Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow

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Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow Table of contents 1 Adobe PDF — A standard for the print industry 2 Choosing a workflow 2 Implementing a simple PDF workflow 3 Implementing a customized PDF workflow 5 The creative professional’s role in a PDF workflow 8 The print service provider’s role in a PDF workflow 12 Streamlining the workflow with Job Definition Format (JDF) 13 Using Adobe PDF JobReady 13 Looking ahead: Adobe PDF Print Engine 15 Resources

There are many reasons to use Adobe® PDF in a print workflow. An Adobe PDF file can contain all of the components of a print job, captured in a single file. Working with Adobe PDF settings files and preflight profiles supplied by the print service provider, creative professionals can be certain that their PDF files meet their printers’ requirements—and print service providers won’t be required to chase down missing fonts or graphics. Additionally, Adobe Acrobat® 8 Professional includes the print production tools needed to prepare the file for printing.

You’ll have the best results, whether you’re a print service provider or a creative professional, if you follow some standard guidelines when working with PDF files. In this document, we discuss the variables to consider when choosing a workflow, and the roles that creative professionals and print service providers play in a successful Adobe PDF workflow. The resources listed at the end of this document can help you implement the workflow you choose.

Adobe PDF — A standard for the print industry More than twenty years ago, Adobe introduced Adobe PostScript®, a revolutionary, device-independent page description language that would soon become the industry standard for printing rich text and graphical content. In 1993, Adobe took PostScript further with the introduction of Adobe Acrobat and the Portable Document Format (PDF). Founded on shared concepts and components, both PostScript and Acrobat supported the creation of device-independent, rich page content; their only difference was the final output destination.

The professional print industry soon recognized the advantages of Adobe PDF. For example, a single PDF file could be used to RIP and trap, enabling a faster, less errorprone production process. And because properly prepared client PDF files contained all the fonts and color space information, printers could further automate their workflows and reduce the time and costs once spent correcting customers’ native files. In light of these benefits, many printers began requesting PDF files from their customers. According to InfoTrends (May 2005), PDF file acceptance grew from 7% in 2000 to 40% in 2004, and PDF usage is expected to increase as more companies look to automate print processes and move to digital printing technologies.

By accepting Adobe PDF files, printers can make assumptions about the project file.

When a designer produces a file that adheres to the correct specifications, and that compliance can be validated, the file can move rapidly through the production process and get to press more quickly. In fact, in an ideal workflow, an Adobe PDF file could bypass all of the quality-assurance steps and go directly to the print workflow system.

Understanding the importance of Adobe PDF to the print industry, Adobe continues to develop technology that makes it easier for designers and printers to get professional results. Together, Adobe PostScript, Acrobat, Creative Suite, PDF, and JDF (Job Definition Format) provide a path to workflow automation, offering the speed, cost-efficiency, consistency, and predictability today’s creative professionals and printers require.

Choosing a workflow For most print jobs, Adobe PDF offers many benefits. Simply having all the fonts, graphics, and file information in one neat package is a tremendous advantage. However, it’s worth considering which print jobs are appropriate for a native-application workflow and which for a PDF workflow—and what kind of PDF workflow makes sense.

First, consider how much the service provider needs to manipulate the file. If a customer is likely to require changes to the content, such as design or text edits, it’s best to work with the native file.

However, most production tasks that are likely to be required before printing, from trapping to page imposition to changing ink settings, can be done to a PDF file.

Also, think about how the PDF file will be created. Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 components, including Acrobat 8 Professional, share PDF settings files (also called PDF presets) that make it easier for a designer to create a PDF file to meet a printer’s production requirements. A designer using a different application can use the Adobe PDF Printer, installed with Acrobat 8 Professional, to create a PDF file using Acrobat Distiller® settings. Because Adobe PDF Printer first creates a PostScript file and then converts it to PDF, it flattens transparency. If you want to maintain livetransparency, it’s best to create the PDF file directly from the application that created it: Adobe Illustrator®, Adobe InDesign®, or Adobe Photoshop®.

Another consideration is whether the document needs to be printed in multiple print environments or with minimal interaction. PDF/X, a standard based on a subset of Adobe PDF, is designed to minimize the complications that can arise from missing fonts or graphics, incorrect color spaces, trapping errors, and overprinting issues. PDF/X files are ideal for an advertising campaign where a single ad needs to be distributed for use on multiple presses and printers need to know exactly how the file has been created. However, if you’re working with files that need to include transparency, you’ll have better results with a customized PDF workflow.

Modern RIPs and output devices support PDF files, but older hardware may not be able to support all of the PDF workflow features you need. If you’re using non-Adobe PostScript devices, find out whether they have known issues with PDF files before you implement a PDF workflow.

Implementing a simple PDF workflow The easiest way to implement an Adobe PDF workflow is to take advantage of the default presets that come with Acrobat 8 Professional and Adobe Creative Suite 2.3. When you create a PDF file, you can use one of the default Adobe PDF settings files (called PDF Presets in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop) to apply the appropriate settings for one of several standard PDF workflows, including high-quality printing and press quality. Similarly, you can use one of the default preflight profiles in Acrobat 8 Professional to check common sets of criteria before printing.

