Guidelines for creating a PDF file
Adobe Portable File Format (PDF) is a reliable format for electronic document
exchange that preserves document integrity so files can be viewed and
printed on a variety of platforms. However, not all PDF files are created
equal. Because of the various colour, resolution and font settings that's
available when creating a PDF file, file output may not be accurate if
the settings are set up incorrectly.
Follow these guidelines to ensure faster turnaround and
better output from your digital files. If you need further support, please
call 604.683.6991 and ask to speak to our
friendly and knowledgeable technical support staff or click
here.
Creating PDF files:
Use only Adobe Acrobat Distiller, now part of Adobe Acrobat Professional to create PDF files (you won't be able to create PDF files from the free Adobe Acrobat Reader). The PostScript
file should be created with the original Adobe Postscript Printer Description (PPD) file. You can
download the Mac
version and PC
version from Adobe’s website.
If you have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Distiller, use
the canned settings for PDF/X-1a:2001 or PDF/X-3:2002. Both these formats do not support transparency. If your file has transparency, use PDF/X-4:2007 which supports transparency.
If not, either download this joboption
file and install it into the appropriate location or use the following
settings in Distiller when creating PDF files:
General
- Disable ASCII format
- Enable "optimize PDF"
- Set the resolution to 1270
Compression
- Color pictures: disable recalculation; compression: ZIP, quality: 8-bit
- Grey-level pictures: disable recalculation; compression: ZIP, quality: 8-bit
- Black-and-white pictures: disable recalculation; compression: ZIP,
quality: CCITT Group 4
- Disable "compress text and vector graphics"
Fonts
- If at all possible, create the PostScript and PDF files on the same PC
(mainly because of the installed fonts)
- Enable "embed all fonts"
Color
- For conversion: enable "do not change color"
- Disable "keep transfer function"
Extended
- Disable Prolog/Epilog
- Disable "Postscript file may overwrite settings"
- Disable "keep level to copy page semantics"
Please also read printing guidelines for the specific device if you know which device you will be printing to.
For free technical support, call 604.683.6991 or click here.
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