ISO 23504-1:2020

Overview

ISO 23504-1:2020 - Document management applications - Raster image transport and storage - Part 1: Use of ISO 32000 (PDF/R-1) defines PDF/R, a strict subset of PDF tailored for storage, transport and exchange of multi‑page raster‑image documents (for example scanned documents and photographs). PDF/R supports bitonal, grayscale and RGB images and standard compression options including JPEG, CCITT Group 4 Fax and uncompressed image streams. The standard leverages ISO 32000 (PDF) while restricting features to create a simpler, interoperable format for raster data.

Key topics and technical requirements

• PDF/R identification: A comment line near the end of the file (e.g. %PDF-raster-1.0) marks a file as PDF/R.
• PDF header and compatibility:
  • Unencrypted PDF/R headers allowed: %PDF-1.4 to %PDF-1.7.
  • Encrypted PDF/R files must use %PDF-2.0 and follow ISO 32000-2 encryption rules.
• Allowed filters / compression:
  • FlateDecode
  • CCITTFaxDecode (only for bitonal images)
  • DCTDecode (only for 8‑bit grayscale or RGB images)
• Conformance scope: Files must meet requirements across the PDF subset, catalog dictionary, metadata (including XMP), page objects, strips, incremental updates, encryption and signatures.
• Page and image structure: Specifications cover page tree nodes, media boxes, content streams, image strips for bitonal/grayscale/RGB, and how images are located and read.
• Security and authenticity: Optional support for encryption and digital signatures to protect content and verify document origin.

Applications and practical value

• Scanner and capture workflows: Produce predictable, compact multi‑page output that is easier to generate and parse than full PDF.
• Document exchange and archiving: Replace TIFF/JPEG for scanned pages while retaining multi‑page and bitonal support; easier native viewing and printing on PDF‑aware platforms.
• Software and hardware vendors: Developers of scanners, document management systems (DMS), EDMS, PDF libraries and imaging tools use the standard to ensure compatibility and simplify implementation.
• Records management & compliance: Use where recoverability of raster image data, simple validation and consistent rendering are important.
• Efficient processing: Narrow PDF subset allows implementations with simpler parsers, fixed‑size raster buffers, and efficient image extraction.

Related standards

• ISO 32000-1:2008 - PDF 1.7 (base for many PDF/R requirements)
• ISO 32000-2:2020 - PDF 2.0 (used for encrypted PDF/R files)
• Related file formats often considered alongside PDF/R: TIFF and JPEG (PDF/R is positioned as a simpler, better‑standardized alternative for scanned multi‑page raster documents).

Keywords: ISO 23504-1:2020, PDF/R, raster image transport and storage, scanned documents, bitonal, grayscale, RGB, JPEG, CCITT Group 4 Fax, ISO 32000.