Convert PDF to PDF/A: 4 Easy Ways

Converting PDF to PDF/A ensures your documents are preserved for the long term, meet regulatory compliance, and remain accessible across systems. Whether you're working with legal, government, or enterprise documents, PDF/A guarantees readability and consistency. This guide explores four common approaches: using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, free online converters, Ghostscript, and Python programming.

Quick Navigation

• What Is PDF/A
• Why Convert PDF to PDF/A
• Method 1: Convert PDF to PDF/A Using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
• Method 2: Convert PDF to PDF/A Using Free Online Converters
• Method 3: Convert PDF to PDF/A Using Ghostscript
• Method 4: Batch Convert PDF Files to PDF/A Using Python
• Troubleshooting Common Issues in PDF to PDF/A Conversion
• Conclusion: How to Choose the Right Method

What Is PDF/A?

PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of PDF designed specifically for long-term archiving. Unlike regular PDFs, PDF/A restricts the use of features that may compromise document stability in the future.

Key Characteristics of PDF/A

PDF/A enforces strict rules to guarantee longevity and consistency, including:

• All fonts must be embedded (no external font dependencies)
• No audio, video, or multimedia elements
• No encryption or password protection
• Standardized color profiles for consistent rendering
• No external references, ensuring the document is fully self-contained

PDF/A Versions

PDF/A comes in several versions, each designed to meet specific archival and document-preservation needs. The table below summarizes the major PDF/A versions and their ideal use cases:

Why Convert PDF to PDF/A?

There are several reasons why converting a PDF to PDF/A might be necessary:

• Long-Term Preservation : PDF/A ensures that documents will remain accessible and usable for many years, making it ideal for legal, government, and archival purposes.
• Compliance with Regulations : Certain industries, including law and healthcare, require documents to be stored in PDF/A format for compliance with regulations such as ISO 19005.
• Consistency in Viewing : Since PDF/A embeds all fonts, images, and other resources, the document will display consistently across different systems without dependencies on external files.

Method 1: Convert PDF to PDF/A Using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC remains the industry standard for PDF manipulation. It provides the most stable and accurate way to convert PDF to PDF/A with built-in validation tools.

Steps:

1. Open the PDF you want to convert in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

2. Go to File > Save As Other > Archivable PDF (PDF/A) .

   

3. Select the desired PDF/A standard (such as PDF/A-1a, PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2a, or PDF/A-2b).

4. Save the PDF/A file.

Pros:

• Easy to use with a professional-grade tool.
• Supports different PDF/A standards.
• Ensures compliance with PDF/A requirements.

Cons:

• Requires Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, which is a paid software.

Method 2: Convert PDF to PDF/A Using Free Online Converters

If you only need occasional conversions and prefer not to install software, free online converters like PDF2GO and AvePDF provide a fast and accessible solution. These tools run entirely in your browser, making them ideal for non-sensitive documents.

Steps (Using PDF2GO as an Example):

1. Visit the PDF2GO’s free online PDF to PDF/A converter.
2. Click Choose file to upload your PDF or drag & drop the file to the designated area.
3. Choose the desired PDF/A standard as the output format.
4. Click Start to begin the conversion process.
5. Download the PDF/A version of your document.

Pros:

• Free to use.
• No software installation required.
• Quick and easy for occasional conversions.

Cons:

• Online tools may have file size limitations.
• Not ideal for sensitive or confidential documents due to potential security risks.

Method 3: Convert PDF to PDF/A Using Ghostscript

Ghostscript is a robust, open-source command-line tool widely used for automated PDF processing. It offers a flexible and cost-free way to convert PDFs to PDF/A-compliant documents.

Steps:

1. Download and install Ghostscript from its official website.

2. Open a command prompt or terminal window.

3. Run the following command to convert your PDF file to PDF/A (example for PDF/A-1b):

   D:\Applications\Ghostscript\gs10.06.0\bin\gswin64.exe -dPDFA=1 -dBATCH -dNOPAUSE -sProcessColorModel=DeviceRGB -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -sPDFACompatibilityPolicy=1 -sColorConversionStrategy=UseDeviceIndependentColor -sOutputFile="C:/Users/Administrator/Documents/output.pdf" "C:/Users/Administrator/Documents/input.pdf"
   

   Important:

   • Replace "D:\Applications\Ghostscript\gs10.06.0\bin\gswin64.exe" with the actual path to your Ghostscript executable (gswin64.exe).
   • Replace C:/Users/Administrator/Documents/input.pdf with the path to your source PDF file, and C:/Users/Administrator/Documents/output.pdf with the desired name and location for your converted file.

Pros:

• Free and open-source.
• Highly customizable.
• Ideal for automation.

Cons:

• Requires command-line knowledge.
• More complex setup compared to graphical tools.

