Adobe InDesign CS2 PDF Creation Guide for Print Production .... The example
screenshots in this tutorial were created from Adobe® InDesign v4.0.4 running on
...
Adobe® InDesign® CS2 PDF Creation Guide for Print Production Version 2.0; December 27, 2006
Contents 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 1 2. Supported Versions..................................................................................................................... 1 3. PDF Setup and Creation Processes........................................................................................... 1 3.1. Screenshot Tutorials............................................................................................................. 1 3.1.1. Direct PDF Export...................................................................................................... 1 3.1.2. Writing PostScript Files/Distilling-to-PDF................................................................... 5 4. Color Settings.............................................................................................................................. 9 5. Display and Output Preferences............................................................................................... 10 5.1. Display Performance.......................................................................................................... 10 5.2. Appearance of Black.......................................................................................................... 10 6. Using Adobe InDesign to Flatten Transparency........................................................................ 11 7. Summary................................................................................................................................... 11 8. Implementation Date................................................................................................................. 11 9. Feedback................................................................................................................................... 11
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Adobe InDesign CS2 PDF Creation Guide for Print Production DJS_InDesignGuideV2.0: version 2.0; December 27, 2006; full release version 0.1 version 1.0 version 1.1 version 2.0b version 2.0
March 15, 2004 March 26, 2004 April 26, 2004 December 6, 2006 December 27, 2006
Draft; KL Initial Release; after Preflight comments, AB Revision; after IT comments, SW CS2 pre-web release CS2 full release, after Tech. Dev. comments, SW
1. Introduction
This document is intended as an Adobe InDesign reference guide to create prepress-quality PDFs for delivery to Dartmouth Journal Services. Following these guidelines will assist in producing PDF files which process efficiently and print as intended. Consult the Configuring a Workstation for PS/PDF Generation document for other important information regarding Adobe Distiller setup if using the PostScript/Distiller method of PDF creation. We will update this document as necessary to accomodate emerging technologies and software revisions.
2. Supported Versions
Adobe InDesign 2.x-4.x (CS2) are supported.
3. PDF Setup and Creation Processes
PDFs can be created by either: a) directly exporting-to-PDF; b) writing PostScript files and normalizing to PDF with Acrobat Distiller. Prior to InDesign 2.x, saving directly to PDF was not recommended. However, it is now relatively easy to achieve preressquality exported PDFs, assuming proper application criteria have been set. In most cases, this method will provide the best possible quality, especially when transparent object-flattening is required. Please use the process with which you are more comfortable; both PDF creation methods are outlined in this document.
3.1. Screenshot Tutorials
Please use the following guidelines to first set application criteria and then create PDF(s). By defining a “preset” or “style”, you can save time by not having to configure the settings each time a PDF file is created. The guidelines also provide baseline criteria for previous versions, and are available as ready-made importable preset files in the DJS Resource Library (www.dartmouthjournals.com/resources).
3.1.1. Direct PDF Export
• Select File–>Adobe PDF Presets–>Define...
• Select New... button
• Input a name for the new PDF Export Preset • Select General tab • Set criteria according to window
• Select Compression tab • Set criteria according to window
• Select Marks and Bleeds tab • Set criteria according to window
• Select Output tab • Set criteria according to window
• Select Advanced tab • Set criteria according to window
• Select Summary tab • Review selected options • Select OK button
After new PDF Export Presets have been saved, these steps should be followed to create prepress-quality PDFs: • Select File–>Adobe PDF Presets–>[Your Preset] Note: Select the name of your custom Adobe PDF Preset.
• Select the Export button and the PDF will be created in the folder specified in the previous window
• Select a destination folder for the PDF • Select Save button
This concludes the Adobe InDesign Export method of PDF creation.
3.1.2. Writing PostScript Files/Distilling-to-PDF The Prinergy Refiner PPD file that is referred to in this section is available in the Resources area of the Dartmouth Journal Services website (www.dartmouthjournals.com/resources). Please refer to the Configuring a Workstation for PostScript/PDF Creation document for each platform’s installation guidelines.
• Select File–>Print Presets–>Define...
• Select New button
• Input a name for the new Print Preset • Select PostScript File for Printer • Select Prinergy Refiner for PPD Note: Prinergy Refiner will be available if it was correctly installed according to your OS. The Configuring a Workstation for PS/PDF Generation document provides installation instructions for the Prinergy Refiner PPD.
• Select General tab on left • Set criteria according to window
• Select Setup tab • Set criteria according to window Note: Paper Width and Paper Height should be set to 1" larger dimensions than the Document Size (trim size) to oversize PDFs (i.e. 8.5" x 11" trim size of book = 9.5" x 12" paper size). Page marks and bleeds will then remain visible in generated files.
• Select Marks and Bleed tab • Set criteria according to window
• Select Output tab • Set criteria according to window
• Select Graphics tab • Set criteria according to window
• Select Color Management tab • Set criteria according to window
• Select Advanced tab • Set criteria according to window
• Select Summary tab • Review selected options • Select OK button
After Print Preset criteria has been input, these steps should be followed to create prepress-quality PDFs: • Select Print Presets–>[Your Preset] Note: Select the name of your custom Print Preset.
• Select Save button
• Select the destination folder for the PostScript file • Select Save button and the PostScript file will be created • Use Adobe Distiller to create PDFs from PostScript files. Be sure to use the DJS Joboptions outlined in the Adobe Distiller Guide to preserve graphics and text quality.
This concludes the Adobe InDesign PostScript-to-PDF method of PDF creation. 4. Color Settings
Please use the following guidelines to configure Adobe InDesign’s color management settings according to North America Prepress 2 defaults.
• Select Edit–>Color Settings...
• Select Settings: North America Prepress 2
5. Display and Output Performance
The following screenshots provide recommended settings for achieving the highest display quality on screen, and the most accurate display and output of blacks.
5.1. Display Performance
• Select Edit–>Preferences–> Display Performance...
• Set criteria according to window
5.2. Appearance of Black
• Select Edit–>Preferences–> Appearance of Black...
• Set criteria according to window 10
6. Using Adobe InDesign to Flatten Transparency
Transparency is a feature found in graphics applications which allows a designer to set levels of opacity in text and graphic elements, allowing a “see-through” appearance to objects underneath. PostScript is not currently capable of preserving transparency; if files containing transparency arrive at a prepress RIP unflattened, there can be unpredictability in how objects will render. Using InDesign’s high-resolution Transparency Flattener in combination with the PDF v1.3 compatibility setting will help preserve the appearance of transparent objects after their introduction to the RIP.
7. Summary
A properly configured Adobe PDF Preset, or a Print Preset with appropriate Distiller Joboptions, will help preserve graphics/text quality and produce PDFs which process well. Please consult the Configuring a Workstation for PS/PDF Generation document to make certain your PostScript printer has been correctly configured and other accessory files have been properly installed. The example screenshots in this tutorial were created from Adobe® InDesign v4.0.4 running on the Windows XP platform. Other versions of InDesign, including those on Macintosh, may contain menus that slightly differ. However, the critical parameters and options used herein are available in previous versions and on the Macintosh versions.
8. Implementation Date
Please implement these settings after January 1, 2007.
9. Feedback
This document is designed as reference material to simplify creation of high quality PDF files, but the goal is also to develop solutions and techniques that can work well within a broad range of online and print production workflows. Therefore, we welcome your suggestions if you feel there is something that can be improved upon, and welcome any questions you may have concerning this data. Please contact us via email at
[email protected] with comments.
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