Mako Core – Global Graphics Software blog

Unlock faster AI workflows, lower cloud costs, and get better outcomes, by starting with the right PDF technology

In full disclosure, anyone that has ever worked with me will tell you I’m the least technical person you’ll ever meet. But after almost 25 years of selling solutions that work with PDF, even I’ve learned a thing or two.

That learning has led me to a realization: some of the unique capabilities of our Mako Core™ technology can give customers a real edge, not just in their current markets, but in future opportunities too.

Please indulge me as I share my layman’s view.

Two fundamentally different ways to process a PDF

The Display List approach (used by most PDF libraries)
Most libraries interpret each page as a stream of drawing commands – text, images, lines -executed in order without understanding how those elements relate. There’s no awareness of paragraphs, reading order, or logical structure, just instructions for painting pixels.
The Mako + Apex approach
Mako builds a structured, intelligent object model (iDOM) from the page content, grouping fragmented elements into coherent text blocks and exposing a logical hierarchy. This enables precise editing, accurate extraction, and ultra-fast GPU rendering with Apex, all from the same unified model.

While Mako doesn’t try to guess what’s a table or a heading, it does reconstruct fragmented text into coherent, natural reading order for tasks like:

Accurate text extraction
Reliable search and redaction
Feeding clean, structured content into AI systems (eg ChatGPT, document summarization engines)

And with Apex, our GPU-native rendering engine, we don’t just make this smarter, we make it faster. Really fast.

AI needs more than just text

If your product roadmap includes AI-powered features or you’re building tools for others who do, how you process PDF content is critical.

Here’s the twist: my people tell me that many leading document AI systems today, including layout-aware models like LayoutLMv3, rely not only on extracted text, but also on images of pages rendered from the PDF. They “read” a document visually, just like humans do.

That means your AI pipeline depends on one thing being fast, reliable, and scalable: rendering high-quality images of PDF pages.

With traditional CPU-based rendering, this can quickly become a bottleneck, and a major cloud cost.

That’s where Apex offers a breakthrough:

Blazingly fast rendering on the GPU
Lower inference costs for cloud-hosted AI workflows
Scales effortlessly for high-volume or real-time pipelines

Whether you’re summarizing documents, extracting data, or running large-scale classification, Apex reduces the time and compute needed to prepare each page for analysis.

Faster render = faster inference = lower cost.

Why this matters to your product

Future-ready AI input: AI models need clean, structured content and often, clear visuals. Mako reconstructs fragmented text into coherent blocks, ideal for language models, while Apex delivers fast, high-quality images of pages for layout-aware AI. Together, they give you a clean runway for advanced AI features.

Professional color, built in

When it comes to color, Mako goes beyond basic rendering. It includes integrated color management powered by ColorLogic, our sister company and a leader in professional color technology. This means Mako fully understands CMYK, RGB, spot colors, and ICC profiles, ensuring consistent, accurate color reproduction across devices and workflows.

One model, many formats

Mako supports not just PDF, but also PostScript, PCL, and XPS, all processed through the same intelligent iDOM model. This unified approach means consistent handling across formats, whether for editing, analysis, or automation. And with Apex, all supported PDLs are rendered through the same fast, GPU-accelerated pipeline, delivering accurate, scalable output with minimal integration effort.

In a nutshell

Feature	Traditional PDF Library	Mako Core SDK (with Apex)
Easy to edit, search, and automate	⚠️ Manual, error-prone	✅ Structured, precise
Ready for AI/LLM integration	❌ Limited	✅ Clean text + fast page images
Rendering and print accuracy	⚠️ Inconsistent	✅ Predictable, professional
Professional color management	❌ Basic or missing	✅ ICC-aware via ColorLogic
Supports PostScript / PCL / XPS	❌ No	✅ Yes — same smart model
Performance & scale	⚠️ Varies	✅ High-efficiency + GPU
AI image rendering for LLMs	❌ Slow or missing	✅ Ultra-fast with Apex
Developer effort	❌ Higher	✅ Lower, faster delivery

Final thought

The future of document processing isn’t just about viewing or printing, it’s about understanding. Whether you’re building smarter user experiences, automating document workflows, or feeding content into AI models, the way you process PDFs (and other print languages) matters more than ever.

With Mako and Apex, you get more than just a PDF SDK. You get:

Intelligent text reconstruction for clean, structured content
Ultra-fast GPU rendering for scalable AI and cloud performance
Pixel-perfect print output with pro-grade color accuracy
One model for PDF, PostScript, PCL, and XPS

In a world where AI and automation are reshaping how we handle documents, choosing the right foundation can give your product a genuine advantage—technically, commercially, and strategically.

So, if you’re thinking about what’s next, let’s talk. Because with Mako, you’re already closer than you think.

OK, so there you have it. I’ve exhausted my limited knowledge but hopefully given you something to consider. The great news is that I am surrounded by brilliant colleagues here at Global Graphics who really are the PDF boffins. So, let’s bring them in and chat about how Mako can help you process, understand, and deliver PDF content the way your users expect and your roadmap demands.

Justin Bailey
Managing Director, Global Graphics Software

About the author

Justin Bailey has been the managing director at Global Graphics Software since 2018. He has over 25 years’ experience in the document imaging and print markets.
Email: Justin.bailey@globalgraphics.com
LinkedIn: Justin Bailey | LinkedIn

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Category: Mako Core

Preparing PDFs for AI: why performance and structure matter now