prawnpdf/prawn
Prawn
Prawn is a Ruby library and document layout tool used for the programmatic generation of PDF files. It functions as a vector graphics engine that allows for the creation of portable documents containing formatted text, custom shapes, and organized page layouts.
The library differentiates itself through a coordinate-based vector rendering system that supports multi-stop gradient fills, complex polygons, and layer-based blending. It provides a comprehensive typography system capable of embedding TrueType and OpenType fonts to support UTF-8 characters and right-to-left text for multilingual publishing.
Broad capabilities include document structure management with hierarchical outlines, the embedding of raster images with transparency support, and the insertion of interactive hyperlinks. The system also includes security features for document encryption and password protection.
Features
- PDF Generation Libraries - Offers a programmatic interface for creating and formatting professional PDF documents using Ruby.
- PDF Document Generation - Provides a programmatic interface for generating PDF files from scratch, including text, images, and vector layouts.
- Document Layout and Styling - Organizes content using a grid system with repeatable headers, footers, and page numbers.
- Document Layout Tools - Provides a comprehensive system for organizing page content with repeatable headers, footers, and grid-based layouts.
- Text Rendering Engines - Produces flowing text with inline formatting and supports a comprehensive typography system.
- Binary Document Stream Generators - Constructs PDF files by writing formatted text streams and binary data according to the PDF specification.
- Coordinate-Based Rendering - Implements a coordinate-based vector rendering system to map shapes and text to a fixed page grid.
- Vector Graphics Renderers - Renders lines, polygons, curves, and ellipses to create custom shapes and diagrams.
- PDF Image Embedding - Inserts raster PNG and JPG images into PDF documents using flexible scaling options.
- PDF Vector Graphics - Enables programmatic drawing of complex vector shapes, paths, and multi-stop gradients onto PDF pages.
- Document Object Models - Represents the PDF document as a hierarchical object tree that can be directly manipulated.
- PDF Font Embedding - Integrates TrueType and OpenType font glyphs directly into PDF files for consistent cross-platform rendering.
- PDF Font Embedding - Integrates TrueType and OpenType fonts into documents to ensure consistent typography across different viewers.
- Automated Report Generators - Generates structured reports with repeatable headers and footers for business or technical data summaries.
- Multilingual Rendering - Supports rendering UTF-8 characters and right-to-left text for international document publishing.
- Outline Management - Provides programmatic creation and modification of hierarchical document outlines and bookmarks.
- PDF Outline Generators - Generates clickable navigation menus and structured tables of contents for long documents.
- Multi-Stop Gradients - Supports filling shapes using a series of color stops positioned across a coordinate system.
- PDF Encryptions and Decryptions - Applies password-based encryption and security to PDF files to restrict unauthorized access.
- Blending Utilities - Controls how overlapping layers merge visually using standard blending operations.
- Geospatial Blending Modes - Provides blending utilities to control how overlapping graphical layers merge visually using transparency operations.
- Right-to-Left Script Rendering - Supports global languages by rendering UTF-8 characters and right-to-left text with fallback font support.
- Ruby Frameworks and Tools - PDF generation tool for Ruby.
- PDF Generation - Fast and nimble PDF generation library.
