Reliable PDF Creation in The Enterprise: Dov Isaacs

bc
Reliable PDF Creation

in the Enterprise
Dov Isaacs
Principal Scientist, Product Interoperability
Adobe Systems Incorporated
November 5, 2001
PDF 2001 Conference West
bc Agenda
Introduction
Content Creation
PDF File Creation
Post-PDF File Creation Tweaking

& “Other” Considerations
Q&A
2
bc
Introduction
Introduction
bc The Enterprise
We are not talking about Star Trek

In our context, enterprise refers to an
organization conducting day-to-day business
which is not primarily creative content
creation, prepress service, or publishing
May include governmental agencies,
academia, and R&D organizations
4
Introduction
bc The Enterprise
Organizations in which PDF can be created and

used as a content communications media for
display and on-demand printing with
occasional external production needs
Creators and recipients of PDF in such
organizations are primarily Windows-based
(90%+) but must maintain compatibility with
the 10% who “think different”
5
Introduction
bc The Enterprise
Typical applications from which PDF is derived:

Microsoft Office
Corel WordPerfect
Lotus WordPro
Adobe FrameMaker
Microsoft Internet Explorer
FileMaker Pro
Microsoft Visio, Project, and Publisher
JASC Paint Shop Pro
CorelDRAW
Specialized & industry-specific application programs
6
Introduction
bc The Enterprise
And some content from professional graphics

and document layout programs:
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Macromedia Freehand
Adobe PageMaker
Quark XPress
Adobe InDesign
7
bc This is NOT …
A sales pitch
(if you are attending this conference, you have already bought into
Acrobat and PDF)
A tutorial on Advanced Techniques
(other sessions deal with the specifics of hyperlinks, indexing,
multimedia, forms, collaboration, prepress, etc.)
Rocket Science
8
bc We will …
Solve the puzzle as to how to reliably,

consistently, and easily create PDF files
without gurus and prepress experts
— mere mortals can do this!
9
bc We will …
Discuss:
Issues associated with content creation
Limiting the number of settings, options files, and
decisions necessary to create a PDF file
Techniques and shortcuts to create lean, mean,
high quality PDF files
suitable for:
Display (and web)
Printing
& “Low end” prepress
Debunk myths and urban legends surrounding
basic issues of PDF creation
10
bc Dov Isaacs agrees with Ron Popeil …
”Set it
and
Forget it”
11
bc The Fine Print (pun intended) …
The material presented today may challenge long-held religious

beliefs about how to create content, PostScript, and PDF
The opinions and techniques presented are those of the presenter,
Dov Isaacs, and do not necessarily represent opinions held by or
techniques officially endorsed by Adobe Systems Incorporated
You mileage may vary, but DO try this at home!
12
bc
Content Creation
Content Creation
bc General Considerations
A PDF file can never be better than

the content from which it is created
GIGO: Garbage in, garbage out!
14
Content Creation
$2,500 buys a tremendous amount of

computer, printer, and software, well beyond
even the dreams of publishing professionals
fifteen years ago
Today, we can very rapidly and inexpensively
produce cruddy, shlocky-looking junk
There is just no accounting for bad taste
15
Content Creation
We will discuss the mechanics of content

creation, not issues of taste and style!
345 Mishagoss Lane (408) 936-1212
West Pork Chop, CA [email protected]
95075
Gustav Hunckledinkle
Objective I wanna gud prophphesional posishun!

2000 – 2001 Glurbish Design Studio West Pork Chop, CA
Experience
Grafic Designer
Helped rite and layout many documents & pamflets.
Layed off when customers went elsewhere.
1985 – 2000 Acme Supply Company East Pork Chop, CA
Quality Manager
Personally inspected all stuphph shipped to the coyote.
Education 1985 General Custer High Scool Surrender, WY

Graduated Summa Cum Lowly.
Interests Fast cars and booze.

16
Content Creation
Maintain content at its highest level of

abstraction by category and within category;
expedience can byte you terribly later!
Text (as realized via fonts)

trumps Vector Graphics (lines & polygons)
&
Vector Graphics (lines & polygons)

trump Images (raster data)
17
Content Creation
Lose no data before its time …

… add no unnecessary data
Image data
Transparency information
Color information
Avoid unnecessary and cascading
data and attribute transformations
Lossy compressions
Colorspace transformations
Artifacts from flattening of transparency
18
bc Text
Keep text as “text”

