Guide to creating PDF files for proofing

There are two steps to creating a PDF file

1. Creating a Postscript File
2. Converting Postscript to PDF


1. Creating a Postscript File

Before you create a postscript file, you should ensure you have the right postscript printer driver for the job. Check with your Printer which driver they prefer you to use. Often, they will supply you with the driver. If not, you can use the Acrobat Distiller driver.

Important: print what you proof. If your PDF file is intended for proofing, you should create it as if it is for final print.To create a PDF file for proofing which is different to the one you create for printing is a recipe for disaster.

1.1 Installing a postscript driver

Simply place the driver (Acrobat Distiller or one you are given by a Printer) in the Printers Description folder. This folder is in the Extensions folder, which is in the System folder.

Set up Virtual Printer or choose an existing Laser Writer printer. Ensure that the printer driver is Acrobat Distiller or the one supplied by your Printer. To do this, highlight the printer on your desktop and from the menu at the top of the screen select Printer, Printer Setup. Click on the Select PPD button and choose Acrobat Distiller or the one from your Printer



Now you are ready to create a postscript file.

1.2 Print Box - Set Up tab

Open your Quark Xpress document and ensure that all the fonts in the document are active and update all the images. Then choose File, Page Setup.

Select Acrobat Distiller as the Printer Description (or the one supplied by your Printer). Choose Custom as the page size and type in the page width dimensions. Select Auto as the page height. If the file is for final print, you will have to increase the page size by at least 20mm to accommodate the registration and crop marks. Your Printer will tell you the exact amount you need to increase the page size. The Page Position must be Centre.




IMPORTANT
The page must always be set to portrait. Under no circumstance should the page orientation be landscape.

1.3 Print Box - Document tab

If your PDF file is for a Printer, then you should enter the settings they give you. These settings will be for Bleed, Registration and Offset. Each page will be a single PDF file, so you must unselect the Spread tab and enter the exact page number to be printed. If you need to proof each spread, then select the Spread check box, but make sure that the paper width (in the Setup tab) is twice the page size plus the extra 20mm or so to accommodate the registration marks.




1.4 Print Box - Output tab

Your Printer should also supply you with these settings. In general, the settings must be Composite CMYK, with a resolution of at least 2400dpi and a frequency of 150lpi.




1.5 Print Box - Option tab

Follow the settings in the diagram.




1.6 Print Box - Preview tab

Click on this to see that your page fits the dimensions you have entered.




1.7 Page Setup... - Postscript Options

Click on this and make sure that the correct Printer is displayed.This has to be the one which has either the Acrobat Distiller driver or the one supplied by your Printer.

Click on the Page Attributes drop down menu and select Postscript Options. All the check boxes must be free. Nothing should be selected. Click OK.




1.8 Printer... - Postscript Settings

PRINTER button. Click on the word General and select Save as File. Enter the following settings:
Format Postscript job
Postscript Level Level 2 and 3
Data Format Binary
Font Inclusion All

Important: if you do not use these settings, you will not create a proper pdf file.

From the top right of the dialogue box, make sure for Destination you select File. Click on the Save button and choose a location to save your postscript file. From the Quark Print dialogue box, click on Print. Your printer will look like it is printing the quark document. It will not. Instead, it will create a postscript file in the location you stipulated.



Important: You must select File as the Print Destination. If you do not, you will print the document and not make a postscript file


2. Converting Postscript to PDF

Ask your Printer to send you their preferred Acrobat Distiller setting. Otherwise please consult Acumen Colour on obtaining the right setting. For the purposes of this guide, we will refer to the Press setting in Distiller.

Open Acrobat Distiller. Select Press as the job option. Then drag and drop the postscript file onto Distiller. A new PDF file will be created with the same name and saved to the same destination.




If Distiller is unable to create a PDF file, it will produce an error log. Go back over all the steps to creating a postscript file. Normally, a setting is wrong is somewhere. If this does not cure the problem, please contact Acumen Colour with the details.

Acumen Colour can automate the whole process from creating postscript files to pdf conversion. If you would like to know how, please contact us, and we will be only too happy to help.

Please also see our guide to using FTP. This is one the simplest and most costeffective ways of sending PDF files to us for proofing.