5 Replies Latest reply: Dec 2, 2010 7:38 PM by mckayk_777-PN6kWE RSS

    To Print or Export to PDF

    mckayk_777-PN6kWE Community Member

      Anyone know of any reason why export to PDF would be better then Printing to PDF or are they basically the same thing

        • 1. Re: To Print or Export to PDF
          cdflash Community Member

          printing to PDF effectively makes a postscript file which is then distilled into a PDF. doing this flattens the document and loses any interactivity.

           

          exporting to PDF (depending on the acrobat level selected in the export) can keep the document in its stacking order so that the flattening is done at the last minute by whatever RIP it is being sent to. it also keeps interactivity such as bookmarks and hyperlinks.

           

          also, when preparing PDFs in this fashion, it is possible to use RGB pics in the file and then convert them to CMYK during the export using the output tab (in colour conversion, select "convert to destination [preserve numbers], select the destination profile, and whether or not to include the profile). this is a ton better than converting hundreds of RGB pics to CMYK in photoshop!

           

          it also eliminated the need to cycle through PPDs, prepare a PS file, distill it, etc.

           

          on that note, my workplace will export a PDF rather than print it to PS. there are VERY FEW exceptions to this (such as a pig of a file which won't export and printing to PS is the only way to get it to work).

           

          hope that helps.

           

          colly

          • 2. Re: To Print or Export to PDF
            BobLevine CommunityMVP

            Not even close to the same thing. Printing to PDF is an archaic workflow.

             

            Discussed here four years ago:

             

            http://indesignsecrets.com/creating-pdf-export-or-use-distiller.php

             

            Bob

            • 3. Re: To Print or Export to PDF
              mckayk_777-PN6kWE Community Member

              So what your saying is if I print to PDF does not allow for further alterations.

              That is ok cause when I am printing to PDF the next step is output to Imagesetter. there are no need for hyperlinks & bookmarks that you mentioned in the file.

              Images are always converted to CMYK when sizing and fixing images so no need for convertion from RGB to CMYK.

               

              That all said do you think this is workable, could i loss quality printing to PDF instead of export, Keeping in mind the only way to get multi copies of a page into the pdf is to print it to PDF and that is what I need, one page in indesign output 8 times to one pdf for easy placement into a indesign template.

              • 4. Re: To Print or Export to PDF
                P Spier CommunityMVP

                Printing to PDF always flattens transparency. Quality is often better if leaving transparency live and letting the RIP do the flattening.

                 

                Printing to PDF in order to get 8-up instead of using step and repeat is not flexible ( you can't easily switch to 12-up, for example), is more time consuming than step and repeat would be, and requires more disk space (to store that unnecessary PDF) and more work if the basic file is edited.

                 

                With step and repeat you create a one-up ID file the size you need for one card (or whatever these are). Place that in the larger file, step and repeat to fill any size grid. If you need to edit, you edit the one-up and update the link. If you use a PDF you have to edit the one-up, then make a new PDF.

                • 5. Re: To Print or Export to PDF
                  mckayk_777-PN6kWE Community Member

                  When I have reached the stage of output to PDF I know for certain how many up the printing will be.

                  The PDF lives for about a week and is then deleted so HDD space is not really an issue.

                   

                  Your last paragraph has given me an idea.

                  Instead of step and repeat each time, set up the template already linked to a dummy file output the pdf to that file name open the template and update the links step and repeat all done. Probably better to have the actual job name kept instead of a dummy name, but its still just a relink.

                  Nice one Peter I think that will sort of work well for my work flow when there is only one version of the card. Also means I can export instead of Print to PDF.