Avoid “convert to outline” or “rasterize” operations
except for complex, very special artistic effects
Why?
Text rendered with fonts has smart scalability due to “hinting”
of mathematical character shape definitions
Displays and prints with much higher quality, especially
at smaller point sizes and on low resolution devices
Vector artwork is not “hinted” as are commercial Type 1,
TrueType, and OpenType fonts – loss of readability when
scaled down
Images are resolution dependent and not readily scalable
without serious quality loss
PDF searchability and touch-up capability for text is lost with
conversions to vector graphics or images
19
bc Text
Fonts
Adobe PostScript and PDF both support Type 1 and
TrueType fonts natively and equally well
(Yes, this is contrary to what many so-called graphics and prepress
professionals may continue to tell you!)
Choice of fonts should be based on:
Aesthetics
Appropriateness of font design to its proposed use
Quality of font production including adherence to standards
(such as encoding and character sets)
Licensing terms – font vendor must allow embedding of fonts
in PostScript and PDF for purposes of “preview and print” –
otherwise, the font license is effectively USELESS!
20
bc Text
Fonts (continued)
Avoid “hacked fonts”
Font tools such as Fontographer and FontLab
Great for creating and editing new fonts
NOT lossless editors and “converters” of existing fonts
Changes to metrics may alter line and page breaks
Possible changes to design (bezier versus quadratic)
Loss of kerning data
Loss of “hinting” data degrades display/print quality
For custom characters and logos
Do not add or substitute characters into existing fonts
Commission special symbol font from type foundry
NEVER, repeat NEVER modify a commercial font and resave it
with the same name!
21
bc Text
Fonts (continued)
For non-Western Latin character sets
Do not use fonts that masquerade as Western Latin fonts