Method 4: Batch Convert PDF Files to PDF/A Using Python

For users who prefer a more programmatic approach, Python is a great choice, especially for batch processing or integrating PDF to PDF/A conversion into applications or backend services. With libraries like Spire.PDF for Python, you can batch convert multiple PDF files to PDF/A effortlessly. Additionally, the library also supports converting PDFs to Word and other formats, making it a versatile tool for document conversion.

Steps:

1. Install Spire.PDF from PyPI using the following command:

   pip install spire-pdf
   

2. Write a Python Script to batch convert multiple PDF files to PDF/A-1b format:

   import os
   from spire.pdf import *
   
   # Define input and output folder paths
   inputFolder = "path/to/your/input/folder/"
   outputFolder = "path/to/your/output/folder/"
   
   # Get a list of all PDF files in the input folder
   pdfFiles = [f for f in os.listdir(inputFolder) if f.endswith('.pdf')]
   
   # Iterate through each PDF file and convert
   for pdfFile in pdfFiles:
       # Construct the full input and output file paths
       inputFile = os.path.join(inputFolder, pdfFile)
       outputFile = os.path.join(outputFolder, f"ToPdfA1B_{pdfFile}")
   
       # Create a PdfStandardsConverter object
       converter = PdfStandardsConverter(inputFile)
   
       # Perform the PDF to PDF/A-1b conversion
       converter.ToPdfA1B(outputFile)
       print(f"Converted: {inputFile} to {outputFile}")
   
   print("Batch conversion completed.")
   

   

Pros:

• Ideal for batch processing and automation.
• Can be integrated into existing workflows or applications.

Cons:

• Requires Python programming knowledge.
• Need to install the Spire.PDF library.

For more advanced settings regarding this conversion, please visit Spire.PDF’s official guide: Python: Convert PDF to PDF/A and Vice Versa.

Troubleshooting Common Issues in PDF to PDF/A Conversion

When converting a PDF to PDF/A, you may encounter validation errors or failed exports. Below are the most common issues and the quick solutions:

• Missing or Unembedded Fonts
  • Symptoms: "Font not embedded" error or incorrect text display.
  • Solution: Embed all fonts or replace unsupported fonts with standard ones (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman).
• Transparency or Layer Issues
  • Symptoms: Conversion fails due to transparency or layers (especially for PDF/A-1).
  • Solution: Use PDF/A-2b or PDF/A-3b, or flatten transparency before conversion.
• External Links, Attachments, or Multimedia
  • Symptoms: Conversion blocked due to external content (attachments, JavaScript, multimedia).
  • Solution: Remove attachments or convert them to static content, and eliminate scripts or multimedia elements.
• Incorrect Color Profiles
  • Symptoms: Validation errors related to color profiles.
  • Solution: Apply a standard color profile (e.g., sRGB) and ensure images use supported color spaces.
• Validation Failed After Export
  • Symptoms: Conversion completes, but the file fails PDF/A compliance.
  • Solution: Validate using tools like veraPDF, Adobe Acrobat Preflight, or online PDF/A validators to identify and fix errors.
• Encrypted or Password-Protected PDFs
  • Symptoms: Conversion not allowed due to password protection.
  • Solution: Remove security settings or passwords before converting.

Conclusion: How to Choose the Right Method

Converting PDF to PDF/A is crucial for ensuring document longevity, accessibility, and compliance. The best method for converting PDF to PDF/A depends on your specific needs:

• For occasional conversions : free online tools are a quick and easy option.
• For professional and compliant conversions : Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is the most reliable choice.
• For those who prefer open-source tools : Ghostscript offers a robust, though command-line-intensive, solution.
• For automation or batch processing : Python is ideal for integration into larger systems.

Tip : Regardless of your chosen method, always validate converted files for PDF/A compliance and keep backups of original documents.

FAQs: PDF to PDF/A

Q1: What is PDF/A?

A1: PDF/A is an ISO-standardized PDF designed for long-term archiving. It embeds all fonts, metadata, and color profiles to ensure documents render the same way in the future.

Q2: Can I convert PDF to PDF/A for free?

A2: Yes, free tools like PDF2GO and Ghostscript allow PDF/A conversion without any cost.

Q3: Is PDF/A compatible with all PDF readers?

A3: Most modern PDF readers support PDF/A, but some advanced features may not display in older software.

Q4: Which PDF/A version should I use?

A4: For simple archival, PDF/A-1b is sufficient. For modern features like layers and attachments, PDF/A-2 or PDF/A-3 is recommended.

Q5: Can I automate PDF/A conversion for multiple files?

A5: Yes, using programmatic tools like Spire.PDF or Ghostscript scripts, batch conversion is possible.

See Also

• 5 Efficient Ways to Convert PDF to Black and White
• Convert PDF Table to Word – Accurate & Reliable Methods
• Unsecure a PDF (With or Without a Password)
• Extract Pages from a PDF for Free — No Adobe Needed