How to Convert PDF to PDF/X with cURL, Tutorial

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Why Convert to PDF/X with cURL?

The pdfRest Convert to PDF/X API Tool is a powerful solution for developers looking to convert documents into the PDF/X standard, which is widely used for high-quality print production. This tutorial will guide you through the process of sending an API call to Convert to PDF/X using cURL, a command-line tool for transferring data with URLs. By leveraging cURL, you can easily integrate this conversion functionality into your applications or workflows.

A graphic designer might need to convert a PDF document to the PDF/X format to ensure that it meets industry standards for printing. PDF/X files are optimized for print production, ensuring that all necessary fonts and images are embedded and that colors are accurately represented. This process helps prevent printing errors and ensures the final product looks as intended.

Convert to PDF/X with cURL Code Example

curl -X POST "https://api.pdfrest.com/pdfx" \
  -H "Accept: application/json" \
  -H "Content-Type: multipart/form-data" \
  -H "Api-Key: xxxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -F "file=@/path/to/file" \
  -F "output=example_out" \
  -F "output_type=PDF/X-4" \

Source: GitHub Repository

Breaking Down the Code

The provided code is a cURL command that sends a POST request to the pdfRest API endpoint for converting documents to PDF/X. Let's break down each part of the command:

curl -X POST "https://api.pdfrest.com/pdfx"

This line specifies that a POST request is being made to the URL https://api.pdfrest.com/pdfx, which is the endpoint for the Convert to PDF/X API tool.

-H "Accept: application/json"

This header indicates that the client expects the server's response to be in JSON format.

-H "Content-Type: multipart/form-data"

The Content-Type header is set to multipart/form-data, which is necessary for uploading files in a POST request.

-H "Api-Key: xxxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx"

This header includes the API key, which is a unique identifier used to authenticate the request. Replace the placeholder with your actual API key.

-F "file=@/path/to/file"

The -F flag is used to specify form data. Here, it uploads the file to be converted. Replace /path/to/file with the actual path to your file.

-F "output=example_out"

This form field specifies the name of the output file. The converted PDF/X file will be named example_out.

-F "output_type=PDF/X-4"

This field indicates the desired output format. In this case, the document will be converted to the PDF/X-4 standard.

Beyond the Tutorial

In this tutorial, you learned how to use cURL to send an API request to the pdfRest Convert to PDF/X endpoint. This allows you to convert documents to the PDF/X format, which is essential for ensuring high-quality print production. To further explore the capabilities of pdfRest, you can try out all of their API tools in the API Lab.

For more detailed information on the API and its various endpoints, refer to the API Reference Guide. This guide provides comprehensive documentation on how to use the pdfRest API effectively.

Note: This is an example of a multipart API call. Code samples using JSON payloads can be found at GitHub Repository.