Why do we need PDF/A?
The wide range of content that can be embedded in a PDF can cause problems for long-term archiving, because it may conflict with the requirements for long-term preservation (e.g., because PDF documents are not self-contained - they may use system fonts and other external content). PDF/A is designed so that documents remain readable, accessible, and able to provide their content over the long term.
What are the disadvantages of PDF/A?
When converting to this format, graphic elements may be lost or the formatting may change, so the resulting PDF/A document looks different from the original.
So when should you convert?
When you need to archive the document for a long period of time (e.g., in a trusted electronic archive).
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