About PDF/X standards The default Adobe PDF settings files include PDF/X presets, which conform to the ISO (International Standards Organization) standards for PDF/X. PDF/X is a subset of the PDF file format designed for the blind exchange of final print-ready pages. Using PDF/X-compliant files eliminates the most common errors in file preparation: fonts that aren’t embedded, incorrect color spaces, missing images, and overprinting and trapping issues. These issues don’t arise with PDF/X files because, by definition, the standards require that all fonts be embedded, appropriate PDF page bounding boxes be specified, and color appears as either CMYK, spot colors, or both. PDF/X-compliant files must also contain information that describes the printing condition for which they are prepared. PDF/X makes it possible for designers to deliver files ready for print production with the highest possible confidence that they will print as intended. Both designers and print professionals can export PDF/X-compliant files directly from InDesign CS2, Photoshop CS2, or Illustrator CS2; create them using the Adobe PDF printer; or convert PDF files to PDF/X in Acrobat 8 Professional.

There are several versions of PDF/X standards, but PDF/X-1a and PDF/X-3 are the most popular.

Each version has an arena of use, depending on the kinds of files you work with and the workflow you require. The basic advantage of PDF/X—a consistent way to create PDF files—exists for each.

But as with any printing options, you lose flexibility when you gain control and consistency.

The PDF/X-1a standard addresses blind exchanges where all files must be delivered in CMYK, spot colors, or both, with no RGB or device-dependent (color-managed) data. This requirement is common for printers around the world, usually in an environment where the person supplying the file knows the exact conditions under which the content will be printed. In general, PDF/X-1a

Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow

is the best choice for digital ads that will be reproduced on a press characterized to a printing standard such as SWOP (Specifications for Web Offset Publications) or SNAP (Specifications for Non-heat Advertising Printing).

PDF/X-3 is less restrictive than PDF/X-1a in that it supports and requires color-managed workflows and allows RGB images, as long as they include enough information to be treated as deviceindependent. PDF/X-3 is useful for transferring data in CIELab or RGB color spaces, when conversion to CMYK occurs later. Use PDF/X-3 for complete files that will be sent to digital presses or other color-managed environments, or for digital ads for which you expect to optimize color reproduction for the specific printing environment.

No current PDF/X standards support transparency. PDF/X-1a and X-3 are based on PDF 1.3, which requires transparency to be flattened. With either version of PDF/X, you can use transparency in the design but you must flatten the transparency before creating a PDF/X file.

Note: The PDF/X-4 standard, which will support live transparency, layers, and PDF 1.6 (files created in Acrobat 7.0), is expected to be ratified by the CGATS (Committee for Graphic Arts Standards) standards committee in 2007. Adobe Acrobat 8 does allow you to validate a PDF against the PDF/X-4 draft specification, however, until the specification is ratified, the validation should not be considered final.

To learn more about creating and working with PDF/X files, see PDF/X Files and Adobe Creative Suite 2.0 at www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/pdfs/pdfx_white_paper.pdf.

Implementing a customized PDF workflow To take full advantage of the print production features in Acrobat 8 Professional, design features in Adobe Creative Suite 2.3, and color management, use a customized PDF workflow. Together, the creative professional and print service provider should discuss the job’s requirements, and then the print service provider can share customized PDF settings files and preflight profiles for the customer to use to ensure that the delivered file meets the printer’s requirements.

Customizing PDF settings Acrobat 8 Professional and Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 include default PDF settings files that are appropriate for many, common workflows. However, print service providers often prefer to customize PDF settings files and share them with colleagues and customers. Customized PDF settings files can be used with Distiller, the Adobe PDF Printer, InDesign CS2, Illustrator CS2, and Photoshop CS2.

The PDF settings files installed with Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 applications are locked and cannot be edited, but you can use one as the basis for a custom PDF settings file. To customize a PDF settings file in Distiller, select the default settings file, and then choose Settings > Edit Adobe PDF Settings.

To customize a PDF preset in InDesign, choose File > Adobe PDF Presets > Define, and click New.

Customize an Adobe PDF settings file for a particular workflow using Distiller.

Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow

Adobe PDF settings files are named with a .joboptions extension and are located in Documents and Settings/All Users/Shared Documents/Adobe PDF/Settings (Windows) or Users/(username)/ Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe PDF/Settings (Mac OS).

Print service providers can share custom settings files through email. The recipient doubleclicks the .joboptions file in the email message to install it. Distiller starts automatically and loads the file to the default location, making it available to all Adobe Creative Suite applications.

Alternatively, you can drag the .joboptions file onto Distiller.

Customizing preflight profiles The preflight feature in Acrobat compares a PDF file with the requirements specified in a preflight profile, identifying any potential problems in the file. Adobe recommends that creative professionals preflight PDF files before handing them off to print service providers, and that print service providers preflight the files as well.

Acrobat includes several standard preflight profiles, and you can run multiple profiles on a single file. However, many service providers find it easiest to create a custom profile that includes criteria specific to their files and then share that profile with customers.

To customize a preflight profile in Acrobat 8 Professional: 1. Choose Advanced > Print Production > Preflight.

