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1. Re: matching distilled ps to and exported ps file
Dov Isaacs Dec 23, 2008 2:57 PM (in response to alan ruta)There is nothing cheating in terms of directly export PDF from InDesign as opposed to using the archaic distillation of PostScript method of creating PDF from InDesign documents.
Having said that, if the rules where you work require use of an archaic, legacy workflow, you might be risking your job to use a different workflow (even if it is better).
The settings you use for creating PDF via PostScript are rather unusual in that you use PostScript Color Management which is fairly incompatible with ICC color management used by Adobe's application programs and RGB is converted to CMYK via PostScript Color Management in the Distiller. Your proposed export settings convert RGB to CMYK in InDesign itself (somewhat archaic but viable) but it may yield different that you would get otherwise.
Because you have a number of variables, the worst of which is an inconsistent existing workflow, I honestly don't believe that anyone on this forum could or should offer you advise other than to get some assistance from a PDF workflow expert to make your workflow consistent, regardless of the route you take to produce the PDF (although, again, the export route is the only method that Adobe endorses for PDF creation from InDesign).
Proceed with caution!
- Dov -
2. Re: matching distilled ps to and exported ps file
(Mike_Guyette) Jan 2, 2009 11:38 AM (in response to alan ruta)Dov - your last sentence ...the export route is the only method that Adobe endorses for PDF creation from InDesign). - where did you find this fact?
I've been going around with our commercial printer (I work for a small newspaper, Mac OS 10.4.11, ID 3) about Distilling a PS file instead of using the Export PDF. They want the former, while I've been sending them Exported pages (with Exported ads embedded in the pages), only because they're faster to create. Occasionally they have "problems" (no specifics) and blame it on my Exported files.
Hence, I've been looking for a definitive answer as to why Exported files are "problemsome". I use their PDF settings (version 1.4) when Exporting. I have a feeling it has something to do with transparencies and flattening (although 1.4 supports these). I suspect their RIP isn't up to date, but before I accuse them of such, I'd like to have some fuel for my fire.
Any references to this dilemma would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! -
3. Re: matching distilled ps to and exported ps file
BobLevine Jan 2, 2009 11:45 AM (in response to alan ruta)Mike, take a look under Dov's name in his message.
Bob -
4. Re: matching distilled ps to and exported ps file
(SuperMacGuy) Jan 2, 2009 12:32 PM (in response to alan ruta)Mike,
one area that I have seen issue with exported PDFs is fonts. Some double-byte (aka Identity-H) fonts will not output on RIPs or low end printers that aren't up to snuff. Thus we have stuck with Distilling our PDFs instead of Exporting.
InDesign CS1,2,3 all exhibit the occasional Identity-H font when Exporting, but PS>Distilling does not put Identity-H fonts in a PDF (unless you actually use Chinese/double-byte fonts).
Chris -
5. Re: matching distilled ps to and exported ps file
(Mike_Guyette) Jan 2, 2009 1:06 PM (in response to alan ruta)Thanks, Chris. I'll see if they will confirm that they're having font issues. If so, I would imagine that they can tell me WHICH fonts are the culprits (hopefully).
As suspected, and possibly confirmed by your response, their RIP is probably not up to all that good snuff... -
6. Re: matching distilled ps to and exported ps file
Dov Isaacs Jan 2, 2009 1:15 PM (in response to (SuperMacGuy))Use of the distillation of PostScript method of producing PDF does not guarantee that CID font encoding will not be used! Distiller does use such encoding for optimization purposes.
Note that CID / double-byte encoding is nothing "new" in either PostScript or PDF. Any RIP or PDF workflow software that cannot handle such constructs properly is well over ten years behind the specifications.
- Dov -
7. Re: matching distilled ps to and exported ps file
alan ruta Jan 2, 2009 7:06 PM (in response to alan ruta)I can't argue that the settings I'm forced to use will convert rgb to cmyk. However everything we place in an InDesign file (ai or ps, or some other graphics) is always cmyk and usually any placed photoshop files have been converted to one of two cmyk profiles that were created to work with our fuji proofer and papers.
That being said does distiller convert to rgb and then back to cmyk. I would love to get the shop to stop using this work flow but I need all the info stacked on my side.
In two places the output wflow says "preserve numbers". To me that implies nothing will be changes.
Now where it says "don't include profiles". What does t do to a placed file that has a cmyk profile (had been converted to it)?
I do know that adobe published the CID/Double byte workflow 15 years ago so most RIPs have caught up.
alan




