Looking for print-ready PDF generation software library

[ghfaulkner]

We are a printing company and are looking to build a system for our clients where they can input info (name, address, logo, etc.) and then it will merge into an existing PDF and generate a high-resolution, print-ready PDF.  We also might need the ability to go from HTML to high-resolution, print-ready PDF.  Are there any software libraries out there that might help with this?

[Abambo]

ghfaulkner  wrote

We also might need the ability to go from HTML to high-resolution, print-ready PDF.

That will not be possible.

What do you want to build? A business card designer or similar?

There exists an API for creating PDF files. Text and vector graphics will be per se "high resolution" but images (photos) need to be high resolution (300dpi) from the beginning on.

With some manual work, you may use Adobe Indesign and the data merge function to do what you want to do, if the api solution is not possible.

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

The “Web to Print” industry is very mature. You should be able to license what you require in an out of the box product that can be easily linked via an API to your website, or just rent a website that already does this (why reinvent the wheel).

A common solution licensed by many vendors is Aleyant’s eDocBuilder system which you can plug into your existing website/transactional shopping cart site via an API:

https://www.aleyant.com/page/edocbuilder

The eDocBuilder “engine" is also used in Aleyant's “out of the box” web to print website Pressero where no software development is required:

https://www.aleyant.com/page/pressero

If you wish to build it all yourself (reinventing the wheel, a black hole for time/money) and plug in a PDF generation library then I believe that the following ABCpdf library is also licensed and used by Aleyant:

ABCpdf - C# PDF Library Component for .NET

There are many others libraries and frameworks available. For example, you can license the Adobe PDF Library or you could create a solution by licensing Adobe InDesign Server technology. Try this link for more on various solutions for developers:

PDF SDK & PDF Developer Libraries

And many web to print vendors promote their products here:

Web-enabled Printing Systems - PrintPlanet.com

When you mentioned HTML this product also came to mind:

https://www.callassoftware.com/en/products/pdfchip

The caveat is “print ready” not all libraries are created equal, some may create RGB, CMYK and Spot Colour PDF files, however they may not support the overprint or multiply commands. So depending on your requirements they may still need some form of post processing preflight/fix etc.

Good luck!