2. Select the profile you want to base a profile on, and click Edit.

3. Click Duplicate the selected profile, rename it, and then edit it.

Customizing a PDF/X Settings File Use caution if you need to create a custom PDF/X settings file. Start with a default PDF/X settings file, and change only the settings you need to edit for your output conditions. Because only a few options typically need to be altered, Adobe recommends that you open the PDF/X settings file, make the necessary changes, and then save the file with a name and custom description that identify the PDF/X standard and the press conditions (such as PDFX-1aUSWebUncoated). As you customize the file, keep an eye on the Standards setting; if it changes to None, you won’t be creating a valid PDF/X file.

Consider the PDF/X standard requirements as you edit the settings: • Compatibility must be Acrobat 4.0 (PDF 1.3) for 2001 or 2002 versions of the PDF/X standard.

• All fonts must be embedded.

• If the project contains RGB color, then Convert All Colors To CMYK must be selected for PDF/X-1a.

PDF/X-3 supports color management, so the color settings can allow to you to include RGB color.

• The MediaBox must be defined. You can specify how Distiller should define the MediaBox if it is not already defined.

• Either the ArtBox or the TrimBox must be defined.

When you print from InDesign, Distiller recognizes the trim and art boxes based on the page size and artwork.

• The BleedBox must be defined. You can specify that Distiller should set the BleedBox equal to the MediaBox if the BleedBox is not already defined.

• An output intent is required. You can specify a default output intent in the Standards panel for use when one is not defined.

• A trapping status is required.

• A transparency flattener setting must be selected.

Use high-resolution settings for most jobs.

Customize a preflight profile to check for the criteria that are important in your workflow.

The creative professional’s role in a PDF workflow In any print workflow, it’s important for the designer and the print service provider to communicate early in the process about final output, the inks used in the document, bleeds, trapping, and other job requirements. In a print workflow that uses Adobe PDF files, the service provider should also provide the designer with the appropriate PDF settings file to use when creating the PDF file. The designer creates the file with the output requirements in mind, including color management and transparency considerations. Then, the designer creates the PDF file, preflights it, and delivers the PDF file to the print service provider.

Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow

Creative pro steps 1 Print service provider:

• customizes pdf settings file and preflight profile • sends custom files to creative pro Print service provider

3 Print service provider:

• preflights PDF file using same preflight profile as provided to the designer to verify the file

2 Creative pro:

• designs file • uses custom settings file to create PDF file using printer’s preflight profile • preflights PDF file • sends file to service provider

Creative pro

• performs production tasks • outputs file PDF workflow for the creative pro

Managing color A color management system maps colors from the color gamut of one device, such as a monitor, to a device with a different color gamut, such as a proofer or printing press. Consequently, the colors on the monitor represent colors that the output device can reproduce. Color management profiles, which describe the colors available to each device or color model, are used to map colors from the range of colors available on one device into to the range available on another.

Leave color management enabled in Adobe Creative Suite applications (it’s on by default). For the best results, obtain a color management profile for the output device from your print service provider, and set that profile as your output or destination profile. Using Adobe Bridge in Adobe Creative Suite 2.3, you can synchronize color management settings across all Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 applications. Embed the color management profile in the document when you create the PDF file.

For information on working with color management in Adobe applications, see Color Workflows for Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 at www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/pdfs/cs2_color_workflows. pdf.

Working with transparency Transparency can be applied directly to an object in Illustrator, InDesign, or Photoshop by setting its opacity to something other than 100% using any of the Transparency features. For example, opacity, blending modes, drop shadows, feathering, live effects, styles, and brushes may result in live transparency. Transparency attributes are considered live as long as transparent objects can interact with objects beneath them and can be edited. Transparency must be flattened for export to most formats, or for printing to most printers.

It is best to keep transparency live (unflattened) as long as possible. To create a PDF with live transparency, export a PDF 1.4 (or later) file directly from an Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 application, such as InDesign CS2. Transparency remains live in the PDF file, and the print service provider can then flatten it as necessary.

Note: When you create a PostScript file, transparency is flattened. To prevent flattening transparency, export or save a PDF 1.4 or later file directly from InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop.

If you’re using transparency effects (for example, drop shadows or blending modes), consider the stacking order—the top-to-bottom order of objects on a page—because the order affects which objects are flattened. Whenever possible, place text and line art elements above all nearby sources

Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow

of transparency to minimize the possibility that the flattener will process them. If possible, place such elements on their own layer, and make sure that layer is above all layers containing sources of transparency.

To see which objects are affected by transparency, use the Flattener Preview palette in InDesign CS2 or Illustrator CS2, or the Flattener Preview feature in Acrobat 8 Professional.

Let your service provider know that you’ve used transparency in the job, so he or she can verify that it will print as expected.

To learn more about working with transparency, see A Designer’s Guide to Transparency for Print Output at www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/pdfs/dgt.pdf.

Designing for a PDF/X file If you’re planning to submit a PDF/X file, keep in mind the constraints imposed by the PDF/X standards. PDF/X presets ensure that most necessary conversions are performed when you create a PDF/X-compliant file. However, designing for PDF/X minimizes unexpected conversions.

Though the PDF/X standard doesn’t specify a minimum resolution for images, preflight the native application file to make sure the image resolutions meet your printer’s requirements.

