Kodak Preps 5.3. and Prosetter problem

[JDStudio]

Hi,
New to the forum so please be gentle! I recently installed a Prosetter Violet ctp and metadimension rip.

I have the following problem and wondering if anyone can shed some light before I crack up.

Pdf's supplied by client contain CMYK + 3 spots. (4 colour job only)
If I send these to the rip, all plates will print. (7 plates)
If I convert the PDF using Pitstop to all spots to CMYK, Preps won't then let me import the file. Comes up with a file error. I have tried several PDF fixups but they all fail in Kodak Preps.

If I attempt to use Preps to convert the spots to process in the print menu, the rip then fails.

Any obvious workaround known please?

Can I let Metadimension convert the spots at the Rip.

Cheers

Rob

[Amer]

So many ways to fix this... but it all depends on WHICH VERSION of software you are using.
1. Color conversion spot to CMYK is available in Acrobat Pro 8-9 (convert color).
2. It is also available in 90% of the RIPs on the market today, check your user manual.
3. Preps is sensitive to PDF version of the file, check which version your Preps supports (PDF v1.4 Acrobat 5 should work).
Remember, if you save the file in Acrobat, it will bump up the version to its default - use PDF optimizer to explicitly set the version.

[JDStudio]

Hi and thanks for the reply.

I checked my pitstop prefs in acrobat 9 and yes, when saving a preflighted and modified PDF, pitstop automatically saved it as a newer version by overriding my settings through preflighting. !!! What's the point in that???
I can now import my pitstop cmyk converted PDFs without the read file error coming up in Preps.

Many thanks for your help.