Results in data conversion problems later
Problems with text touch-up and search in Acrobat
Use applications that support Unicode
Use OpenType fonts with support for desired character sets
1 ʣ"ʱʡ
ɋɟɪɢɹ ɒɢɭɪɢɦ Ɏɪɷɧɤɟɥɶɭɮɟɪ
ʋ 4a (ʨʰʸʨʰʩʠʡ ʲʩʴʥʮʤ ʹ"ʴʡ ʢʠʨʡʩʬ ʭʧʰʮ ʡʸʤ ʬʹ ʥʸʥʲʩʹ) ʠʸʩʥ ʺʹʸʴ
ɉȺɊɒȺɌ ȼȺ-ɃȿɊȺ – ɉȿɊȼȺə ɑȺɋɌɖ ʭʤʸʡʠ ʬʹ ʥʺʸʩʧʡʡ ʥʰʷʱʲ ʭʩʮʣʥʷʤ ʭʩʸʥʲʩʹʡ
Ɋɚɜɜɢɧ Ɇɟɧɚɯɟɦ Ʌɚɣɛɬɚɝ ʭʥʣʱ ʩʹʰʠ ʺʠ ʬʩʶʤʬ ʭʤʸʡʠ ʬʹ ʥʰʥʩʱʩʰ ʬʬʫ ʺʠ ʤʧʰʩʹ ʭʲ ʣʥʱʩʩ -ʸʧʡʰ ʤʮʹʬʹ ʺʩʬʫʺʡ :ʥʰʩʡʠ
.ʥʣʥʲʩʩ ʺʠʥ ʥʩʴʥʠ ʺʠ ,ʯʫ ʭʠ ,ʳʷʹʮ -ʵʸʠʥ ʲʸʦ ʬʹ ʺʥʧʨʡʤʡʥ ,'ʤʡ ʤʰʥʮʠʬ ʺʥʹʥʰʠʤ
.ʥʦ ʺʩʬʫʺʬ ʭʩʩʧʸʫʤʤ ʭʩʸʩʹʫʮʤ
ɉɨɱɟɦɭ ɜ ɋɟɮɟɪ Ȼɟɪɟɲɢɬɟ ɬɚɤ ɦɧɨɝɨ «ɦɚɬɟɪɢɚɥɚ» ɨ ɋȿȾɈɆȿ? ɉɪɨɫɬɨ ɩɨɬɨɦɭ, ɱɬɨ
ʭʥʣʱ ʺʮʥʲʬ ʭʤʸʡʠ ʺʥʩʮʥʠʬʤ ʺʥʰʥʫʺʤ ʯʤʮ ʣʮʬʰ ʲʥʡʹʤ ʥʰʸʥʲʩʹʡ
ɬɚɦ ɫɥɭɱɚɣɧɨ ɠɢɜɟɬ Ʌɨɬ, ɩɥɟɦɹɧɧɢɤ Ⱥɜɪɚɚɦɚ? ʨʬʧʥʮʤ ʪʴʤʤ ʺʠ ʺʢʶʩʩʮ ,ʤʠʸʰ ʪʫ ,ʭʥʣʱ ʯʺʥʲʶʮʠʡ ʸʹʠʥ ,ʭʤʸʡʠ ʬʹ ʥʲʸʦ ʺʠ ʯʩʩʴʠʬ ʺʥʣʩʺʲʤ
ȼ ɲɢɭɪɟ ɷɬɨɣ ɧɟɞɟɥɢ ɦɵ ɭɜɢɞɢɦ, ɱɬɨ ɋɟɞɨɦ ɜ Ɍɚɧɚɯɟ ɹɜɥɹɟɬɫɹ ɚɧɬɢɩɨɞɨɦ ʣʸʴʰ ʨʥʬ ʸʹʠʫ ,ʪʬ-ʪʬ ʺʹʸʴʡ ʸʡʫ .ʥʰʩʡʠ ʭʤʸʡʠʮ .ʥʣʥʲʩʩ ʺʠ ʠʬʮʬ ʣʩʺʲ ʠʥʤ
ɂɟɪɭɫɚɥɢɦɚ. ɉɟɪɜɚɹ ɱɚɫɬɶ ɹɜɥɹɟɬɫɹ ɩɨɜɬɨɪɟɧɢɟɦ ɲɢɭɪɚ ɩɪɨɲɥɨɝɨ ɝɨɞɚ, ɜ ɬɨ ɜɪɟɦɹ ɤɚɤ ʩʫ ʤʸʥʺʤ ʥʰʬ ʺʸʴʱʮ ,ʭʥʣʱʡ ʸʥʢʬ ʨʩʬʧʮʥ ʭʤʸʡʠʮ
ɜɬɨɪɚɹ ɱɚɫɬɶ ɪɚɫɫɦɚɬɪɢɜɚɟɬ ɬɭ ɠɟ ɬɟɦɭ ɜ ɧɟɫɤɨɥɶɤɨ ɢɧɨɦ ɚɫɩɟɤɬɟ. .[ʢ"ʩ ;ʢ"ʩ] "ʣʥʠʮ 'ʤʬ ʭʩʠʨʧʥ ʭʩʲʸ ʭʥʣʱ ʩʹʰʠ"
ʣʧʥʩʮʡ ʤʫʥʸʠ ʤʩʹʸʴ
ʤʰʧʮ ʬʲ ʨʹʥʴ ʭʤʸʡʠʹ ʸʧʠʬ :ʺʠʦʮ ʤʸʺʩ ʣʡʫʰ ʷʬʧ ʩʫ ʤʬʲʮ ʺʥʩʹʸʴʬ ʤʷʥʬʧ ʬʲʡ ʪ"ʰʺʡ ʯʥʩʲ
ȼȼȿȾȿɇɂȿ ΔϴΑΎϫέ΍ Ζδϴϟ ϥΎΒϟΎσ Ε΍Ϯϗ :ϥΎΘδϛΎΑ ʠʥʤ ,ʭʥʣʱ ʬʹ ʤʹʥʫʸ ʬʫ ʺʠ ʬʩʶʮʥ ʭʩʫʬʮʤ ʺʲʡʸʠ 'ʱʴ ʨ"ʩ ʷʸʴ ʣʲʥ 'ʠ ;ʱʴ ʧ"ʩ ʷʸʴʮ -ʥʰʺʹʸʴ ʬʹ ʣʠʮ
ȼ ɞɜɭɯ ɩɨɫɥɟɞɧɢɯ ɲɢɭɪɢɦ ɦɵ ɨɛɫɭɞɢɥɢ ɜɨɩɪɨɫ ɨ ɬɨɦ, ɉɈɑȿɆɍ (ɫ ɤɚɤɨɣ ɰɟɥɶɸ) Ȼɨɝ :ʭʩʠʹʥʰ ʩʰʹ ʤʬʩʫʮʤ ,ʺʧʠ ʤʫʥʸʠ ʤʩʹʸʴ ʤʥʤʮ -ʧ"ʬ
ϥΎΧ ΪϤΤϣ νΎϳέ ΔϴϧΎΘδϛΎΒϟ΍ ΔϴΟέΎΨϟ΍
ɢɡɛɪɚɥ Ⱥɜɪɚɚɦɚ Ⱥɜɢɧɭ, ɬ. ɟ. ɢɡɛɪɚɥ, ɱɬɨɛɵ ɩɨɥɨɠɢɬɶ ɧɚɱɚɥɨ ɧɚɪɨɞɭ, ɤɨɬɨɪɵɣ ɩɨɜɟɞɟɬ
Γέ΍ίϭʡʸʱʮ ʠʥʤʹ ʪʫʡ
ϢγΎΑ ϖσΎϨϟ΍ ϦϠϋ΍ ʤʩʹʰʠʥ ʭʥʣʱʮ ʥʺʥʢʩʩʺʱʤ ʺʠ ʲʩʡʮ
:ʬʬʹʡ ʥʷʬʧ ʺʠ ʺʧʷʬ .ʷʧʶʩ ʺʣʬʥʤ ʬʲ ʤʸʥʹʡʤ (1
ɱɟɥɨɜɟɱɟɫɬɜɨ ɤ ɛɨɥɟɟ ɛɥɢɡɤɨɣ Ȼɨɝɭ ɠɢɡɧɢ [ɱɬɨɛɵ «ɢɫɩɪɚɜɢɬɶ»ϲϓ ΔϤϛΎΤϟ΍ ϥΎΒϟΎσ
ɨɲɢɛɤɢ, ΔϛήΣ ϲϟϭΆδϣ ήΒΘόΗ ϻ ϥΎΘδϛΎΑ ϥ΍ ϦϴϨΛϻ΍
ɫɨɜɟɪɲɟɧɧɵɟ .ʨʥʬ ʬʹ ʥʺʬʶʤʥ ʭʥʣʱ ʺʫʩʴʤ ʸʥʴʩʱ (2
