PWGs

PWGs refers to the set of specifications developed by the Printer Working Group (PWG), a consortium of printer manufacturers, imaging vendors, and software developers formed to promote interoperability among printers, drivers, and imaging workflows. The PWG publishes open standards intended to be implementation-neutral and broadly adoptable, helping to align products from different vendors.

The scope of PWG standards includes translating printable content into portable, interoperable formats, mechanisms for discovering printers on a network, querying device capabilities, and controlling print jobs through standardized job tickets. The most widely recognized PWG specification is PWG Raster, a raster image format used by drivers and devices to exchange printable data. Other PWG outputs address job ticketing concepts and device-management interactions that support consistent behavior across diverse printers and environments.

Governance and activity occur through working groups that focus on specific aspects of printing technology. Members contribute to drafts, review proposals, and publish finalized specifications. The PWG maintains public documentation on its website and encourages participation from vendors, users, and developers. Its specifications are widely implemented by printer manufacturers, software vendors, and enterprise print environments, contributing to cross-vendor interoperability.

Relation to broader standards is a key aspect of PWG work. PWG specifications are designed to complement related standards such as IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), PostScript, and PDF-based workflows. By providing common formats and interfaces, PWGs help simplify integration across different hardware and software in both consumer and enterprise printing ecosystems.