Creating the PDF file Before you create the PDF file, make sure all the fonts used in the document are available, and that links to image files are current. If you are using an application that includes a preflight feature, such as InDesign, use it to check the status of fonts, images, and inks in the document. In other applications, such as Illustrator, use preview features to verify that inks will overprint and separate as you expect. Then, you can save or export a PDF file from an Adobe application, or use the Adobe PDF printer to create the PDF file.

Export an Adobe PDF file directly from InDesign CS2, Illustrator CS2, or Photoshop CS2.

If you created the document in an Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 component, you can save or export directly to a PDF file, using a specific Adobe PDF settings file. Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 components use an internal PDF library to create PDF files; they do not use Distiller when you use the Save As or Export commands. Unless you export to PDF 1.3 format or a PDF/X file, Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 applications do not automatically flatten transparency.

Note: Adobe FrameMaker® and Adobe PageMaker® convert documents to PDF by creating a PostScript file and then automatically distilling it.

Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow

Alternatively, from almost any application, you can use the Adobe PDF printer, installed with Acrobat 8, to create a PDF file. The Adobe PDF printer uses Distiller to create PDF files. By default, the Adobe PDF printer creates PDF files using the PDF settings file that was last used in Distiller. You can select a different PDF settings file in the Properties section for the Adobe PDF printer in the Print dialog box. Make sure you’ve selected the PDF settings file recommended by your print service provider.

Note: Mac OS X includes a built-in Save As PDF option, which is different from the Adobe PDF printer installed with Acrobat and should not be used to create press-ready PDF files.

If you’re creating a PDF/X file, once the file is in PDF/X format, don’t encrypt it, use security or passwords, add comments or digital signatures, or save the file in PDF 1.4 or later format. Any of these changes will invalidate the PDF/X file. You can preflight the PDF/X file in Acrobat 8 Professional to ensure it remains valid.

Preflighting the PDF file Before you submit the PDF file to your service provider, preflight the file in Acrobat Professional using a default preflight profile or a customized profile supplied by your service provider.

Note: To use custom preflight profiles, you must use the same version of Acrobat that was used to create the preflight profile.

The print service provider’s role in a PDF workflow Communication between the print service provider and customer is key to successful printing, especially when the customer provides an Adobe PDF file. As the print service provider, you know best what the requirements for the PDF file are. To help the creative professional meet those requirements, recommend the appropriate default settings file, or supply a custom PDF settings file for your customer to use to create the PDF file. Then, provide a preflight profile the customer can use to verify that the PDF file meets your requirements. You may also want to provide a custom transparency flattener preset if your customer is using InDesign CS2. After you receive the PDF file, preflight it, perform production tasks, and output the file.

Print service provider steps 1 Print service provider:

• customizes PDF settings file and preflight profile • sends custom files to creative pro

Print service provider

3 Print service provider:

• preflights PDF file using same preflight profile as provided to the designer to verify the file

PDF & preflight settings

2 Creative pro:

• designs file • uses custom settings file to create PDF file using printer’s preflight profile • preflights PDF file • sends file to service provider

Creative pro

• performs production tasks • outputs file PDF workflow for the print service provider

Preflighting the file Upon receiving a PDF file from a customer, ensure that the file meets your printing requirements.

The Preflight feature in Acrobat 8 Professional analyzes the file for any problems, based on the criteria in the preflight profile. You can preflight a single document or preflight multiple files automatically using a preflight droplet, a small application that runs a preflight profile you specify.

Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow

If the file is a PDF/X file, ensure that it is compliant with the appropriate version of PDF/X, that it was created for the correct characterized printing condition (such as SWOP), that the trim and bleed settings are appropriate for the job, and that image resolution is appropriate. Although verifying that the file meets the PDF/X standard eliminates many common file preparation errors, it does not eliminate them all. For example, the PDF/X standard does not require a minimum resolution and it places no limit on the number of plates used.

Applying fixups Although it is best to work with a PDF file that has no problems in it, Acrobat 8 allows you to fix a variety of problems with the Fixup. A Fixup is an automated correction built into the preflight profile, and it is designed to correct for common problems you suspect incoming PDF files might have. They are applied to the PDF as a part of the preflight process, and can be very useful when attempting to print a PDF file that is causing an error. However, be aware that fix-ups may not be able to solve every problem. For example, if a PDF file contains graphics that are too low in resolution, they cannot be corrected with a Fixup. Therefore, it is best not to over-promote the concept that you can fix every problem in a PDF file. Use Fixups to correct for problems, but then be sure to help younr customer know what they did that caused the problem and help them to correct it before they submit a PDF file to you.

Preparing the PDF file for output in Acrobat 8 Professional Different jobs may require very different workflow steps. For example, you may need to process the PDF file for page imposition, trapping, and other prepress tasks. However, there are steps that are common to most workflows, and there are best practices for working with transparency, color management, and other aspects of document preparation.

Acrobat 8 Professional includes a variety of print production features. You can convert colors to CMYK, flatten transparency, preview color separations, soft-proof the document, embed printer marks, and even define page boundary boxes.

Converting Colors to CMYK You can convert colors to CMYK for a single page or an entire document in Acrobat 8 Professional.

