Re: Cannot find a local commercial printer

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PDF/X-1a:200x is no panacea. Just because it is an X-1a or X-3 doesn't mean
it is usable as art. PDF/X-1a:200x specifically prohibits tri-stimulus color
spaces such as RGB and LAB. Even if those spaces are tagged with an ICC
profile. It says nothing about the construction of the document or image
resolution. Which are critical to the quality of the job. Blindly converting
everything to CMYK as PDF/X-1a:200x does in Distiller will convert all the
RGB blacks and grays to CMYK black (rich) and 3 color grays. In most
manufacturing environments this is hugely problematic. It doesn't make
digital printing any easier either because you still have the problem of
rich blacks counting incorrectly on the CMYK click charge vs. the black and
white click.

There are a multitude of issues that surround converting Office documents to
PDF. I shouldn't just isolate Office products but they are the most
prevalent and pertinent to this discussion. I will say that any document
that ends up as a PDF that passes through Windows GDI is going to exhibit
the same set of issues regardless of the quality of the art. This whole
explanation also goes beyond the issues here but more to the rest of the
industry at large. There is much to consider when moving to a PDF based
workflow or supplying to your print service provider with a PDF.

Matt Beals
Consultant
Enfocus Certified Trainer, Markzware Recognized Trainer
(206) 618-2537 - cell
(720) 367-3869 - fax
mailto:matt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Come visit me at:
http://www.mattbeals.com
http://www.actionlistexchange.net
http://www.mattbeals.com/blog/

Friends don't let friends write HTML emails


On 8/27/06 7:20 PM, in article 19f11$44f252c4$4275d6a3$27922@xxxxxxxx, "Mike
Koewler" <wordwiz@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

Matt,

I beg to differ. If a user can output a PDF/X1-a file it will conform to
specs and only an idiot printer won't be able to get it right.

Mike

Matt Beals wrote:
If it were only so easy. Just because it's a PDF doesn't mean it is any
easier to deal with than a Publisher file. If you make a bad PDF and send
that off to a printer you have no idea the things a printer might try to get
it to "work". Even if that means ruining certain aspects of the art or
color.

I find it very funny that so many people here think PDF is some sort of
panacea. It's not. It is a means to an end to deliver digital content (art
in our instance). It is no magic bullet, never has been, never will. PDF
based workflows are the basis of my business. Printers are often as
loathsome to take PDFs as they are with Publisher files because it is so
easy to make a bad one and not all of them have the tools to "fix" them.

Next time someone tells you to "just make a PDF", ask them if they
themselves can do it "right" and how to do it "right".

Matt Beals
Consultant
Enfocus Certified Trainer, Markzware Recognized Trainer
(206) 618-2537 - cell
(720) 367-3869 - fax
mailto:matt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Come visit me at:
http://www.mattbeals.com
http://www.actionlistexchange.net
http://www.mattbeals.com/blog/

Friends don't let friends write HTML emails

.

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