ɫɬɪɨɢɬɟɥɹɦɢ ȼɚɜɢɥɨɧɫɤɨɣ ɛɚɲɧɢ]. ɋ ɷɬɨɣ ɰɟɥɶɸ Ȼɨɝ ɨɛɟɳɚɟɬήϳίϭ ϝϮλϭ ϞΒϗ ϲϓΎΤλ
ɩɨɬɨɦɤɚɦ Ⱥɜɪɚɚɦɚ ήϤΗΆϣ ϝϼΧ ϝΎϗϭ ."ϦϴϴΑΎϫέ΍ ϝϮΑΎϛ :ʭʥʣʱ ʪʬʮ ʬʠ ʭʤʸʡʠ ʸʮʠʩʥ"
ʺʠ "ʩʺʥʮʩʸʤ
ʨʥʧʮ ʭʠ ,ʵʸʠʥ ʭʩʮʹ ʤʰʥʷ ʯʥʩʬʲ ʬʠ 'ʤ ʬʠ ʩʣʩ
("ɡɟɪɚ") ɨɫɨɛɭɸ ɫɬɪɚɧɭ ("aɪɟɰ") ɢ ɫɤɪɟɩɥɹɟɬ ɷɬɨ ɨɛɟɳɚɧɢɟ ϥΎΒϟΎσ
ɞɜɭɦɹΕ΍Ϯϗ " ϥ΍ ΩΎΑ΍ȼϡϼγ΍
ɫɨɸɡɚɦɢ. ϰϟ΍ ϝϭΎΑ ϦϟϮϛ ϲϛήϴϣϻ΍
ɩɚɪɲɚɬ ΔϴΟέΎΨϟ΍
ʠʬʥ ,ʪʬ ʸʹʠ ʬʫʮ ʧʷʠ ʭʠʥ ʬʲʰ ʪʥʸʹ ʣʲʥ ʤʩʹʸʴʡ ʥʬʬʤ ʭʩʠʹʥʰʤ ʩʰʹ ʺʠ ʺʬʬʥʫ ʤʸʥʺʤʹ ʯʥʥʩʫ
ȼɚ-ɣɟɪɟ ɦɵ ɡɧɚɤɨɦɢɦɫɹ ɫ ɬɟɦ, ɄȺɄ ɷɬɨɬ ɧɚɪɨɞ ɞɨɥɠɟɧ, άϨϣɧɚɤɨɧɟɰ, ɞɨɫɬɢɝɧɭɬɶ
ϥΎΘδϛΎΑ ΖΣήλ Ϊϗϭ ."ϦϴϴΑΎϫέ΍ ΍ΪΑ΍ ϢϫήΒΘόϧ Ϣϟϭ ˬΔϴΑΎϫέ΍
ɩɨɫɬɚɜɥɟɧɧɨɣ ɰɟɥɢ. ʠ"ʫ ;ʣΖδϴϟ
"ʩ] " ʭʸʡʠ ʺʠ ʩʺʸʹʲʤ ʩʰʠ ʸʮʠʺ ʭʤʩʰʩʡ ʥʤʹʬʫ ʸʹʷ ʭʩʩʷʹ ʧʩʰʤʬ ʹʩ ʺʧʠ
ϲϧΎϐϓϻ΍ ΐόθϟ΍ ϥ΍ έΎΘδϟ΍ ΪΒϋ ΎϬΘϴΟέΎΧ ήϳίϭ ϥΎδϟ ϰϠϋ ϡΎϳ΍ ΓΪϋ
ΎϬϧ΍ ΚϴΣ "˯ΎΑήϐϟ΍ Ϧϣ Γήϴϐλ ΔϋϮϤΠϣ" ϱΪϳ ϦϴΑ "ΔϨϴϫέ" ΕΎΑ
.1996 ϡΎϋ ϢϜΤϟ΍ ϰϟ΍ ϢϬΘϠλϭ΍ ϥ΍ ΪόΑ ϥΎΒϟΎσ Ϧϋ ΍ήΧΆϣ ΕΪόΘΑ΍ Each of these samples is composed in “Arial”
έΎϴΗ ϲϓ ϪΗΩΎϗϭ ϥΩϻ ϦΑ ΔϣΎγ΍ ϝΎϘΘϋ΍ ϥ΍ έΎΘδϟ΍ ΪΒϋ ϯ΍έ ΎϤϛ
ΕΎϴϠϤόϟ΍ ΔϳΎϬϧ ϞϜθϳ ϥ΍ νήΘϔϳ ϑήτΘϤϟ΍ ϲΑήόϟ΍ "ΓΪϋΎϘϟ΍"
"ϥϮϴΑΎϫέϻ΍" Ϣϫ ΎϬϓ΍Ϊϫ΍ ϥ΍ ΖΤοϭ΍ ΓΪΤΘϤϟ΍ ΕΎϳϻϮϟ΍ ϥ΍ ϥΎΧ ϝΎϗϭ ϥΎΘδϧΎϐϓ΍ ϲϓ ΔϳήϜδόϟ΍ 22
bc Text
Fonts (continued)
Avoid “amateur hour” font production like the plague!
Existing tools make it easy to create a font file
Extensive knowledge and experience are required to use
these tools to produce quality fonts that interface properly
with:
Latest versions of Windows and Mac operating systems
Application programs that directly control fonts
RIPs
Acrobat and ability to be embedded in PDF files
What looks OK on-screen may fail or look terrible farther
down in the workflow
23
bc Vector Graphics
Vector Graphics
graphical objects represented by stroked and
filled polygons and stroked line segments
For non-text artwork, offers highest flexibility
No data loss under transformations:
Scaling
Rotation
Masking
Minimal graphic display quality degradation when
transformed (primarily when downscaling)
24
bc Vector Graphics
Content creation and editing via