Acrobat 8 Professional uses the source color spaces of objects in the document to determine what (if any) color conversion is required. It also manages the colors using embedded profiles, if they exist, or default color spaces.

Note: You can also convert colors in Distiller as you create a PDF file. To do so, create a custom PDF settings file with Convert All Colors to CMYK selected for the color management policy.

You can specify different conversion options for different color spaces and colorants. For example, you can embed separate color profiles to calibrate color for Grayscale, RGB, and CMYK objects.

This option may be useful if your RIP color-manages PDF files or if you share PDF files with others.

Convert colors on one or more pages in a PDF document to CMYK in Acrobat 8 Professional.

Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow

Depending on the color spaces you select, the Convert Colors command preserves, converts, or maps color values from the source color space to the specified destination space. Select Preserve Black Objects to ensure that text and other black objects separate on the black plate only, not as rich black.

Flattening transparency It may not be obvious that a PDF file includes transparency. Transparency can be applied to an object in an Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 application by reducing its opacity using the Transparency palette. But blending modes, drop shadows, feathering, live effects, styles, and brushes are also sources of transparency. Transparency attributes are considered live as long as transparent objects can interact with objects beneath them, allowing those objects to show through the transparency.

Transparency information must be flattened for export to most formats, or for printing to PostScript desktop printers, PostScript Level 2 RIPs, and some PostScript 3 RIPs (or printing systems based on these RIPs). However, most RIPs that accept native PDF 1.4 files can process live transparency from the Adobe PDF file.

Note: Because the PostScript language does not support live transparency, PDF files produced by Distiller—even PDF 1.4 or PDF 1.5 files—will not contain live transparency. All transparency is flattened in the process of PostScript generation. Ensure that you use the appropriate flattener settings when you create PostScript files.

In Acrobat 8 Professional, you can flatten transparency at any time. However, Adobe recommends working with live transparency as long as possible. Ideally, customers should provide files with live transparency so the printer can control resolution and flattening settings. Flatten transparency before printing only if your workflow requires it. Be sure to perform any necessary color conversions before flattening the file.

After you flatten artwork, the transparency is no longer live, so you can’t edit the transparency effect. In addition, some of the original objects may be transformed into less editable formats.

For example, vectors and type may become outlines or be rasterized. To adjust transparency attributes and objects after flattening, you must make changes to the original file. This process is similar to the one you follow when you need to make changes to preseparated files.

To see which objects interact with transparency, use the Flattener Preview in Acrobat 8 Professional.

Use the Flattener Preview to see which vector objects will be rasterized, which text will be rasterized converted to outlines, and other ways that artwork will be affected by specific flattener settings.

Use the Flattener Preview in Acrobat 8 Professional to identify areas that interact with transparency, and to see how flattener settings affect them.

For comprehensive information about working with transparency in Acrobat and other Adobe applications, see Transparency in Adobe Applications: A Print Production Guide at www.adobe.com/ products/creativesuite/pdfs/txpguidecs2.pdf.

Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow

Previewing output In the Output Preview dialog box in Acrobat 8 Professional, you can preview color separations, check for incorrect colors and RGB images, view color warnings, alias or convert inks in the Ink Manager, and soft-proof documents using a color management profile. Changes you make in the Ink Manager are reflected in the Print dialog box, so settings you use to preview the inks are used when you print.

Best Practices for Working with Transparency Before flattening transparency: • Use current software. You’ll have the best results printing transparency if you install and use the latest Adobe software updates, the latest RIP software updates, and the latest PPD (PostScript Printer Description) files and printer drivers for your devices.

• Configure color settings. The flattener uses a single color space, called the transparency blend space, in which to blend transparent objects together. You may need to convert colors before flattening.

• Take special care with documents that contain spot colors. Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 components fully support the use of spot colors with transparency.

However, in some specific circumstances, you may need to pay special attention to spot colors. You may need to convert spot colors to process if a file contains certain blending modes or placed graphics that contain spot colors and live transparency, or if it uses the Simulate Overprint feature.

• In OPI workflows, “fatten” documents with high-resolution images before you flatten. The flattener uses the images present at the time of flattening, and OPI image substitution is not possible after flattening.

When flattening transparency • Preview flattening before printing. Use the Flattener Preview in Acrobat 8 Professional to determine which objects interact with transparency and how your flattener settings will affect them.

Use the Output Preview feature in Acrobat 8 Professional to view color separations or color warnings.

• Set the Raster/Vector Balance Slider to a high value.

For most high-end printing jobs, set the Raster/ Vector Balance slider to the far-right value (100) to keep as many objects in their original, vector form as possible. Even at this setting, however, some amount of rasterization may be required.

To preview color separations, choose Separations from the Preview menu in Acrobat 8 Professional, and then select the separations you want to view. Separations appear in the main document window.

You can view a single separation (which appears in grayscale) or multiple separations (which are shown in their respective colors) in any combination. Use the Separations preview to view knockouts and overprints.

• Set appropriate flattener resolution settings—typically 1200 ppi and higher for text and line art, and 300 ppi for gradient effects. The resolution settings control the resolution that rasterized transparency areas receive during flattening. See Transparency in Adobe Applications at www.adobe.com/studio/print for more information.

