Call on GWG for large-format standard

According to a recent survey of over 1,000 companies across the global graphics arts sector by the Ghent Workgroup (GWG) - whose objective is to establish and disseminate process specifications for best practices in workflows - 90% of companies are now receiving PDF files in preference to EPS and Postscript. But, the survey - which asked ‘which standards are missing?’ - also received a significant response asking for specifications for large-format and packaging . GWG said there would be news on this in the near future.

Through its 2017 PDF survey GWG now has a clearer picture of the demographics and types of companies using PDF and PDF/X and how they are working within their printers and prepress partners. The results reflected a strong uptake by creative agencies and freelance designers. David van Driessche, executive director at GWG said: “This is pleasing. It’s the way the industry should be going. If PDF and PDF/X files are created correctly at the design stage, the rest of the process through to production can be simplified”. One of the key elements of the GWG mission is to educate and it was noted, through the survey responses, that there is still some confusion between PDF/X and PDF/X-Plus, the GWG preferred format. It was also noted that 83% of companies now preflight all files, although in some cases this was a visual check and not through the use of preflight software.