Disappearing elements in a pdf when flattening

The real question is why in the world you are flattening the PDF for your ads. Just place them in InDesign, for example, export PDF (preferably PDF/X-4), and let the RIP properly blend the transparency based on the exact print conditions and color management. You should never, repeat never, repeat yet again never open PDF submitted for placement in a publication in Illustrator or Photoshop and place the results of same into your publication. You are simply ruining your content and achieve no benefit whatsoever!!!

          - Dov

If you rasterize or open a PDF in Photoshop you will see not only a small amount of loss of quality, it will be huge:

1. Vectors and fonts are rasterized with the image resolution (e.g. 300ppi). That means that theit lines are not crispy any more. If they remain in vectors they will be later rasterized in the RIP or APPE which will create much smoother lines and output in higher quality.
2. A PDF can contain a lot of different color spaces in RGB and CMYK. Photoshop will open a PDF and convert it to a single color space.
3. A PDF might contain transparency, saving as JPG will eliminate and flatten any transparency.

It would be much better to set up a standard how your clients should deliver their adds like

• PDF/X-4 (which will include all used fonts embedded, not allow interactive objects, etc.)
• Bleed
• Output intent
• Minimum resolution of images
• Minimum width of lines and small letters
• Minimum width of lines and small letters, when printed on black and also when printed on 4c.
• If you need registration marks.

These things I am always asking for BEFORE I start a project. This will help to avoid errors and problems from the beginning.

• Opening a PDF (nor a delivered EPS) is not a solution.
• Sending the Add as EPS is neither a solution.
• Sending a rasterized anything is also not a good idea.

There is no question that when accepting ads from “the world” you will have some problematic submissions. I've encountered ads done in PowerPoint, Microsoft Paint, etc.

However, rather than using the elephant gun of opening in Photoshop or Illustrator or forcing flattening, why not try some preflight in Acrobat? Just make sure that you use a profile that checks for problems (transparency and RGB are not problems) and only do something for PDF files that have serious issues such as overprinting white or unembedded fonts. 

          - Dov

The important thing about preflighting is not to MAKE problems. Commonly people starting with preflighting pick a profile, and then spend ages chasing the "problems" it identifies. But with a few exceptions, what it identifies are not problems, just check boxes. So you need absolutely to start by understanding WHAT causes problems. For instance, would you want to reject (or at least know about) artwork under 150 dpi? Or nonembedded fonts? If so, preflight can help you. If not, it's no better than having someone stick pins in a list!

To answer your specific question, I have not ever seen such a technical primer, although such a reputable guide is really necessary in an industry where many of the prepress “professionals” are in fact relying on word-of-mouth urban legends as their guides to what is correct and printable PDF. Many also act Luddites in terms of embracing newer, more reliable PDF print publishing workflows (such as use of PDF file with live transparency and ICC color management as well as not converting calibrated RGB imagery to process CMYK other that at the RIP itself).

If I can find (or write) such a primer, I'll report back to this forum with same! 

          - Dov

We have had instances where our Rampage RIP has mangled transparent objects, and even instances where the only way Preps 5.2.3 would accept a PDF file would be to export as PS and redistill at PDF v1.3. Now in a perfect environment, with the latest RIPS and software versions, transparencies may be the bomb, but in a lot of real world shops, the bomb explodes.

If you are having problems by which your Rampage RIP mangles transparent objects, it would behoove you to report the problem to Rampage and get them to fix their bugs. (Note Rampage products are not based on any Adobe technology and as such, Adobe cannot assist with that!) Similarly, if Preps is buggy, bug the software provider to provide the fixes. Otherwise, choose other software vendors.

          - Dov

I agree with that, unfortunately we peasants cannot dictate as to what what

tools we are provided. So we must beat the PDF into submission to force it

to run the gauntlet.

Fortunately, we are finally moving to Prinergy in December, so hopefully

that will alleviate these issues.

Thank you,

Steve Cook

Prepress Technical Specialist

P.A. Hutchison Company

400 Penn Ave

Mayfield, PA 18433

Telephone: 570-876-4560

Fax: 570-876-4561

Email: scook@pahutch.com

www.linkedin.com/pub/steve-cook/8/334/b8/

<http://www.linkedin.com/pub/steve-cook/8/334/b8/>

Although as a “peasant” you cannot dictate what tools you are provided with, it would certainly behoove you to make your management aware of issues that cost your company time and ultimately money. Too many print service providers are penny-wise and pound-foolish when it comes to workflow software. All too often, new “iron” is the only investment that is understood when in fact, that is increasingly becoming a much less important factor in efficient, profitable operations.

          - Dov

Rampage is end of life, so we had to move forward and I am confident that

our management has made an excellent choice in Prinergy having worked with

it in the past. We did go back to Rampage many times for issues and a lot of

them were addressed. New iron may not always be the best answer but in this

case a very necessary one. I wasn¹t belittling Adobe for the issues we were

having, I was merely stating a fact of our workflow. In fact, I think Adobe

products are awesome and the technology is incredible.