To check ink coverage for a specific area, choose Separations from the Preview menu and then position the pointer over an area in the document window. The ink coverage percentage appears next to each ink name in the ink list.

In the Ink Manager, you can convert one or more spot colors to process and create ink aliases to map spot colors to other colors. You can access the Ink Manager from the Output Preview dialog box, the Print Production toolbar, or the Print dialog box.

To see where rich black inks and overprinting effects appear, select the profile from the Simulation Profile menu that describes your target output device. Then, choose Color Warnings from the Preview list, and select a color warning. Acrobat 8 Professional highlights the affected areas in the document window.

• Use Overprint Preview. The flattener may generate overprint instructions as a result of flattening, even if no overprinting instructions were originally present.

Use Overprint Preview to accurately view flattened transparency. Likewise, ensure that your RIP is set to support overprinting, and not to ignore it.

• Plan carefully for an in-RIP color management workflow. To use your RIP’s color management capabilities for jobs that contain transparency, you can let the RIP color-manage your job.

If you use a color-managed workflow, you can soft-proof a PDF document on your monitor using the Output Preview dialog box. Before you soft-proof, verify the settings in the Color Management panel of the Preferences dialog box. You can choose to simulate ink black to preview the actual dynamic range defined by the proof profile, or simulate paper white to preview the specific shade of white for the print medium described by the proof profile.

Note: If color management information is embedded in an Adobe PDF file, it takes precedence over the color settings file (CSF) you choose.

Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow

10

Defining page boundary boxes In Acrobat 8 Professional, you can change the page size (media box) of a PDF document. The Crop Pages dialog box also lets you define the trim, bleed, art, and crop boxes for the document.

The preview shows the content that appears when the page is displayed or printed.

Outputting the file The Acrobat 8 Professional Print dialog box includes options for color separations, transparency flattening, and other print settings. The appropriate settings depend on the PDF file and the output device.

Outputting a PDF/X file is no more complicated than outputting any other PDF file. However, there are a few things to keep in mind: • Set your output device to print using the fonts embedded in the PDF/X file, rather than those that are installed on the device.

• Ensure that overprinting will be applied as defined in the PDF specification. You may need to modify the default settings on a RIP. • If you print a proof, use a proofing system that is set up to match the characterized printing condition for which the file was created. If you’re proofing a PDF/X-3 file, use the ICC profile embedded in the file as an emulation profile for the most accurate results.

Streamlining the workflow with Job Definition Format (JDF) Job Definition Format (JDF) is a job-ticketing file format that provides a mechanism to communicate and control processes in print production, from job submission through prepress, press, and post-press. As a broadly accepted industry standard, JDF can be used to describe every part of the workflow and enables each production process to be connected to the others, independent of the vendor. JDF places individual actions into a greater context, so that each element is recognized as part of the whole. In the same way that PostScript describes pages and Adobe PDF describes documents, JDF describes jobs.

JDF creates a common language that print service providers and creative professionals can use to communicate workflow instructions and audit trails without requiring expensive, proprietary software. Creative professionals can send JDF files to print service providers for estimates, even before the job content is finalized. Once a print service provider has been chosen, that provider can supply a JDF template, with embedded preflight and PDF conversion settings, for the creative professional to use in creating the PDF file for hand-off, ensuring that the content is truly print-ready.

Information can be added to JDF files as job information is gathered. You can create a high-level JDF file that describes only a rough outline of the job; as you add information, it can evolve into a detailed product description. Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional includes features that make it possible to create, edit, and use JDF files on the desktop. JDF files include product data, such as Job ID, number of copies, binding settings, and customer information; section data for each section of the job, such as the section name, number of pages, page size and orientation, scaling percentage, and inks; and file data for each native or PDF file assigned to a section, including the file name, document name, and page range to be used.

Acrobat 8 Professional is an ideal tool for initial JDF job ticket creation because it’s available to both creative professionals and print service providers. The JDF editor built into Acrobat 8 Professional enables a print service provider to start collecting information about a job during an initial phone call and then send the JDF template to the customer. Templates include media specifications, PDF conversion settings, and preflight profiles. The creative professional adds content directly to that JDF file, and the embedded PDF settings file ensures that the resulting PDF file meets the print service provider’s specifications.

When the file is ready to hand off, the creative professional clicks Submit in the JDF Job Definitions Editor in Acrobat 8 Professional. The automated workflow in Acrobat 8 Professional uses the JDF file to generate the PDF file and then preflights it using the preflight profile embedded in the JDF file. In addition to preflighting the PDF file, Acrobat 8 Professional compares the job description with the properties of the assigned files and displays an error message if there are any discrepancies in page size, inks, or the number of pages available in the associated documents. After preflighting and verifying the JDF file and the PDF files associated with it, the creative profes-

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sional can package the files into a single MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) file.

The MIME specification formats non-ASCII messages so that they can be sent over the Internet, ensuring they remain together when transferred. A customer may submit the JDF package to the production site as an e-mail attachment or by sending it to the URL of a JDF-enabled MIS (Management Information System) solution.

