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PDF Creation Specifications

PDF formatting and optimization

This page provides information regarding PDF formatting and optimization, as well as a process for creating the best black and white images for print.

1)Aways Embed fonts - if your pdf has text, Always embed the full font family. If at all possible, DO NOT SUBSET FONTS
  • If a font is multiply subsetted in a pdf, when presented to the rip, can produce garbled text. The RIP seems to try to build a single font resource for a multiply subsetted font. But since that font has multiple definitions in the pdf, the font resource that the rip builds can be at the very least garbled from being overwritten over and over again. Furthur, The RIP might reject the font resource entirely, and end up substituting Courier instead. This Usually produces expanded text, reflowing due to expanded kerning.
  • If a pdf file is built from multiple other pdf files, and fonts are subsetted in those individual files, then when they are combined, the final PDF file will have multiply subsetted fonts, which can produce this issue.

So, if you fully embed, and never subset, there will be one and only one font definition in your final file.

2) Optimize for Fast WebView
3) Compatability: Recommend Acrobat 5
4) If available, Leave Colors As is {Leave Colors unchanged}
5) Image Compression: Color
  • Zip, {lossless, but might create huge files}
  • Use Jpeg High -> Low to lower filesize {Lossy, but reuces file size}
6) Image Compression: BW
  • Aways ZIP Greyscale images, do not use CCITT
7) Do not downsample images, Unless:
  • If your pages are fully rasterized, if their DPI > 300, Downsample to 300
8) Compress text and Line Art
9) Do not preserve OPI comments
  • Certain PDF Tools, such as Pitstop, have problems otherwise.
10) File Sizes should be < 700 MB's , preferably no more than 101 Mbytes.
11) Make sure Overprint is off
12) USE CMYK or RGB Colors in Paths that are below Transparencies. Spot colors that are below an images transparency might not print.


Bleeding the Document:
1) Have bleed @ 1/8th symetric all around
2) Have Optional Marks offset 10 points
3) If you want bleed in your document all intended bleeding elements must extend beyond the document size by at least 1/4th of an inch total in both directions (1/8" on each side).


Image Files:
1) Do not change the colorspace of an image file, ie… if your original image file is in RGB, DO NOT CONVERT it to CMYK.
2) Do not use images with CCITT compression.
3) Do not use images with LZW compression, if at all possible.
4) Images that are Multi-Strip can print with lines between the strips. LZW is one image compression that can produce Multi-Strip Image files, especially on TIFF images. Do not use images that are Multi-Strip, but are continuous.
5) Do not use "Artificial" Greyscale, ie… RGB or CMYK images with near matching channel values. If an image is meant to be Gray, its color space should be gray.
6) The DocuSP is optimized to best print GrayScale images whose "Gamma" is between 2.2 and 2.4. If your greyscale images have a Gamma of 1.8, they will print too dark.
7) Image DPI, in its final document dimensions, should not exceed 600 dpi, and preferably should be about 300 DPI, to optimize RIP speed.

For PDFLib Users:
JPEG Files: - If a PDF file fails to RIP, and the error message is that this was due to an invalid JPEG Marker, and this is NOT due to a corrupt image {Adobe Acrobat usually pops up a message if an image on a page is indeed corrupt} then it is recommended that you use the "passthrough false" option when you are performing a load_image command.

PDFLib recommends you contact support when such an issue occurs, and provide the image that requires this "passthrough false" option, so that they can develop against this new jpeg flavor in future releases.

NOTE: CMYK, as placed by an iGen, from the Upper Surface to the lower Sheet of a printed document, ARE: MYCK. M, being on top, will be most noticable.


Comments

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what is the best source program to use?

by Chris Thornton, Fri 19 of Jun, 2009 (20:36 UTC)
what is the best source program to use? to convert to pdf? I saw someone say dont use MS word & dont use MS publisher.....what should i use?


chris


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Re: what is the best source program to use?

by Christian Fowler, Sat 20 of Jun, 2009 (11:31 UTC)
Hi Chris,

The best option, if you can afford it, is Adobe Acrobat Standard which lets you use "File -> Print" from *any* program to create a press ready PDF. I have seen copies on ebay in the $125 range. The next option would be software from Neevia that does much the same for less. We have links on our PDF Creation Software page.
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by Corinne S., Wed 03 of Jun, 2009 (14:05 UTC)
I've read and re-read and then followed the above directions and those listed elsewhere regarding uploading the full font family, yet my test booklet (yearbook) has font errors.
I used photoshop 7.0 to create my pages with Algerian font. When I tried to convert to .pdf file, I got an error about using faux bold in my font/text. So I went back and changed all (24) pages to remove the faux bold. I then was able to complete the .pdf tranformation. I combined the files into one big .pdf file and previewed it online. Everything looked great. I also added files for my outside cover pages.

When I received my order, the font on my cover pages was fine. The inside however had random errors in the font. Some pages printed fine, others had missing letters replaced by boxes and some had the box on top of an off color letter. Obviously a font problem w/in the large .pdf file.

OK, so now what? I have 15 orders that need to be placed for this book and need this font issue resolved ASAP. I have contacted VioVio by email but have not received a resolution after almost a week. I really need this resolved so that I can place an order.
Thanks for your help.
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Thanks for the reply

by Corinne S., Thu 04 of Jun, 2009 (03:22 UTC)
Thank you for explaining a bit about the fonts. In my case I only have ONE font throughout the entire book. The only differences being some underlining and sizing.
Since I did embed the entire font family as described in the directions, I am at a loss as to how to prevent this from happening again.
Reply to this comment

Re:

by Viovio Support, Thu 04 of Jun, 2009 (00:43 UTC)
Corinne, I agree, it does sound like a font error with your original file. The cover file is always separate from the interior file. We convert the covers to .jpg files and then create the press-ready PDF for the cover. That is why the cover file is fine. When some text prints fine in one spot and not in another spot that is an indication that your full font family was not embedded.

Here is an example of how the font will print fine in one spotbut not in a subsequent spot. The printer sees the font on page 1 and it prints fine, then there is a different font that is used on page 2 and the font instructions on page 2 override the font instructions on page 1 so when that font presents itself on page 3 the print doesn't have the correct instructions and does its best to match the font. In some case it is simply not able to construct the font that is when you see the boxes.

The best thing you can do is upload a new PDF with the full font family embedded or you could upload separate.jpg files to a gallery and let Viovio create your PDF for you.

The beauty of PDFs is that we don't modify them in any way which includes the fonts.
Reply to this comment

Mac .pdf creation

by Andrew Bright, Sat 21 of Mar, 2009 (02:54 UTC)
Hi everyone,
Trying very hard not to sound too daft here, but I create all my .pdf's using the built in .pdf creation tool in Mac OS 10.5. The only options I get to choose are quality (compression?): Best, better or good.
What experience have you had with Mac OS generated .pdf's? Are they of acceptable quality or do I genuinely need to buy Acrobat?
Regards,

Andrew
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Re: Mac .pdf creation

by Christian Fowler, Sat 21 of Mar, 2009 (06:27 UTC)
Hi Andrew, Mac generated PDF's (via the Print -> Save as PDF dialog) work just fine and we highly recommend them. The only issues we have had deal with fonts not getting properly embedded.

Be sure to order a proof/test before you place a larger order.