Creating Print-Ready PDFs
Think all PDFs are the same? Think again. To save prep time and ensure the highest quality on your digital printing jobs, be sure to create “print ready” PDFs.
Below is a quick reference to printing PDFs with the most popular graphics programs:
Quark
InDesign
Photoshop
Illustrator
If you have questions or are using other programs, contact us at 610-933-7400 and ask for the digital pre-press department.
Creating PDF files from QuarkXpress
- Select File / Export and choose Layout as PDF...
- Select Options tab
- Select the Job Options tab
- Select Embed All Fonts
- Select Subset Fonts Below and set the percentage to 100%
- Set all the Compression settings to None
- Set all Resolution to Keep resolution
- Uncheck Compress Text and Line Art
- Next, select the Output tab
- Under Color Output Type, select Composite
- Under Color Output Print Colors, select Device
- Select Registration to: Centered and Offset to 6pt
- Set Bleed to Symmetric and amount to .5"
- Select the OPI tab and deselect all check boxes
- Select OK and then name and save your PDF file
- Open your PDF and proof it before submitting.
Creating PDF files from Adobe Illustrator CS
- Select File / Save As...
- In the Save As window under Format, choose PDF
- Under Compression choose Do Not Downsample
- Choose None for all image compression options
- Under Marks & Bleeds select Trim Marks
- Choose .5 for bleed if your file has bleeds
- Open your PDF and proof it before submitting.
Creating PDF files from Adobe InDesign
- Select File / PDF Export Preset and choose Define...
- Enter a name in the Name field
- Uncheck any boxes that are checked
- Set Compatibility to: Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3)
- Set Standard to None
- Next, click on the compression tab
- Set Downsampling to Do Not Downsample & Compression to None
- Be sure that the Compress Text and Line Art is unchecked
- Next, select the Marks and Bleeds tab
- Select Crop Marks and Page Information
- Set weight to.125pt
- Set offset to .125 in. the bleeds to be .5 in. on all four sides
- Next, select the Advanced tab
- Select Leave Unchanged under Color
- Set the Subset fonts to 100%. To finish select OK.
- Select High Resolution under Transparency Flattener
- Now select File / Export and save your file as a PDF
- Open your PDF and proof it before submitting
Creating PDF files from Adobe Photoshop CS
- Select File / Save As...
- In the Save As window under Format, choose PDF
- In the PDF Options window, select ZIP
- Select Okay
- Open your PDF and proof it before submitting
