More than an XMP declaration
A normal PDF does not become archival merely by adding a PDF/A identifier. The file must meet the chosen profile’s structural, color, font and other requirements. This tool constructs a controlled image-only PDF 1.4 with embedded ICC output intent and archival XMP metadata.
The generated output corpus is tested using veraPDF’s independent PDF/A-1b validation profile during release qualification. The browser itself performs local conversion and bounded input checks, not the full veraPDF ruleset.
Meet the recipient’s requirement
A library, public authority or records system may specify a different PDF/A part, an accessibility level, searchable text or signed originals. Confirm that visual PDF/A-1b is acceptable before replacing any document in a formal workflow.
For final acceptance, run veraPDF on your downloaded file with flavour 1b and retain its report. A successful visual preview and a standards validation report answer different questions; both are useful.
Read a validation result correctly
Validate the exact downloaded PDF, using the PDF/A-1b profile. In veraPDF, a compliant result should report the selected profile and no failed checks. Save that report beside the artifact. A test of another file, another profile or a release fixture does not establish compliance for your particular document. If a check fails, retain the report and original instead of editing the PDF/A label to hide the failure.
The release checks include a generated output and an ordinary non-archival PDF as a negative control. The output passes the independent validator while the ordinary PDF fails. That checks the validator is actually distinguishing structures; it does not turn the browser into a general-purpose validator or establish that all future source documents will render perfectly.
Conformance and preservation answer different questions
A file can satisfy structural rules while a source annotation was omitted or a tiny label became unreadable. Conversely, a document can look correct while missing required archival metadata or color information. Review both the visual comparison and the validation report. If an institution requests searchable text, attachments, tagged accessibility or a different PDF/A part, this image-only 1b workflow does not meet that requirement simply because its own profile passes.