The book includes a general description of PDF architecture and a comparison to the PostScript language, and explanations of the following: PDF syntax at the object, file, and document level; graphics operators; facilities for presenting text in the form of character shapes or "glyphs" defined by the font; how device-independent descriptions render the page to match the output device; version 1.4's transparent imaging model (which allows objects to be painted with varying degrees of opacity); interactive features; and how PDFs can incorporate higher-level information useful for the interchange of documents among apps. A PDF version of the entire book is included on the companion CD. Also, the index is lengthy and detailed--a definite plus for any reference.

The book is surprisingly readable despite its highly technical content. However, it's unlikely that general graphics professionals who only create and print PDFs will need this reference. It tells how PDFs work (right down to the syntax, operators, and PostScript), not how to work with PDFs. On the other hand, developers who are creating applications that will read and/or generate PDFs will find this an essential addition to their bookshelves. --Angelynn Grant