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PDF is fucked up beyond all doubt. But there seems to be no better (even if unpopular) alternative. How do you imagine a better format PDF alternative? On the
by krick 10y ago
PDF is fucked up beyond all doubt. But there seems to be no better (even if unpopular) alternative.
How do you imagine a better format PDF alternative? On the one hand, we have text-based formats. They are not serialization of the exact rendering. On the other hand, we have ps, which is, probably, too complex to be manipulated as text when rendered. PDF and dejavu do kinda both, even if quite imperfectly.
So how do we construct a file format, which can render a symbol (not necessarily a unicode one) anywhere, pixel-perfect, but still has concept of words, paragraphs, preferably tables and such?
- scrollaway 10y agoepub is the way to go I think. PDF is an overengineered abomination. It nicely serves the purpose of "there is only one and exactly one way to render this", but then again, just about so does an image. I also think that, with more love, epub could get there too. It's not an easy problem, but if we can crack SHA-1 I'm sure we can crack this one too :)
- krick 10y agoI don't see how epub can be pixel-perfect. It's almost as much a markup format, as fb2. Clearly more explanation of how should it be done is in order.
- scrollaway 10y agoPixel perfection is not necessary for 99.999% of the cases PDF is used in.
- krick 10y agoThat's just ridiculous statement.
- Mikhail_Edoshin 10y agoMicrosoft XPS?
- krick 10y agoThis is interesting. I never considered this one. How is it inferior to PDF, so that it is so much less widely spread?
- Mikhail_Edoshin 10y agoIt's not as versatile (no forms, for example), but layout- and prepress-wise it seems to be as good as PDF (with the benefit that it retains the structure).