JDF files are most valuable for regular print jobs, such as monthly newsletters or catalogs. You can capture the information about the job, settings for PDF creation and preflight, and other details in a JDF template. Each time the publication is ready for printing, attach the new content and click Submit. Using the same JDF template, you know that the job is printed consistently and reliably each time.

For more information about JDF files and JDF workflows, visit the Adobe JDF website at www.adobe.com/products/jdf.

Using Adobe PDF JobReady Adobe PDF JobReady™ takes advantage of the Adobe PDF file format and the JDF standard to ensure a file meets the printer’s specifications before it arrives in the shop. PDF JobReady includes seamless, one-click, “print-ready” Adobe PDF creation from any authoring application based on pre-configured settings from the service provider. It also provides the ability to proof print jobs from the desktop and secure 40-bit encryption file delivery. The ultimate goal of PDF JobReady is to have the file come from the customer over the Internet or intranet and move through the printer’s workflow with little or no intervention, including preflight.

PDF JobReady includes two components—a customized client for customers and a server application for the service provider. Because most print service providers don’t have the resources to devote to customizing the PDF JobReady client in-house, Adobe distributes PDF JobReady through OEM channels and directly through Datalogics Incorporated. Service providers can work with a system integrator to build desktop solutions that allow their customers to easily and reliably create print-ready Adobe PDF files, and then send them directly to the shop via the Internet.

For more information about Adobe PDF JobReady, visit www.adobe.com/products/pdfjobready.

Looking ahead: Adobe PDF Print Engine Adobe PDF files are a valuable tool in print workflows today, and their value will increase dramatically in the coming years. Currently, a PDF file provides a convenient way to move content from a native application to a standard workflow, including all the components necessary to provide high-quality printing. Today, PDF files are converted to PostScript right before processing through a final-stage RIP. However, PostScript provides no direct support for some elements that PDF supports, including live transparency. Therefore, transparency must be flattened and other elements must also be converted for printing. The Adobe PDF Print Engine overcomes those constraints with the ability to process PDF files natively, without unnecessary conversions.

ADOBE PDF JOBREADY WORKFLOW It’s easy for customers to install the customized PDF JobReady client software, and once it’s in place, sending a job to a print service provider involves only a few clicks of the mouse. Here’s a typical workflow: 1. The provider works with a system integrator to customize the PDF JobReady client software, adding corporate branding, a customized start-up screen, and Adobe PDF file creation parameters.

Then, the print service provider posts the software to its website for customers to download.

2. The customer downloads the software and installs it on his or her computer. In Windows, PDF JobReady creates a new printer instance that is available in applications. In Mac OS X, the customer needs to create a desktop printer and sets it as the default printer. (PDF JobReady supports Mac OS 10.2.8, 10.3.x, and 10.4.x— including Intel-based Macintosh systems).

3. When the file is ready to print, the customer chooses the print provider’s name or device in the Print dialog box of almost any authoring application. PDF JobReady creates an encrypted PDF file according to the specifications of the print provider (without requiring Acrobat), saves it to the desktop, and opens a web browser that is equipped with an Adobe Reader® plug-in capable of displaying the finished, encrypted file.

4. The customer proofs the PDF file on-screen or by printing to a local printer. When satisfied, the customer clicks Accept.

5. The customer fills out an electronic job ticket, provided by the print provider, with contact, job specification, delivery, and payment information.

When the customer clicks Send, the PDF file and job information are delivered to the print provider.

6. Upon receiving the job, the PDF JobReady Server on the print provider’s web server decrypts the PDF file and sends confirmation to the customer.

The print provider reviews the job ticket, delivery, and payment information, and then processes and prints the job.

Today’s workflow challenges As projects become more demanding, it’s increasingly up to the print professional to find a way to transform native components, such as transparency, so that they can be reproduced predictably and reliably on press. Current workflows require printers to compensate for design features that cannot be directly transferred to the output device. The goal is to print a job with minimal complications. Therefore, transparency must be flattened to transform it into opaque objects, fonts must be converted to outlines, colors must be converted, and so on. It’s usually difficult or impossible to change content once a job is device-dependent, especially if transparency has been flattened.

Unfortunately, such changes also compromise the integrity of the original design. For example, the RGB color gamut is larger than that of CMYK. Therefore, converting an RGB digital photograph to CMYK limits the amount of color information available for final printing. If a prepress workflow process requires the photo to be converted back to RGB for modification, and then converted again to CMYK, the quality is further eroded.

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Once a file has been modified for a specific device, it cannot be easily printed on a different device.

For example, a file that was flattened for a printing resolution of 600 dpi will not print well to a 2400 dpi device. Likewise, today’s PDF files cannot be easily edited and modified at the last minute, after text or objects that are affected by transparency have been flattened, colors have been converted, or other changes have been made.

Another challenge with today’s PDF workflows is that it’s only after the creative file has been assembled and left the designer’s desktop that the printer can determine whether it will print properly. Because neither the designer nor the printer can preview the output using the engine that the printer’s RIP uses, the print service providers must resort to printing hard proofs and printing samples.

Envisioning a better way Adobe envisions a new workflow, one that eliminates unnecessary steps and retains the highest level of design integrity throughout the process. Key to that workflow is the ability to leave objects in their native state until the last possible moment. Adobe identified the following goals for a new workflow: • Leave the flexibility of the design untouched until the final RIP stage. Delaying device constraints until the last possible moment eliminates many conversions and transformations— and the additional workflow steps required to compensate for artifacts created during those transformations.

