The PDF format has been a staple for document sharing for decades, but its reliance on older image formats like JPEG, PNG-like compression and JPEG-2000 is starting to show its age. A recent white paper highlights the advantages of incorporating JPEG-XL into the ISO PDF standard and PDF/Raster, bringing several key benefits to the format. Here’s why this matters:
1. Better Compression with No Quality Loss
JPEG-XL provides superior compression efficiency, allowing PDFs to have smaller file sizes without sacrificing image quality. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, making it versatile for various use cases.
2. Advanced Features for Modern Needs
Unlike older formats, JPEG-XL supports high dynamic range (HDR), wide color gamuts, progressive decoding, and animation. These features make PDFs more adaptable to modern digital workflows.
3. Improved Archival and Longevity
For industries that rely on long-term document storage—such as legal, medical, and archival organizations—JPEG-XL offers a more future-proof solution with better quality preservation and reduced storage cost.
4. Enhanced Performance in Document Processing
With its efficient encoding and decoding, JPEG-XL can reduce processing times and improve rendering speeds, leading to a smoother experience when viewing or editing PDFs.
5. High Dynamic Range (HDR) Support
JPEG-XL's HDR capabilities enable richer colors, better contrast, and greater detail in images, making PDFs more visually appealing and suitable for professional applications.
6. Sustainable and Open-Source
JPEG-XL is an open standard, meaning it avoids patent restrictions and licensing issues that can come with proprietary formats. This ensures long-term accessibility and sustainability for the PDF ecosystem.
The Future of PDFs
Adding JPEG-XL to the PDF standard will reducing file sizes, improving image quality, and enhancing performance, this integration would make PDFs more efficient, modern, and ready for the future of digital document management.
With the growing reliance on smartphones for everyday image capture, long-term archival solutions for these images have become a priority. JPEG-XL, with its lossless compression capabilities, is ideally suited for the archiving of smartphone photos within PDFs, offering a solution that preserves image quality while significantly reducing file sizes.
TWAIN Working Group supports the adoption of JPEG-XL into the ISO PDF standard as a crucial step towards modernizing the format and unlocking its full potential for industries worldwide. Learn more about this issue and then take TWAIN Group's brief survey.
