Automating High-Fidelity PDF Generation for Logistics & Events (Tickets, Labels, Invoices)

If you have ever tried to generate a printable document using a standard "HTML-to-PDF" library (like Puppeteer or wkhtmltopdf), you know the pain:

• The RGB Trap: Your "Black" comes out gray on paper because it was rendered in RGB screen profiles.
• Blurry Text: Rasterization kills your QR codes and barcodes, making them unreadable by scanners.
• No Bleed Management: Professional printers reject your files because they lack cutting margins.

In this guide, we will implement a Print-Ready Pipeline using Abyssale’s dedicated printer_multipage design type. We aren't just taking a screenshot; we are rendering a vector PDF at 300 DPI.

The Architecture: Choosing the Right Design Type

In the Abyssale ecosystem, "Design Types" dictate the rendering engine rules. For generating documents, you need to choose the right one:

1. static: Optimized for Screens (RGB, 72 DPI). Fast, but not for print.
2. printer: For single-page print assets. Perfect for a Poster or a Flyer where you might need different sizes (A4, A3) but only one "face".
3. printer_multipage: The type we need for this tutorial. It allows you to define a sequence (Page 1, Page 2, Page 3...) inside a single template. This is mandatory for Event Tickets (Front/Back), Invoices, or Brochures.

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Crucial Tech Note: You cannot simply add a ?cmyk=true parameter to a standard generation call. You must create your template as a printer_multipage Template in the editor. This ensures the rendering engine respects print physics (CMYK profile, Bleed zones) from day one.

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Step 1: Modeling the Multi-Page Document

For a complex document like an Event Ticket, you need to define your structure in the Abyssale Editor.

• Create a new Design: Select "Print" -> "Multipage".
• Define Pages: Create "Page 1" (The Ticket details) and "Page 2" (Terms & Conditions / Map).
• Add Layers: Place your dynamic elements ({{qr_code}}, {{attendee_name}}) on the relevant pages.

In the API payload, we will target these specific pages using the pages object, distinct from the standard elements object used for single images.

Step 2: The API Call (Async)

Generating high-fidelity PDFs takes computing power. You shouldn't block your user's request waiting for it. We will use the Asynchronous Generation Endpoint.

Endpoint: POST /async/banner-builder/{designId}/generate

const axios = require('axios');

const payload = {
  // We use the "pages" object specifically for printer_multipage templates
  pages: {
    "page_1": { // Keys correspond to your page names in the Editor
      "qr_code_layer": { 
        "payload": "https://event.com/ticket/12345" 
      },
      "attendee_name": { 
        "payload": "Alexandre T." 
      }
    },
    "page_2": {
      "terms_text": { 
        "payload": "Valid for one entry only. Non-refundable." 
      }
    }
  },
  // Essential: The Webhook to receive the final PDF URL
  callback_url: "https://api.myapp.com/webhooks/pdf-ready"
};

async function generateTicket() {
  const response = await axios.post(
    'https://api.abyssale.com/async/banner-builder/YOUR_DESIGN_ID/generate',
    payload,
    { headers: { 'x-api-key': process.env.ABYSSALE_KEY } }
  );
  
  // Returns a generation_request_id instantly
  console.log("Job queued:", response.data.generation_request_id);
}

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Step 3: Handling the Webhook

Since we are in an async flow, Abyssale will POST the result to your callback_url once the rendering is complete.

The JSON payload you receive will look like this:

{
  "generation_request_id": "06399fcd-0c21-47da-bd9b-1e653e0453e8",
  "banners": [
    {
      "id": "64238d01-d402-474b-8c2d-fbc957e9d290",
      "file": {
        "url": "https://cdn.abyssale.com/pdfs/ticket_123.pdf", // Your Multi-Page Asset
        "type": "pdf",
        "mime_type": "application/pdf",
        "size": 102400
      },
      "format": {
        "id": "a4-landscape",
        "width": 3508,
        "height": 2480
      },
      "design": {
        "id": "e0d292f2-ec21-11e9-a539-3c408bf94155",
        "name": "Event Ticket 2025"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Pro Tip: This PDF is hosted on our CDN. You can redirect your user directly to this URL or download it to your own S3 bucket for long-term storage.

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Use Cases vs. Competitors

Why choose Abyssale's printer_multipage over a standard image generator?

1. Vector QR Codes: We render QR codes as SVG vectors inside the PDF. They remain perfectly sharp even if printed on a billboard.
2. True CMYK Black: We handle color profiles natively. Your "Black" text won't print as a muddy dark grey.
3. Native Stitching: No need to generate 2 separate files and merge them with another library (pdf-lib). The API delivers a single, stitched multi-page PDF file ready for the printer.

Conclusion

Stop hacking screen-based tools for paper-based problems. By using the printer_multipage design type and the Async API, you build a generation pipeline that satisfies both your developers (easy JSON) and your operations team (perfect prints).

Ready to print?‍

• ‍Check the Printer Template Documentation to set up your first design.
• ‍Read the Async API Reference for payload details.