A method implemented in a printer for PDF direct printing. The printer includes a PDF interpreter such as APPE (Adobe PDF Print Engine), and at least one other interpreter also capable of interpreting PDF data, such as a PostScript interpreter. The printer automatically selects either APPE or the PS interpreter or both to interpret a PDF document. If the PDF document is PDF/VT, PDF/X-4 or later, then APPE is selected. If the PDF document is not one of these versions but contains transparency data, APPE is selected to interpret the pages containing transparency data, and the other pages may be interpreted using the PS interpreter. If the PDF document is not one of the above versions and contains no transparency data, the PS interpreter is selected. Other factors such as the busy status of the interpreters may be considered in making the selection.