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PDF to PDF/A

Convert to PDF/A (1b, 2b, 2u, 3b or 3u) for long-term archiving.

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  1. 1Add files
  2. 2Set up
  3. 3Download

Tip: You can also drop files anywhere on this page, or paste them.

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Accepts PDF

How to use PDF to PDF/A

  1. 01Add one or more PDFs to archive.
  2. 02Set the resolution for any page that has to be rebuilt as an image, and keep “Keep text searchable” on so those pages still have text.
  3. 03Press Convert to PDF/A and download the archive-ready files.

About PDF to PDF/A

PDF to PDF/A converts documents to PDF/A-2b, the ISO archiving format many courts, public bodies and records offices ask for. It keeps pages as they are and fixes what the standard forbids: missing fonts get metrically matching embedded substitutes, an sRGB colour profile is added, and scripts, attachments and other external content are removed.

Why your files stay private

Documents headed for an archive are often legal or personal records. The conversion, including font substitution and the colour profile, is done in your browser, so the files are never uploaded or seen by Nopload.

PDF to PDF/A: common questions

What is PDF/A-2b?
It is part 2 of the ISO 19005 standard, conformance level B: the document must look the same in the future, with all fonts and colour information inside the file and nothing that depends on outside content.
Are any pages turned into images?
Only pages that can't be fixed in place, for example ones using colour or fonts the standard doesn't allow. Those are drawn at your chosen resolution, with their text kept as an invisible searchable layer.
Will attachments and scripts be kept?
No. PDF/A-2b doesn't allow embedded files, scripts or actions that depend on the outside world, so they are removed. Bookmarks keep their place.
Should I validate the result?
Each file is checked in your browser as it's made, against the rules converted files most often break, and the report appears with the download. If your archive needs formal proof, also check it with veraPDF, which is free and open source.
Is the result still an ordinary PDF?
Yes. A PDF/A file opens in every PDF reader; the archiving rules only limit what it may contain, not who can read it.

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