“draw” programs, not “paint” programs
Adobe Illustrator
Macromedia Freehand
CorelDRAW
Microsoft Visio
“Paint” programs allow creation of stroked and filled
polygons and stroked line segments, but such objects
are exported and output strictly as image data
25
bc Vector Graphics
Investment required to learn to use tools

properly and effectively
Rectangle as a “rectangle” as opposed to four nearly-
touching line segments
Difficulty in visualizing shapes, widths, color, and
effects as they will appear as ultimately used and
either displayed or printed
Low resolution screens versus high resolution output devices
can result in misjudgment of correct line widths
RGB screen display (high gamut) versus
CMYK print output (lower gamut)
26
bc Vector Graphics
Not all output is what you expect it to be!

Examples:
Gradient fills Ö bunches of polygons of different colors or
device resolution image data
Vector effects such as drop shadows
Ö device resolution image data
Text Ö filled outlines
All objects Ö device resolution image data
Causes:
Inherent problems due to file format or file format version
PostScript 3 versus PostScript Level 2 or Level 1
TIFF, GIF, JPEG are image-only formats
Wrong export / save options specified
Inherent “limitations” of content creation program
27
bc Vector Graphics
Specific recommendations
Save vector graphics-based artwork in the highest
level file format your workflow can “digest”
PDF 1.4 for import into InDesign 2 (1.3 for earlier versions)
EPS with PostScript 3 and fonts embedded for other
applications
Transparency (Illustrator 9 and 10)
Works best with InDesign 2 and PDF 1.4
Otherwise, requires implicit flattening
Can cause objects in region of transparency to be
decomposed, text converted to vector graphics, and/or
vector graphics converted to images
For flattening options, choose “highest quality / slowest
speed” and appropriate image resolution
28
bc Vector Graphics
Specific recommendations (continued)

Gradients, blends, fountain fills
Choose object type carefully
(Illustrator - blends never generate PostScript 3 / PDF 1.3
smooth-shaded gradients, gradients do)
Choose export format carefully
PDF 1.3 and above retain smooth-shaded gradients
PostScript 3 / EPS with language level 3 required to retain
smooth-shaded gradients
All other formats decompose gradients
Be careful in defining colors
Spot color versus named composite color definitions
Spot colors should be defined and used only when
you really need them
29
bc Vector Graphics

Beware of vector artwork from CAD programs
AutoCAD and others output PostScript of the form
0 setlinewidth
resulting in stroked lines that are minimal width renderable,
i.e., one pixel in width, regardless of device
Workarounds:
Import and edit in “draw” program before importing into
target document
Download and install Prinergy Distiller Plug-in from
CreoScitex at:
<http://www.creo.com/prinergy/distillerplugindownload2.asp>
30
bc Vector Graphics
And finally …
Most of us are NOT gifted, graphic artists
Good vector-based clip art is well worth its cost;
it is much better than sloppy, poorly-rendered,
amateur-hour graphics!
31
bc Images
Images
graphical objects represented by raster data
The most flexible and the least flexible format
All graphics can be and ultimately are represented in
image format – “edit” can be at the pixel level
Lowest level of abstraction for graphics
Potential data loss and graphic display quality
degradation under transformations:
Scaling
Downsampling – data loss
Interpolation – quality loss
Rotations (usually at other than 90° increments)
32
bc Images
Content creation via “paint” programs

Adobe Photoshop (and Photoshop Elements)
Corel PhotoPaint
JASC Paint Shop Pro
Images necessary for
Computer screen shots
Reproduction of photographs
Artwork that cannot otherwise be readily represented
as text or vector graphics
Investment required to learn to use tools
properly and effectively
33
bc Images
Specific Recommendations
Scan photographic images at reasonable resolutions
Scanner support for 2400 dpi doesn’t mean that an 8”x10“
photo should be scanned at 2400 dpi unless significant
magnification and cropping is involved
Consider downsampling before saving image
Screen shots (and other image graphics)
Do NOT interpolate to higher resolutions
Extra image data is bloat carried through the workflow
and into the PDF file
No quality improvement achieved; can result in poorer
image display and printing
Use “image interpolation” option when saving from
Photoshop as EPS or PDF or use “cheap Prologue.ps trick”
discussed later!
34
bc Images

Save as EPS format image if exact color must be
passed through to Distiller
Cardinal rule:
Postpone image transformations as much as possible to
later phases in the workflow
Avoid lossy data compression (such as JPEG for
photographic images) until creation of final PDF file
Avoid color transformations until display or print time
(more about color later!)
Remember that some formats such as GIF are
inherently lossly due to 8-bit, indexed color
35
bc
PDF File Creation

bc PDF File Creation
PDF Files may be created by three methods:

Application Direct PDF Export
PDF via Distillation of PostScript
PDF via PDFWriter
37
PDF File
Content
Direct PDF Export Capable Applications
38
PDF File Creation via

Distillation of PostScript Distiller Job
Options Files
PostScript Driver
Create
Adobe PDF
(MacOS)
PostScript PDF File

Acrobat
Distiller File
(Windows)
Acrobat
Content Distiller
All Applications
39

PDFWriter Driver
Driver
PDFWriter
(MacOS)
PDF
PDFWriter 1.2
(Windows)
File
Content
All Applications
40

trumps PDF via Distillation of PostScript
Applications with the capability of directly generating
PDF from all content:
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Others?
Efficiency – Single pass operation
Support for PDF objects and attributes that have no
corresponding feature in PostScript (example,
transparency)
41
PDF via Distillation of PostScript

trumps PDF via PDFWriter
Support of EPS graphics requires PostScript output
stream and subsequent distillation to create PDF
Application, driver, and OS support for PostScript:
Highest level of graphics support for most applications
Most mature driver
Globally-recognized “escape” mechanism by which PDFMark
can supplement standard PostScript for PDF creation
(PDFMaker as well as third party products for FrameMaker)
PDFWriter support ends with PDF 1.2; default
installation of Acrobat 5.0.x does not install PDFWriter
42
bc Distillation of PostScript
Generate PostScript per capabilities of PDF, not
the capabilities of “final” target print device
Acrobat Distiller PPD in conjunction with the
PostScript driver
PostScript Language Level 3
Native TrueType support
Acrobat Distiller (Windows) & Create Adobe PDF
(Mac) printer driver instances
Created automatically by Acrobat Installer with
correct PPD file
Obviates most any need to manually create and distill
PostScript or to maintain the PostScript files
43
bc Distillation of PostScript
However, some of the “as installed” default
driver settings could use some “tweaking” for
best (or even usable) results …
44
PostScript Driver Setup
bc PDF Production & Otherwise
Windows 2000 / XP – Properties Î Advanced

