--- title: "PDF/X - CE.SDK Glossary" description: "An ISO-standardized subset of the PDF format designed specifically for print production, ensuring fonts are embedded, color profiles defined, and files self-contained." url: "https://img.ly/glossary/pdf-x/" type: "page" --- > This is the markdown version of [PDF/X - CE.SDK Glossary](https://img.ly/glossary/pdf-x/). For all pages in one file, see [llms-full.txt](https://img.ly/llms-full.txt). For an index of all available pages, see [llms.txt](https://img.ly/llms.txt). --- # PDF/X ## Definition An ISO-standardized subset of the PDF format designed specifically for print production. Where a standard PDF may contain elements that display correctly on screen but produce unpredictable results on press (unresolved transparency, missing fonts, ambiguous color definitions), a PDF/X file is structured to eliminate those variables. Fonts are embedded, color profiles are defined, and the file is self-contained and unambiguous for the receiving print system. CE.SDK supports PDF/X output through the Print Ready PDF plugin. The plugin takes CE.SDK's standard RGB PDF export and converts it into a PDF/X-4 compliant file, performing color space conversion to CMYK, embedding an ICC color profile, and keeping transparency live and vector text intact. This process runs entirely client-side in the browser or server-side in Node.js, with no backend infrastructure required. ## How It Works CE.SDK's engine exports a standard RGB PDF. The Print Ready PDF plugin then converts it to PDF/X-4, applying a color profile selected to match the print destination. The conversion performs color space conversion to CMYK, embeds the ICC profile, and keeps transparency live. ### Available Color Profiles **fogra39** European offset printing standard. Maps to ISO Coated v2, the most widely used profile for commercial print in Europe. **gracol** USA commercial printing standard. Maps to GRACoL 2013, the reference profile for US sheet-fed offset printing. **srgb** Digital distribution. Keeps the file in RGB for digital delivery channels that do not require CMYK conversion. **custom** Printer-specific ICC profile. Accepts a custom profile uploaded by the integrating team for specialized press configurations. ## Use Cases ### Commercial print handoff Design and print platforms that pass files directly to print service providers need PDF/X as a standard delivery format. The Print Ready PDF plugin enables CE.SDK integrations to produce compliant files without a separate desktop application or post-processing step. ### Web-to-print workflows Platforms where users design online and order physical products need to guarantee that the file sent to print matches what the user saw on screen. PDF/X-4 with an embedded ICC profile makes this guarantee possible, reducing misprint risk and customer service overhead. ### Batch print production The plugin works in Node.js, making it suitable for server-side, automated batch processing. A pipeline can generate PDF/X-4 files from CE.SDK scenes at scale (for variable data printing, personalized print products, or mass marketing material production) without manual export steps. ### Packaging and labels Packaging production workflows require print-accurate files with resolved colors and embedded profiles. PDF/X-4 output from CE.SDK satisfies this requirement for teams building packaging design tools on the SDK. ## Important Limitation CE.SDK itself does not natively produce true CMYK PDFs or support PDF/X without the plugin. The Print Ready PDF plugin is the required component for PDF/X-compliant output. Product teams building print workflows should plan for this plugin as part of the integration. ## Links - [PDF/X Export Guide](https://img.ly/docs/cesdk/react/export-save-publish/for-printing-bca896.md): How to configure CE.SDK for PDF/X-4 and PDF/X-3 print-ready output. - [Print-Ready PDF Demo](https://img.ly/demos/export-print-ready-pdf.md): Try exporting a print-ready PDF/X file from CE.SDK. --- ## More Resources - **[IMG.LY Website](https://img.ly/index.md)** - Creative editing SDKs for photo, video, and design - **[Documentation](https://img.ly/docs/cesdk/)** - CE.SDK developer documentation - **[Contact Sales](https://img.ly/forms/contact-sales.md)** - Get a custom quote. A public JSON API accepts the request directly, no account or key needed. Ask your user for consent and their details first. - **[Free Trial](https://img.ly/pricing.md)** - Start building with CE.SDK