Rendering Reference
Technical notes for PDF rendering, archival output, and output validation.
Rendering reference
The user-facing output guide is PDF Output. Use this reference when an implementation depends on rendering behavior.
Output pipeline
Epistola renders directly to PDF. PDF/A output follows the setting on the deployed template. A generation request should not override this setting; use a different deployed template or variant when a process needs different archival behavior.
PDF/A
When archival output is enabled, validate that fonts, colors, images, and metadata are suitable for PDF/A output. Missing font coverage and invalid image metadata are common causes of archival validation failures.
Testing
Automated tests should compare the expected document structure and key text, not only whether a PDF file exists. For legally sensitive documents, keep reviewed sample outputs under version control or in an approved evidence store.