Controls when and how “printing” occurs
Change spool options
45
Windows 2000 / XP – Properties Î Advanced

Spooling dramatically improves “return
control to application” time
Printing after last page is spooled avoids
possible PostScript timeout problems in
Distiller
On the Macintosh, use Background Printing
46
Windows 2000 / XP – Properties Î Device Settings

Controls device specific parameters
47

Output Protocol Binary yields less and more
efficient PostScript for distillation
CTRL-D is technically incorrect for binary
channels (although Distiller kludges around it)
Wait Timeout = 0 avoids Distiller or PostScript
printer job cancellation due to transient
system or network slowdown
48

Convert Gray Text/Graphics to PostScript Gray
yields more efficient PostScript and PDF
Windows GDI is totally RGB;
application black and grayscale expressed as R=G=B
Black and grayscale as RGB can lead to “rich black”
(C=M=Y or C=M=Y=K) printing or prepress problems
Option enabled causes driver to change all GDI text
and line art graphics (not images) for which R=G=B to
equivalent K (grayscale) Postscript
Macintosh QuickDraw supports CMYK;
no need for comparable driver options
49
Windows 2000 / XP –
Properties Î Advanced Î Printing Defaults Î Layout Î Advanced &
Properties Î General Î Printing Preferences Î Layout Î Advanced
Controls additional document-oriented
PostScript generation options
50
600 DPI? Windows 2000 / XP / NT 4 Bug
For GDI applications only, “large text” is passed to
driver as filled outlines – poor rendering / no
searchability and PDF touch-up
Crossover point dependent upon point size, specified
print device resolution, font, and Windows version
600 DPI setting under Windows 2000 / XP typically
allows for 144 pt text, 1200 DPI setting doesn’t
Minor but endurable side effects
51
TrueType Font Download as Softfont
Option avoids any substitution of host-based
TrueType font with “printer resident” font
Problems with substitution:
Differences in style
Differences in character sets supported
Less of a problem with the Acrobat Distiller printer
instance; potentially a massive problem with “real”
PostScript printers with documents using
international character sets
52
TrueType Font Download Option
Native TrueType
Explicit setting of option avoids surprises
Conversion of TrueType fonts yields degraded results
Bitmaps are at device resolution / not scalable or searchable
Outlines are “unhinted” Type 1 fonts
No PDF touch-up for text in these fonts
53
PostScript Language Level 3
Should always be specified for the Distiller,
regardless of the capabilities of the final printing
device
Acrobat / Acrobat Reader printing capable of printing
all constructs to PostScript printers of all language
levels
54
Properties Î Advanced Î Printing Defaults Î Adobe PDF Settings &
Properties Î General Î Printing Preferences Î Adobe PDF Settings
Controls the interface between the PostScript
driver and the “background” Distiller plus
specification of distillation job options
55
Conversion settings
Specify the appropriate job options for distillation
Defaults for printer, once set, can be changed or
overridden on a job-by-job basis
Live dangerously; create and use your own job
options appropriate to your needs
Ask to Replace existing PDF file option
prevents accidental overwrite of existing PDF
file with the same name
56
Do not send fonts to Distiller – Huh?
Very counter-intuitive to what we’ve been preaching
Distiller now find and embeds Type 1, TrueType, and
OpenType fonts from system & user locations
Why?
Efficient and compact intermediate PostScript
Faster distillation and less chance of VM problems
Better and more consistent embedding of font subsets
Exceptions?
Private, application-installable fonts
57
Mac OS 8.x and 9.x – Print Î PDF Settings

Controls the interface between the PostScript
driver and the “background” Distiller plus
specification of distillation job options
58
Mac OS 8.x and 9.x – Print Î PDF Settings

Conversion settings
Specify the appropriate job options for distillation
Live dangerously; create and use your own job
options appropriate to your needs
After PDF Creation option allows preview of
the PDF file
Unlike Windows, default is Launch Nothing
Reasonable option is to Launch Adobe Acrobat
Save Settings allows “stickiness” of settings by
application program
59
Mac OS 8.x and 9.x – Print Î PostScript Settings

Determines type and format of PostScript
generated plus options for font embedding in
the PostScript stream
60

PostScript Level – Level 3 Only
Should always be specified for the Distiller,
regardless of the capabilities of the final printing
device
Acrobat / Acrobat Reader printing capable of printing
all constructs to PostScript printers of all language
levels
Data Format Binary yields less and more
efficient PostScript for distillation
61

Do not send fonts to Distiller – Again!
Same issues and reasoning as under Windows
Works around TrueType font embedding bug on Mac:
All TrueType fonts embedded in PostScript stream by MacOS
end up as “unhinted” Type 1 outlines
Quality degradation
PDF text touch-up problems
MacOS (PrintingLib 8.7.x module)!!
Exceptions?
Private, application-installable fonts
Save Settings (as previously described)
62
Mac OS 8.x and 9.x – How to Drive a Mac User Crazy!

