; Paul Feenstra Kuiper, Roto Smeets, Netherlands; Andy Psarianos, F E Burman Limited, United Kingdom; Goossen Rindjers, Wegener ICT Kranten, Netherlands; Andy Den Tandt, Enfocus Software, Belgium; David L. Zwang, Zwang & Company, United States.

About the Ghent PDF Workgroup

The Ghent PDF Workgroup (GWG), formed in June 2002, is an international assembly of industry associations and suppliers from across Europe and the United States. The GWG's objective is to establish and disseminate process specifications for best practices in graphic arts workflows.

Members are comprised of graphic arts associations including: BVDM (Germany), CMBO (The Netherlands); CITAGM (Spain); DDPFF (Denmark); ERA (Germany); Febelgra (Belgium); FESPA (UK); FICG (France); FTA (USA); IDP Group (The Netherlands); IPA (USA); Medibel+ (Belgium); Nederlands Uitgeversverbond (The Netherlands); PDFX-ready (Switzerland); PPA (UK); SICOGIF (France); Taga Italia (Italy); VFG (Austria); VIGC (Belgium); VISKOM (Norway); and VSD (Switzerland).

Vendor members are to date: Adobe Systems Incorporated, Adstream, Agfa, Artwork Systems, Callas, CGS Publishing Technologies, Dalim Software, DevZeroG, Enfocus Software, Esko-Graphics, Global Graphics, GMG Color, Gradual Software, Heidelberg, HP, ICS, Kodak, OneVision, Quark, and Screen Europe, Specle.

For more information about the GWG, including a full list of its members and objectives, www.gwg.org.

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GWG Press Contacts:

Judy Sweeney
HSPR Public Relations
+1 516 771 7512
judy@helenesmith.com

Ruth Clark
Splash!PR
+44 (0)1580 24 11 77
ruth@splashpr.co.uk

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