PDF Downsampling

Franknater

Well-known member
I have to give a much better answer for not using downsampling, etc. Normally, I set it all for NONE. No compression, do not downsample, etc., for the same reasons as I would do it since I got into EPP 17 years ago. Now, my catalog page of 451 mb was now being RIPped at 6.4 mb on Rampage from another operator. What kind of problems should I expect? I told him it is not a good idea to export out of ID3 to pdf with all of the compressions on (He's the leadman.). It's going on press Thursday. Should I worry? We have enough problems trying to use 1999 hardware and keep the owner out of the department for problems he believes are us, not hardware/RIP software, etc. (Probably time to leave, but at times, I love a challenge, and trust me, IT IS A CHALLENGE!.).

I would like all to chime in, especially if there's a problem. I'm going to send the link to him.
 
Re: PDF Downsampling

Your gonna have to be more specific as to what he is downsampling to. If there are photos involved hopefully no less that 300 ppi. I work in the prepress dept in a commercial shop. Cant tell you how many times I get files that are containing way too much information. Slows the whole production down.
 
Re: PDF Downsampling

I would say that if you are doing 300 dpi stuff and not VERY HIGH QUALITY above that resolution, then the default PDF/X-1a in Export PDF from Adobe apps (make sure you add bleeds and marks and save a custom setup in Export PDF) will work well. Although jpeg compressed, it's at maximum quality, and I couldn't tell a difference between printing that and postscript straight to the rip, when I got it out to take a look at the press sheet vs. last printing (ok, so maybe such a little difference that our customers wouldn't be able to tell a thing has changed... and the customer I started getting to do this hasn't complained. She loves that she can send in the PDF/X-1a via FTP, and not have to send us 8 CDs via snailmail). You'll be pleasantly surprised I think.

Don
 
Re: PDF Downsampling

If you are going to use compression don't use any version of JPEG which will remove some quality. Instead use ZIP which will not lose any quality.

Brian
 
Re: PDF Downsampling

> {quote:title=Bobmorli wrote:}{quote}
> Anything wrong with PDFx3 or PDFx4? Just out of curiosity....

Depends entirely on the capabilities of the receiver.

PDF/X-3 allows for color spaces other than CMYK. So, you could have RGB, Lab, et cetera; with attached ICC profiles.

PDF/X-4 allows live transparency.

What I really dislike about the Adobe presets for any PDF/X version are the settings for downsampling and compression. I prefer not to downsample - it's tough enough to get high resolution imagery. And I'm in agreement with the other poster, I've been bitten enough times by JPEG to be gun-shy. I prefer a lossless compression structure or none at all.

rich
 

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