PDF file fully produced under MacOS 9.1
Encoding names are historical
PDF files with fonts “Windows-encoded”
display, print, and touch-up without any
problems on Macintosh (and vice-versa)!
63
Distiller Setup
bc Preferences
Provides output options for when Distiller is

invoked “manually”
Delete Log Files for successful jobs option for
all invocations of Distiller
You’ve been asking for this feature for years!
Turn off only for debugging purposes
64
bc Distiller Job Options
Acrobat Distiller provides four sets of

predefined job options:
Screen, eBook, Print, and Press
Job options based on intended usage and audience;
Screen Ö Press:
Low resolution Ö High resolution
Medium quality, highly compressed images
Ö Maximum quality, less compressed images
Less emphasis on typographical fidelity
Ö Perfect typographical fidelity
RGB, screen-oriented managed color
Ö Use color exactly as specified in PostScript file
Smaller PDF files Ö Larger PDF files
65
The predefined job options attempt to

optimize PDF files by intended usage
Yields scenarios in which “view and print anywhere”
with a single PDF file is not quite true!
Assumes that:
Screen display PDF doesn’t require high quality typography
Image quality loss for screen display PDF files is acceptable
Print or press quality PDF is necessarily too big or otherwise
unacceptable for screen display purposes
Operating system / driver / PostScript-based color
management actually works and is properly invoked by
enterprise application programs and users
Poor quality printed output from screen display PDF is OK
Repurposing of existing PDF is not important
66
You can do better using fewer sets of

customized job options in conjunction with
more carefully and consistently-prepared
content!
67
Distiller Job Options Compared
bc Standard Distiller & Isaacs Job Options Sets
Screen eBook Print Press Isaacs 150 Isaacs
Compatibility PDF 1.2 PDF 1.3 PDF 1.3 PDF 1.3 PDF 1.4 PDF 1.4
Optimize for
Fast Web View

Embed Thumbnails
Auto-Rotate Pages Individually Collectively Individually Individually
Binding Left Left Left Left Left Left

Resolution 600 dpi 600 dpi 1200 dpi 2400 dpi 2400 dpi 2400 dpi
Default Page Size 612 x 792 pts 612 x 792 pts 612 x 792 pts 612 x 792 pts 612 x 792 pts 612 x 792 pts
Color Image Average 72 dpi, Bicubic 150 dpi, Bicubic 300 dpi, Bicubic 300 dpi, Bicubic 150 dpi, Bicubic 300 dpi,
Downsampling images over 108 images over 225 images over 450 images over 450 images over 225 images over 450
Color Image Automatic, Automatic, Automatic, Automatic, Automatic, Automatic,
Compression Medium Quality Medium Quality High Quality Maximum Quality Maximum Quality Maximum Quality
Grayscale Image Average 72 dpi, Bicubic 150 dpi, Bicubic 300 dpi, Bicubic 300 dpi, Bicubic 150 dpi, Bicubic 300 dpi,
Grayscale Image Automatic, Automatic, Automatic, Automatic, Automatic, Automatic,
Compression Medium Quality Medium Quality High Quality Maximum Quality Maximum Quality Maximum Quality
68
Monochrome Image Average 300 dpi, Bicubic 300 dpi, Bicubic 1200 dpi, Bicubic 1200 dpi, Bicubic 300 dpi, Bicubic 1200 dpi,
Monochrome Image CCITT Group 4 CCITT Group 4 CCITT Group 4 CCITT Group 4 CCITT Group 4 CCITT Group 4
Compression
Monochrome Image
AntiAliasing

Compress Text
& Line Art

Embed ALL Fonts
Subset Embedded < 100% of < 100% of < 100% of < 100% of < 100% of < 100% of
Fonts characters used characters used characters used characters used characters used characters used
If Embedding Fails Warn & Continue Warn & Continue Warn & Continue Cancel Job Cancel Job Cancel Job
Always Embed
Never Embed Times, Courier, Times, Courier,
Helvetica, Symbol, Helvetica, Symbol,

& Zapf Dingbats & Zapf Dingbats
69
Color Settings File
Color Management Convert Everything Convert All Colors Tag Everything for Leave Color Leave Color Leave Color
Policies to CalRGB; to sRGB; Color Management; Unchanged; Unchanged; Unchanged;
Default Intent Default Intent Default Intent Default Intent Default Intent Default Intent
Color Workspace:
Gray

Color Workspace:
RGB
sRGB
IEC61966-2.1
sRGB
IEC61966-2.1
sRGB
IEC61966-2.1

Color Workspace:
CMYK
US Web Coated
(SWOP) v2
US Web Coated
(SWOP) v2
US Web Coated
(SWOP) v2

Preserve Overprint
Settings

Preserve UCR
and BG Settings

Transfer Functions Preserve Preserve Preserve Preserve Preserve Preserve
Preserve Halftone
Information

Use Prologue.ps &
Epilogue.ps

70
PostScript Job Option
Override

Preserve Level 2
Copypage

Save PJT in PDF
Illustrator Overprint
Mode

Convert Gradients to
Smooth Shades
effectively
ASCII Format
Log DSC Warnings
Resize & Center EPS
Preserve EPS DSC
Information

Preserve OPI
Comments

Preserve DSC
Document Info

71
Cheap Prologue.ps Trick
bc Forcing the Image Interpolation Option
The Prologue.ps and Epilogue.ps facility

Designed for special effects via custom PostScript run
by Distiller at the start and end of each PostScript job
Requires detailed knowledge of PostScript to write
Prologue.ps and Epilogue.ps code.
Examples:
Cover page generation
Logging of Distiller parameters
Global fixup of bum PostScript
Not generally recommended for normal use of
Acrobat in the enterprise
72
Cheap Prologue.ps Trick
bc Forcing the Image Interpolation Option
Useful example of use of Prologue.ps to force

the high quality image interpolation option
“on” for all images:
% Redefine image operator to set Interpolate to true unconditionally.
/image {
dup type /dicttype eq {
dup /Interpolate true put
} if
//image
} bind def
73
bc
Post-PDF File Creation