• Ensure that what you see is what you print. Using the same rendering engine to preview and to RIP makes on-screen previews much more reliable.

Introducing the Adobe PDF Print Engine With these goals in mind, Adobe developed the Adobe PDF Print Engine. The PDF Print Engine, which consumes native PDF files without conversion to PostScript, makes it possible for creative professionals and print service providers to maintain the integrity of the design content throughout the workflow. Using native PDF to power the print engine eliminates the need for transformations and compensation. If PDF can support a feature, such as transparency or multiple color models, so can the Adobe PDF Print Engine.

With Adobe PDF Print Engine, creative professionals have higher confidence that their designs will print as they expected, and without costly and time-consuming iterative changes and multiple proofing cycles. Thus, printers can be more certain that they can produce the job profitably and to the customer’s satisfaction.

Adobe licenses the Adobe PDF Print Engine to OEM partners who incorporate it into software and hardware printing solutions. When you use print workflow software that is based on the Adobe PDF Print Engine, you’ll be able to use the same rendering engine to soft-proof or preview the file as you do to output it.

The Adobe PDF Print Engine is based on PDF rendering libraries, color management technology, and other technology that is used by Adobe applications. Therefore, with the Adobe Creative Suite and the Adobe PDF Print platform, print service providers can be confident that they’ll produce high-quality output from PDF print jobs. And creative professionals can be certain that they’ll get the results they expect, on time and within their budget.

Benefits of a native PDF workflow The Adobe PDF Print Engine dramatically improves the printing process by increasing predictability, reliability, and productivity—which, in turn, improves profitability for print service providers. An end-to-end native PDF workflow eliminates the need for conversions, so you do not need to compensate for the problems they introduce later in the process.

Using a previewing or soft-proofing application that incorporates the Adobe PDF Print Engine makes it possible to accurately emulate the final results on screen. Designers can see how their changes affect the printed documents early in the process, and printers don’t need to run multiple proofing cycles to confirm that the job will print as expected. Complex content prints correctly the first time. Fewer complications and more accurate previews result in a faster, more efficient workflow, and the potential for greater profits. and customer satisfaction.

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When customers require last-minute changes to content, you can satisfy their needs easily. With the Adobe PDF Print Engine, you can maintain content in its original form, delaying device constraints as long as possible. In addition to changing content, you can opt to use a different output device, or help your customer repurpose the document.

For more information about the Adobe PDF Print Engine, visit www.adobe. com/products/pdfprintengine.

Resources To learn more about Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional, PDF/X, transparency, color management, JDF, and other topics covered in this document, refer to the following resources: Adobe Print Resource Center www.adobe.com/studio/print/ The latest white papers, printing guides, and other technical information about Adobe software for print professionals.

Adobe Acrobat Printing Guide http://partners.adobe.com/public/asn/en/print_resource_center/AC7_PrintingGuide.pdf In-depth information and best practices for printing from Acrobat 7.0 Professional, intended for service providers.

PDF Integration Guide for Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 http://media.studio.adobe.com/linked_content/en/acs2pdfintguide/acs2pdfintguide.pdf Descriptions of the default PDF presets and best practices for working with PDF files.

PDF/X Files and Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/pdfs/pdfx_white_paper.pdf In-depth information about creating and working with PDF/X files in Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 components.

Color Workflows for Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/pdfs/cs2_color_workflows.pdf Introduction to the concepts of color management, step-by-step instructions for print and online color workflows using Adobe Creative Suite 2.3, and a glossary of terms. This is a great resource for designers and service providers alike.

PDF/X Resources, Tools, and Links www.gwg.org The Ghent Working Group website.

Getting Started with Transparency www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/pdfs/transparency_quick_start.pdf Basic information for creative professionals about creating and printing transparency effects using Adobe Creative Suite 2 software.

Transparency in Adobe Applications: A Print Production Guide www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/pdfs/txpguidecs2.pdf A reference and troubleshooting guide for print service providers.

A Designer’s Guide to Transparency for Print Output www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/pdfs/dgt.pdf In-depth information for your customers about properly creating transparent effects, and exporting and printing effectively.

Creating Reliable JDF with Acrobat 7 http://www.adobe.com/products/jdf/pdfs/jdf_whitepaper.pdf Information about using JDF in a print workflow with Acrobat 8.

Adobe JDF website www.adobe.com/products/jdf/main.html More information about JDF, as well as links to partner sites and articles about JDF. Adobe PDF in a Print Production Workflow

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Adobe PDF JobReady www.adobe.com/products/pdfjobready/main.html Information about this job-delivery software and the Adobe partners who make it available.

Adobe PDF Print Engine www.adobe.com/products/pdfprintengine Information about Adobe PDF Print technology and the solutions developed by Adobe partners.

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Adobe Systems Incorporated 345 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110-2704 USA www.adobe.com Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, FrameMaker, Illustrator, InDesign, PageMaker, PDF JobReady, Photoshop, and PostScript are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is a trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries.

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All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Š 2007 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.

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