Tweaking & “Other” Considerations
bc Wonderful Plug-Ins for Acrobat
For certain functions not built-into Acrobat 5,

available third-party plug-ins provide excellent
solutions
Color and colorspace modifications
Advanced touch up
Document imposition
Separations
75
Quite A Box of Tricks

– Quite Software
Wide variety of “tricks”
More on the color conversion
tools, later
76
Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus

– Quite Software
Booklet creation, n-up pages, step & repeat, as well as
general page imposition functions
Easy step-by-step “easy imposition” functions
Readily usable by office workers for most functions
77
PitStop Professional
– Enfocus Software
Virtual “Swiss Army knife”
of tools for analysis and
fixup of PDF files
Oriented more towards
prepress professionals
78
CrackerJack
– Lantana Research Software Corporation
Separations for prepress from PDF files within Acrobat
Others …
79
bc Prepress Color Issues
CMYK versus RGB

NOT an issue for high-end publishing programs that
provide for CMYK color and managed color
Primarily an issue for typical “enterprise applications”
under Windows AND Macintosh that only support
RGB color
Generally NOT an issue for composite color output
devices (i.e., color laser printers, high-end inkjet
printers)
PostScript does automatic conversion of RGB or CMYK
Acrobat printing options for color management
Rich black problem under Windows solved by driver
TrueGray options (R=G=B text & vector graphics to K)
80
bc Prepress Color Issues
However, for many prepress professionals …
It’s a CMYK World After All …
Solutions in the enterprise …

Excellent and inexpensive global RGB to CMYK
conversion via Quite A Box of Tricks plugin
Use EPS from CMYK-capable applications for precise
CMYK (or managed color) as well as spot color where
and when necessary
PostScript pre-processing programs such as
Preflight2000 Colour Chameleon from Grafikhuset
81
Acrobat “Save as EPS”
bc EPS Generation Options
Controls the options by which EPS can be

exported by Acrobat’s “Save as EPS” capability
The “defaults” are likely not what you want!
82
bc
Q&A
bc
bc
everywhere
you look™

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bc

Reliable PDF Creation

PDF File Creation

Post-PDF File Creation Tweaking

 We are not talking about Star Trek

 Organizations in which PDF can be created and

 Typical applications from which PDF is derived:

 And some content from professional graphics

 Solve the puzzle as to how to reliably,

The material presented today may challenge long-held religious

 A PDF file can never be better than

 $2,500 buys a tremendous amount of

 We will discuss the mechanics of content

Objective I wanna gud prophphesional posishun!

1985 – 2000 Acme Supply Company East Pork Chop, CA

Education 1985 General Custer High Scool Surrender, WY

Interests Fast cars and booze.

 Maintain content at its highest level of

Text (as realized via fonts)

Vector Graphics (lines & polygons)

 Lose no data before its time …

 Keep text as “text”

 Content creation and editing via

 Investment required to learn to use tools

 Not all output is what you expect it to be!

 Specific recommendations (continued)

 Specific recommendations (continued)

 Content creation via “paint” programs

 Specific recommendations (continued)

PDF File Creation

PDF Files may be created by three methods:

Application Direct PDF Export

Direct PDF Export Capable Applications

PDF File Creation via

PostScript PDF File

PDF File Creation via

Application Direct PDF Export

PDF via Distillation of PostScript

Windows 2000 / XP – Properties Î Advanced

Windows 2000 / XP – Properties Î Advanced

Windows 2000 / XP – Properties Î Device Settings

Windows 2000 / XP – Properties Î Device Settings

Windows 2000 / XP – Properties Î Device Settings

Mac OS 8.x and 9.x – Print Î PDF Settings

Mac OS 8.x and 9.x – Print Î PDF Settings

Mac OS 8.x and 9.x – Print Î PostScript Settings

Mac OS 8.x and 9.x – Print Î PostScript Settings

Mac OS 8.x and 9.x – Print Î PostScript Settings

Mac OS 8.x and 9.x – How to Drive a Mac User Crazy!

 Provides output options for when Distiller is

 Acrobat Distiller provides four sets of

 The predefined job options attempt to

 You can do better using fewer sets of

Binding Left Left Left Left Left Left

 The Prologue.ps and Epilogue.ps facility

 Useful example of use of Prologue.ps to force

Post-PDF File Creation

 For certain functions not built-into Acrobat 5,

 Quite A Box of Tricks

We are not talking about Star Trek

Organizations in which PDF can be created and

Typical applications from which PDF is derived:

And some content from professional graphics

Solve the puzzle as to how to reliably,

A PDF file can never be better than

$2,500 buys a tremendous amount of

We will discuss the mechanics of content

Maintain content at its highest level of

Lose no data before its time …

Keep text as “text”

Content creation and editing via

Investment required to learn to use tools

Not all output is what you expect it to be!

Specific recommendations (continued)

Specific recommendations (continued)

Content creation via “paint” programs

Specific recommendations (continued)

Provides output options for when Distiller is

Acrobat Distiller provides four sets of

The predefined job options attempt to

You can do better using fewer sets of

The Prologue.ps and Epilogue.ps facility

Useful example of use of Prologue.ps to force

For certain functions not built-into Acrobat 5,

Quite A Box of Tricks

Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus

CMYK versus RGB

However, for many prepress professionals …

It’s a CMYK World After All …

Solutions in the enterprise …

Controls the options by which EPS can be